How to Make Bean Bags

Most bags made from scratch are made out of duck canvas or a similar material. Choose the color of your choice and cut the fabric into (8) 7”x7” squares. I would recommend using bright colors that are easy to see while flying through the air. Of course they will get dirty over time, so I would recommend not using expensive custom designs if you plan on playing outdoors a lot.

The finished product will be 6”x6” once we fill the bags with corn. The bags should be filled so that they weigh nearly a pound each. This is about equivalent to two cups of corn. When you sew the squares together, make sure they are a bit over 6”x6” so they will be the correct size after you fill them. Sew all four sides of the bag except for a small section to fill the bags with feed corn. Make sure you use some heavy duty thread so they will last longer! Before you fill the bags with corn, turn them inside out so the seam is not on the outside of the bag.

When it comes to filling the bag, you can use a variety of products. Most people use feed corn or plastic pellets. The difference between these two is that the pellets are more resistant to rain in case they get wet. However, pellets weigh less than corn and will occupy more space when filling the bag up to one pound. Another difference is that corn will break down over time: the bags start out bulky and tend to bounce, but once they break in they will be “floppy” and land softly.

A funnel can be used to fill the bags if you left a small opening. Fill the bags so that each weighs about a pound. Note that it is important for all the bags to feel the same size and weight, which is the hardest part of the project. More detailed instructions will soon be posted on beabaginfo.com.

Game Strategy: Blocking the Hole

Most people think this game is very simple... and it is, but as the common player becomes more competitive, strategy becomes an important part of winning games and tournaments. Some players become so good that they can easily make 3 or 4 bags in the hole every time. When this is the case, the game can go on for a long, long time. Many players find it easier to score by playing defense. But how do you play defense in a game that revolves around a player's offensive skills? No, you do not have your partner at the other end smack the bags right out of the air. Instead, you block the hole with your bag.

Of course, this strategy might not work on all sets of boards. It is difficult to make the bag land in front of the hole on a slick set of boards, so this strategy is recommended for a set of boards than the bags can "stick" to. This strategy also works better when you have the first shot of the round. On the first shot, try to put the bag right in front of the hole so it barely leans over the edge. If it leans into the hole too far, it is easier for your opponent to knock both the bags in on his shot. By leaving it off of the hole more, it requires more accuracy on his part to either knock them both in or go over the top. The best case scenario is that your opponent pushes your bag in the hole, and his bag goes off the board. There are many different possible scenarios that can happen during your opponent's shot, but if they miss, your goal has been met. Further details about alternate scenarios will be soon posted on the strategy page of my website, as well as in future blog posts.

How to Throw a Flat Bag

THE TOSS

In order to be a great bags player, you MUST learn how to throw the bag so that it spins through the air. A horizontal, spinning bag is the key to pitching a consistent game for two reasons. First, putting spin on the bag allows it to "sail" through the air without being affected by the wind. Second, a flat spin allows the bag to land smoothly on the game board, and more importantly continue to move in a straight path once it hits the board. A "flopping" bag seems to bounce in different directions after striking the board, making the player's tosses more inconsistent.

So how do you spin the bag perfectly flat? Many beginners find this to be difficult and give up after a few attempts. It does take some practice, but I have come up with a few tips to help players get the hang of it more quickly.

1) Hold the bag perfectly flat from the start, with your thumb on top of the bag and your other fingers underneath. Most beginners do not bend their wrist inward enough to release the bag horizontally flat (parallel to the ground).

2) Begin the toss with your thumb and fingers pointing directly toward your left (if you're pitching right-handed). Try to keep your fingers pointed in this direction as you move through your backswing. As you move your arm forward, your fingers should point straight forward by the time you release the bag, causing the bag to spin through the air. (Wrist motion is similar to throwing a frisbee)

3) It is important to pitch the bag in a smooth, slow motion. Many players lose control during the transition from the backswing to the frontswing, and go through the entire motion too quickly. Your backswing should be very slow until you begin the frontswing, which should gradually increase in speed until the bag is released.

Check out these instructions on the new site www.beanbaginfo.webs.com