The Right Way to Throw a Cornhole Bag

Posted by Beer Belly Bags on 25th Mar 2021

Anyone can toss a bag and hope for the best, right? Well, yes.

But not entirely. The art and science of throwing a cornhole bag successfully, is just that – an art and a science, strategy and skill mixed with a smidge of chance. Calculated trajectory combined with a finesse that comes only with personal style and culminates in a colorful victory dance.

For any beginners out there, or for our seasoned professional cornhole players, let’s take it back to the basics and look at the anatomy of a perfect cornhole throw.

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THE PRE-THROW

Starting is simple – get your head in the game. Preparation for a good through is as much about the physical stance and grip as it is about mental preparation. Ignore distractions, including opponents and fans (even if said fan is your dog). Focus on the bag and the board, and just like in golf – don’t let your eye off the prize until that bag falls through the hole.

THE STANCE

Steady your footing, placing your feet where they feel most comfortable. Footwork acts as a foundation for a good cornhole throw, guiding things like control and force. Some cornhole players opt to stand with their feet solidly planted shoulder width apart, so your arms are the driving force behind your cornhole toss. Others opt to add in a step. As you bring back your throwing arm, step forward with the opposite leg – like in bowling. In this stance, the power comes from the legs, it will also help you maintain balance as you throw. When it comes to your cornhole stance, there’s no right or wrong – find what feels most comfortable for you.

THE GRIP AND AIM

This step is perhaps one of the most crucial when it comes to how to throw a cornhole bag. There is a big difference for many cornhole players between grabbing a bag and just throwing it and taking the time to focus on your grip and aim.

  • Hold the bag in your dominant hand.
  • Place your thumb in the center, making sure the resin is evenly distributed across the bag.
  • Curl your index finger around a corner and allow your other fingers to support the rest of the bag.
  • Now for the aim. The goal is to get the bag in the hole, so aim for the hole – right? Wrong! Pro cornhole players have found greatest success in their strategy when they aim for the direct center of the board, understanding that in many situations bags will slide. If you aim for the hole, your chances of overshooting or sliding off are larger.

THE TOSS

Take. Your. Time. Here. Rushing the cornhole toss after you’ve put all that work into the preparation is a rookie mistake. Send your cornhole bag flying in a smooth, slow motion to keep control.

The key then to a perfect toss hinges on the arc of the bag. A general rule of thumb is to release your bag when your arm is at a 90-degree angle. Then toss it like a frisbee – give it a flat, spinning throw so it lays flat even as it soars through the air. Good technique means everything if you want to add finesse to your game, but the right bag is crucial. Whether you play in the backyard, or play professionally, Beer Belly Bags has great options in our four cornhole bag series geared towards you as a player: Tailgate Bags, Performance Series Bags, Competition Series Bags, and Pro+ Bags.

Once you have the basic toss down, layer in the three most commonly used cornhole throws.

  1. The Slider does just that, hits the board and slides into the hole
  2. Swoosh! The air mail comes with a perfect arc that lands it right in the hole, untouched.
  3. The push throw is designed to push another bag either out of the way or into the hole. This is cornhole’s primary defensive throw, landing close to the hole and making it near impossible for your opponent to slide in.

THE FOLLOW THROUGH

Just like in golf, swing your arm through after you release, keep your eye on the bag until it lands. And perhaps most importantly when it comes to the follow through step, cue up your victory dance. A cartwheel, robot, cha cha slide, whatever you’re feeling – go for it, unless your toss was horribly off.

Last but not least – what is the best way to throw cornhole bags to win? Practice, duh. You can follow all the top cornhole pro tips and techniques but at the end of the day, practice makes perfect, and a cornhole throw that is all your own.

How do you throw your cornhole bags?