Students
Frankie Derosa
Woodrow Wilson, 2021
Danny Hampton
Economics, 2020
Brandon Levy
Economics, 2020
David Harding
Politics, 2020
Project Description
Our project was designed to function as a social game. There are two people on each side with each board 20 feet away from each other. One person tosses four bags (separately) onto the opposing board and the person next to him does the same. Points are accumulated for bags that land on the board as well as bags that go in the center hole of the board. The speakers were placed on the side of each board and they required electronics in order to be made. The board was made from ½ inch plywood and it will be 48” x 24”. The front of each board stands 2.5 inches tall and the back of each board were made to be 12 inches off of the ground.
Technical Background
Corn-hole is an outdoor game involving two teams in which players throw bean bags onto a wooden board on the opposite end of the playing area. The goal of the game is to accumulate points between partners until they reach 21 points. Three points are awarded to a team if they land a bean bag through the hole in the center of the board and point is granted if the team lands a bean bag on the board. Play continues until the first team reaches 21 points and thus is the winner. However, corn-hole is much more than a simple outdoor activity. The game utilizes horizontal projectile motion to optimize throwing accuracy. The equation for projectile motion is as follows:
X f = X 0 + V x t
Where X f is the final position (where the opposing board is), X 0 is the initial position (of the board you are throwing from), V x is the initial velocity (of the bean bag in m/s) and t is the time (how long the bean bag takes to reach the opposing board X f in seconds). As evident in the equation, contestants must manage how fast they release the bean bag and at what height they throw the bean bag. It is common that beginners tend towards throwing the bean bag with less arc which makes it more difficult to accumulate points. The bean bag should be thrown with a high arc so that the bean bags lands flat on the board and does not slide off of the board. Once mastering the simple technique of tossing, players can add spin to the bean bag in order to prevent additional movement once the bag hits the board. In order to add spin, the index finger should wrap around the side of the bag with the middle finger and ring finger on the bottom of the bag. Lastly, the thumb sits on top of the bag and the bottom two fingers are used to initiate spin by controlling the center of the bag. Overall, there is no one technique that will guarantee points for every throw – in fact, many factors effect the likelihood that the bean bag will land on the board including air resistance, distance between boards, and bean bag weight. Players should practice a variety of techniques and see what works best for their playing style.
Martin, E. (2019). Horizontal Projectile Motion. https://prezi.com/1vhc4zsec0rq/horizontal- projectile-motion/
Fulton, W. (2019). How to Dominate Cornhole, According to a World Champion. https://www.thrillist.com/drink/nation/how-to-play-cornhole-grillist