When I was in college, I started playing cornhole at our football tailgate parties. A truck that parked next to us set up the game and I had to invite myself over to play a game. I’ll never forget that first game, or the DIY cornhole equipment my parking lot neighbor had.
Nowadays I’ve switched over to using pro cornhole bags. Made to the exact specs required at professional matches, I find these bags just throw better. I also know I’m ready for a tournament game for when I have time to join.
Here’s what I look for when I’m looking for professional cornhole bags.
How to Choose the Best Pro Cornhole Bags for Your Game
Follow these 4 tips and you’ll be able to pick out a slick set of bags for your next game.
1) Make Sure the Bags Don’t Have a Funky Weight
During professional cornhole games you have to play with bags that match a certain weight. From the heaviest allowed being sixteen and a half ounces and the lightest being fifteen ounces. Most places sell their pro bags in sets of four, making sure you get the same weight on all bags.
2) Take a Look at How that Side Stitching Looks
Your pro cornhole bags need to have solid stitching that’s in the right place. Game rules state that your bags need to be six and a quarter inches, with the stitching a quarter inch from the sides. Gives you a six inch square.
3) Do a Double Look on those Two-Sided Bags
Well, I know of course bags have two sides. Did you know that pro cornhole bags are required to only be one inch thick and usually have two different fabric sides? A “slide side” fabric and one that’s a “hold side”.
Just as the name suggests, a slide side fabric will be a faster material. Allowing you to move your bag quickly on the board. The hold side is meant to drop and stay, so the fabric is changed on this side to get a good result.
4) Be Sure to Grab All Four Matching Pro Bags
Should you ever find yourself wanting to try a pro cornhole tournament, make sure you have four matching bags if you want to use yours during the game. The tournament staff will have game bags you can use, but they will be unfamiliar to you. My suggestion is to buy two or three sets of bags (four bags per set) and rotate playing with all of your sets. This way you’re used to throwing all bags and have different sets to choose from during a pro game.
Pro Bags are Better Even for Play at Home
After years of playing cornhole, I would suggest if you plan on playing this game regularly get some better quality stuff. For example, when you use pro cornhole bags you’re going to have a bag that has an even throw every time. Games that have pieces that don’t work well can be frustrating to play. When you can spend time focused on your throwing arm instead of the bag, you really get to enjoy the game.
Photo by Ron Lach :
