GUIDE 02

Setup & equipment

Get the distances and gear right and the game plays exactly as intended. Here are the regulation numbers and a top-down look at the court.

The court, from above

Two boards face each other, holes aligned, with a foul line at the front edge of each. Players pitch from beside their own board toward the far one.

Foul line
27 ft
hole to hole
(33 ft, foul line to foul line)
Foul line

Diagram not to scale. Younger or casual players often shorten the pitching distance to make it more forgiving.

Regulation measurements

The board

Surface size2 ft × 4 ft
Hole diameter6 in
Hole placement9 in from top
Front height3–4 in
Back height12 in

The bags

Size6 in × 6 in
Weight~15–16 oz
FillResin or corn
Count8 total (4 each)

Placing your court

Step 1

Pick flat, level ground

Grass, pavement, or sand all work — keep both boards on the same surface so bounces are fair.

Step 2

Measure hole to hole

Set the holes 27 feet apart. Line the boards up so they point straight at each other.

Step 3

Mark the foul lines

The front edge of each board is the line you can't cross. A stick or chalk mark keeps everyone honest.

Next: how scoring works

Cancellation vs. straight scoring, with worked examples.

Go to scoring guide →