If you’re a competitive cornhole player, you understand the importance of playing with the regulation equipment. This starts with the boards. There are so many types of boards available that it’s hard to know which ones are up to regulation and which ones are just cheap imitations. Here’s what you should look for in a regulation cornhole board.
Accurate Dimensions and Measurements
Length, Width, and Height
Surprisingly, there is a small amount of wiggle room when it comes to the dimensions.
Length: 47.5 – 48 inches
Width: 23.5 – 24 inches
Height: 3 – 4 inches
Keep in mind that wherever the boards’ dimensions land in the range, they must be identical in measurements.
Hole Diameter and Location
This measurement does not have a range and should be as precise as possible. First, the hole must be 6 inches in diameter. Second, the outer perimeter of the hole should be located 9 inches from the top end of the board and 12 inches from each side.
Material
Regardless of how precise the measurements are, wood is the only regulation material. This is because boards made from plastic, metal, or anything else will play much differently than wood. The specific type of wood should be smooth plywood measuring at least ½ inch in thickness. It’s crucial to sand down the wood until it has a consistently smooth surface. Rough patches will undoubtedly impact the movement of the cornhole bags. Also, the only type of paint that should be used to decorate the boards is semi-gloss. This type of paint will limit the amount of slide and will keep your boards up to code.
Angle of Boards
Now here’s where things can get tricky. While the recommended distance between the highest point of the cornhole board and the ground should be 1 foot, how do you know if the board is angled correctly? Sure, the back of the board can be 1 foot from the ground, but the board could be on an unlevel surface. Furthermore, the legs on the board may not be properly level. Just measuring the height of the board won’t help you make sure that the pitch (angle of the board from the front to back) and the roll (angle of the board left to right) are up to code. Every cornhole player knows that the angle plays a crucial role in how the bags move once they hit the board. As of right now, the only way to do this is with The Cornhole Level. The device was specifically designed to determine if a cornhole board is at the regulation “level”. A circular level on the device helps you measure the pitch and roll of the boards.
Make sure to use all this information to build or purchase regulation cornhole boards. Enjoy playing on boards knowing that you are playing by the same rules that the pros do!