Top 5 Common Cornhole Mistakes You Need to Avoid for a Winning Game
Everyone’s cornhole throwing technique can use a refresh from time to time so let’s take a look at some common mistakes.
In this article you’ll learn:
What is Corn Hole?
Cornhole is a popular outdoor game that is enjoyed by people of all ages. It’s a fun and relaxing game that can be played at backyard barbecues, family reunions, and tailgating events. However, many beginners and experts make common mistakes that can affect their gameplay and enjoyment of the game.
Mistake 1: Poor Stance and Balance
Having a proper stance and balance is essential for success in cornhole. Even if you have good, better, or the best cornhole bags, if your stance and balance are off, it can affect your accuracy and consistency when throwing. Below are some common mistakes that folks make when it comes to stance and balance.
Standing Too Close to the Board:
Many beginners stand too close to the board when throwing the bag. This can make it difficult to get the proper arc and distance needed to make the bag in the hole. You do not need to be on the foul line nor do you need to be too close to the board in the direction perpendicular to the direction of your throw. While the regulation cornhole distance is 27 feet away, you can stand a step or two back depending on what you are comfortable with and what works with your throwing technique. Additionally, standing too close to the board in the left to right directions, may limit your footwork space. The below graphic shows an option to give yourself some space without compromising your throws.
Cornhole Standing position recommendation. Source: https://whatiscornhole.com
Leaning Too Far Forward:
Another common mistake is leaning too far forward when throwing the bag. This can affect your balance and make it more difficult to throw accurately. It can also cause you to exceed the foul line prior to releasing your bag. To avoid this mistake and a potential penalty, try to keep your weight evenly distributed on both feet. Also, be mindful of how your weight is shifting from back to front as you throw. Some people employ a stepping cornhole throwing technique, while others just bend at the knees and then release. If you find yourself stepping and throwing and then becoming off balance, try to keep your weight back or just bend and throw without the step.
Not Squaring Your Feet:
Your feet should be squared up to the board when throwing the bag. This can help you maintain balance and make it easier to throw accurately. It also will help your aim and avoid errant throws. If your feet are squared up to the board, then your shoulders will most likely be as well which helps your throws land where you are intending them to. To avoid this mistake, make sure both your feet are pointing straight ahead or at a slight angle depending on how you are aligned to the board and where you are intending to aim.
Proper stance and balance tips:
Adjust your foot position: Move your feet closer together or farther apart until you find the most comfortable position. Typically, placing your feet shoulder width apart is a good athletic stance but experiment with different positions to find what works best for you.
Distribute Weight Evenly: Make sure you distribute your weight evenly on both feet. This can help you maintain balance and make it easier to throw accurately.
Square up your feet and shoulders with your intended target.
Don’t stand too close to the boards or foul line
Mistake 2: Incorrect Grip and Release
Grip and release are two critical factors that can affect the trajectory and accuracy of the bag. Beginners often make the following mistakes when it comes to grip and release:
Gripping the Bag Too Tightly: Gripping the bag too tightly can make it difficult to release the bag smoothly. This can affect the trajectory of the bag and make it more difficult to make the bag in the hole. It also can lead to hand fatigue, affecting your play as the game wears on.
Releasing the Bag Too Early or Late: Timing is everything and the release point is the 3rd part of the equation for a perfect throw with your form and the force behind the throw being the other 2. Even if you have the right form and force behind your throw, if your release point is off, it will not be a good shot.
To achieve a proper grip and release, here are some tips:
Experiment with Grip Pressure: Try gripping the bag with different pressures to find what works best for you. Some people prefer a tighter grip, while others prefer a looser one. Be careful not to hold it too tight though.
Feel the bag: Some bags have different textures on the top and bottom. Decide which side faces up and which faces down for your optimal throw. Also consider the playing conditions and shot you are trying to make when facing one side up versus the other. Additionally, let the bag settled into your hand a bit with the filling (corn or synthetic beads) form around your hand. Jiggle the bag to the desired amount to get the filling to form around your hand to the preferred level.
Practice Release Timing: To achieve a proper release, practice releasing the bag at the same point in your throwing motion every time for the shot you are attempting. Different shots may have different release points. For example a bully shot may have a lower tragectory versus an airmail. Changing your release point can affect your trajectory. By practicing these shots, it can help build muscle memory and improve your accuracy.
Mistake 3: Lack of Consistency in Throwing
Consistency is key when it comes to improving accuracy and building muscle memory in cornhole. Beginners often make the following mistakes when it comes to throwing consistency:
Changing Throwing Technique Mid-Game: Changing your throwing technique mid-game will affect your consistency in a bad way especially if you do it a lot. Think about a basketball player. While they have many different types of shots, their form and technique is always consistent. The same goes for cornhole. Develop your form and stick to the same rhythm for every shot. Even if you are on a cold streak, sticking to your normal throwing pattern is far better than trying to mess with your cornhole throwing technique in the middle of a game. Drawing another basketball analogy, you never see even the best 3 point shooters change their form in the middle of a game, if they are having a bad day shooting.
