Cornhole Terminology Every Player Should Know
If you’re new to cornhole, you might already know the basics: toss the bag, aim for the hole, and rack up points. But as soon as you step into a game with more experienced players, you’ll notice something else—the lingo. Cornhole has developed its own slang over the years, and understanding it can make you feel like part of the community while also giving you insights into different strategies and shots.
To help you get up to speed, here’s a guide to some of the most common cornhole terms and phrases that you’ll hear around the boards.
The Basics: Bags and Boards
Bag – Sounds simple, but in cornhole it’s more than just a sack of fabric. Professional bags are double-sided with different textures: one side slick for sliding, the other sticky for control. Players will often talk about “throwing the slick side” or “sticking it” depending on the situation.
Board – Regulation boards are 2 feet by 4 feet, set 27 feet apart for competitive play. When someone mentions “short board,” they might be referring to a missed throw that landed in front of the board, which usually isn’t ideal.
Scoring Shots
Cornhole (or “Drano”) – When your bag goes straight into the hole, that’s a cornhole. Some players call it a “drano,” like draining a basketball shot. Each cornhole is worth 3 points.
Woody (or “Boarder”) – A bag that lands and stays on the board but doesn’t drop in the hole. Worth 1 point.
Dirty Bag – A bag that touches the ground before coming to rest on the board. It doesn’t count.
Foul Bag – Any throw that breaks the rules, like stepping over the line (a foot foul), or a bag that lands off the board entirely. No points awarded.
Special Shots and Strategies
Airmail – A high-arcing shot that goes straight into the hole without touching the board. It’s one of the flashiest moves in cornhole and a crowd favorite when it lands cleanly.
Slider – A bag that lands on the board and glides its way into the hole. This is often the bread-and-butter throw for many players, especially on slick boards.
Blocker – A bag that intentionally lands in front of the hole, making it harder for your opponent to slide their bags in. It forces them to either go around or attempt an airmail.
Bumper (or Carom Shot) – When your bag ricochets off another bag into the hole. Sometimes it’s skill, sometimes it’s luck, but either way, it’s a great feeling.
Push Shot – When you knock one of your own bags (or even an opponent’s) into the hole by sliding another bag into it. This is an important tactic if one of your bags is sitting close to the hole.
Roller – A newer, advanced shot where a player throws with a specific grip and spin that makes the bag roll or hop over a blocker and still land on the board. This has become more common with the rise of professional cornhole.
Cut Shot – A bag thrown with a tilted angle so that it hooks or curves around another bag, usually to avoid a blocker.
Scoring Situations
4-Bagger – When a player makes all four of their bags in the hole during a single round. It’s a big accomplishment and often celebrated with high-fives or even cheers from the crowd.
Wash – When both players (or teams) score the same amount in a round, effectively canceling each other out. The net score is zero, and the game moves on.
Skunk (or Whitewash) – A term used when one team dominates early, sometimes defined as reaching 11–0 before the other team scores. While not always an official rule in competitive play, many backyard players use it as a mercy rule.
Cornhole Culture and Fun Phrases
Backyard Bags – Refers to casual, social cornhole played at cookouts and tailgates, often with cheaper boards and bags. The vibe here is more about fun than precision.
Professional Bags – High-quality bags with resin fill and different textures for slick and stick shots. If you hear players talking about “ACL-approved” bags, they’re referring to bags certified by the American Cornhole League.
Flop Bag (or Pancake) – A bag that lands flat without any spin or angle. Some players aim for this throw because it’s more predictable, while others prefer a spinning “rotation bag.”
Dirty Rollup – Slang for when a bag barely climbs up the front of the board and still manages to stick. Not the prettiest shot, but it counts.
Hole-Friendly Board – A way of describing boards that are especially slick, making it easier for bags to slide in.
Why Terminology Matters
At first, this slang might just sound like inside jokes. But learning the lingo is more than just talking the talk—it helps you understand strategies, follow along with commentary during pro matches, and communicate with teammates during competitive play.
Imagine being in a doubles game and telling your partner, “I’ll throw a blocker, then you can push it in.” Without knowing the terms, that strategy wouldn’t make much sense. With the right vocabulary, you can plan moves, anticipate what your opponent is trying to do, and even impress other players with your knowledge.
Wrapping It Up
Cornhole is simple at its core, but the deeper you go, the more you realize there’s a rich culture around it—including the language. From the thrill of hitting an airmail to the pride of a 4-bagger, every term adds to the game’s personality and makes it more fun to play and watch.
So the next time you step up to the board, don’t just bring your best throw—bring your vocabulary too. You’ll find yourself connecting with other players faster, and who knows, maybe you’ll even create a little cornhole slang of your own.