Not Following Through Consistently: Following through consistently and in the same way is essential for building muscle memory and improving accuracy. This will take practice and everyone’s follow through is slightly different. Be sure to follow through toward where you are aiming to ensure you stay on target. Also, watch a few pros and see what they do. Then, model your follow through after theirs but tailor it to what feels comfortable and natural for you.
To achieve throwing consistency, here are some tips:
Practice Regularly: The more you practice, the better you will become at cornhole. Set aside time each week to practice and work on improving your consistency. Develop a set of drills to practice all facets of the game.
Focus on Technique: Paying close attention to your body mechanics and building an awareness of what you are doing or not doing from shot to shot is critical. Everyone’s mechanics are a little different but the important part is repeatability and precision. If you make a good shot, take note of all the elements of the shot that made it a good one including your mechanics, timing, grip, release, and the force behind the throw. You can learn as much about how to be consistent by thinking about the things that added up to a bad throw, just as much as a good one.
Mistake 4: Not accounting for environmental factors
When playing cornhole, it's important to account for environmental conditions such as wind, temperature, and humidity. While we won’t get into the physics of Cornhole here, these aspects can have a significant impact on the trajectory and accuracy of your throws. Not paying attention to them can lead to missed shots and lower scores.
Wind: When playing outside, note the direction and relative speed of the wind. Is it gusting or blowing constantly? Paying close attention to this environmental factor can significantly improve your game if you are able to counteract its effects. For cross winds, think about throwing your bag slightly to the left or right knowing that the wind will push the bag in the direction that it is blowing. For head or tail winds, increase or decrease your throwing force accordingly. Additionally throwing a lower trajectory or a flat bag with a slight spin can help reduce the wind’s effects.
Temperature: Have you ever noticed that you get less gas mileage in the winter? Why? It is because the air is more dense when it is cold out and requires more force to drive through. Similarly with cornhole, the bag may not fly as easily through the air when the temperature drops. Adjust your throwing force accordingly.
Humidity: Humid air can slow your bag down in 2 ways. First, with more moisture in the air, it is harder for the bag to travel through it so a force adjustment may be required. Second, the humidity can affect the board and the bags’ surfaces. In humid conditions the boards and bags may perform with more stickiness while dry conditions will likely produce more slide. One countermeasure for these conditions include adjusting your strategy like going for more airmails if the board is sticky and you typically shoot a slide shot. Another countermeasure would be to adjust your throwing force to compensate for the amount of stick or slip the board is experiencing.
To summarize, environmental factors will impact your gameplay. To counteract its effects:
Adjust your aim and force to compensate for wind
Increase your throwing oomph in colder temperatures since the air is more dense
Assess how sticky or slick the boards are due to humidity and change your strategy as needed.
Mistake 5: Not Knowing When to Play Cornhole Defensively
Knowing when to play defensively is a skill that the top cornhole players have mastered. It can help you win games. Beginners often make the mistake of playing aggressively all the time, without taking into account the score or the game situation. Here are some common mistakes that beginners make when it comes to playing defensively:
Not Focusing on the Score: Beginners often focus too much on making bags in the hole, without taking into account the score. Sometimes it’s better to play defensively and block your opponent from scoring rather than going for a risky shot.
Not Paying Attention to Your Opponent’s Throws: Paying attention to your opponent’s throws can help you anticipate their next move and adjust your strategy accordingly. This can help you play defensively and block your opponent from scoring.
To know when to play defensively, here are some tips:
Keep track of the score and adjust your strategy accordingly. If you’re ahead, it might be better to play defensively and block your opponent from scoring. If you’re behind, you might need to take more risks to catch up.
Observe Your Opponent’s Throws: Pay attention to your opponent’s throws and adjust your strategy accordingly. If they’re consistently making bags in the hole, you might need to play defensively and block their shots.
Recap of common beginner mistakes:
Cornhole is a fun and relaxing game that can be enjoyed by people of all ages. However, beginners often make common mistakes that can affect their gameplay and enjoyment of the game. By avoiding these common mistakes and following the tips provided in this post, you can improve your accuracy, consistency, and overall gameplay in cornhole. Remember to focus on your stance and balance, grip and release, throwing consistency. It is also important to be aware of the environmental factors and how to counteract them as well as recognizing your opponent's strategy and knowing when to play defensively. With practice and dedication, you can become a skilled cornhole player and have fun playing this classic game with family and friends.