Ava Romero
Ladder golf, also known as ladder toss or ladder ball, is a lawn game that involves throwing bolas (two balls connected by a string) onto a ladder. The game can be played with two people (one person per team) or up to six people (three teams of two). Each team has bolas of a specific colour, which are thrown at the ladder, with points being scored for each bola that wraps around a ladder rung. The top rung is typically worth three points, the middle two, and the bottom one. Points can be cancelled out if both teams have bolas on the same rung. The game was patented in 2002 by Robert G. Reid, a postman from Pennsylvania, who had played the game with his family for decades.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Game type | Outdoor lawn game |
| Number of players | 2 or 4 |
| Teams | 2 teams of 2 players each |
| Equipment | 2 ladders, 6 bolas (3 of one colour, 3 of another) |
| Scoring | Points are scored by throwing bolas onto the rungs of the ladder; the top rung is worth 3 points, the middle is worth 2 points, and the bottom is worth 1 point |
| Winning | The first team to reach a predetermined score (often 21 points) wins |
| Variations | "Tight dangle bonus", "springboard bonus", "shoot-off" to determine the first player |
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What You'll Learn
How to play
Ladder golf, also known as ladder toss or ladder ball, is a lawn game played by throwing bolas (two balls connected by a string) onto a ladder. The game can be played with either 2 or 4 players, divided into two teams. Each team has 3 bolas of their colour. The aim is to throw the bolas onto the rungs of the ladder to score points. The top rung is worth 3 points, the middle is worth 2 points, and the bottom is worth 1 point.
To set up the game, place the two ladders about 15 feet apart, with their rungs parallel to each other. You can adjust the distance between the ladders to make the game easier or harder. Players stand on either side of the ladder, throwing their bolas at the opposite ladder while staying behind the uprights (the vertical posts of the ladder).
Each player or team throws all 3 of their bolas at the ladder, aiming for the rungs. Players can use any type of underhand toss, and they are allowed to bounce the bolas off the ground to land them on the rungs. If a bola does not land on a rung, it scores zero points. Points are tallied at the end of each round, and the first team to reach a predetermined score, usually 21, wins the game.
There are a few variations in scoring. In one version, if both teams have bolas on the same rung, their points cancel each other out, resulting in a net score of zero for that rung. Additionally, there are optional bonuses that can be incorporated into the game. For example, a "tight dangle bonus" is when the balls are wrapped around the horizontal rods, earning an extra point. A "springboard bonus" occurs when the balls launch back in the direction they were thrown.
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Scoring
Points are awarded based on which rung of the ladder the bolas wrap around. The top rung is typically worth 3 points, the middle is worth 2 points, and the bottom is worth 1 point. An alternative scoring system reverses the point values of the top and bottom rungs, with the bottom being worth 3 points and the top being worth 1. In either case, points are cancelled out if both teams' bolas land on the same rung. For example, if Team A has two bolas on the bottom rung (worth 1 point each) and Team B has one bola on the middle rung (worth 2 points), the score for that round would be 2-2.
There are also bonus points available in Ladder Golf. A "tight dangle bonus" is awarded when the balls can no longer be wrapped around the horizontal rods, earning an additional point for each tight dangle. A "springboard bonus" occurs when the balls launch back in the direction they were thrown. A full house, where a player gets a bola on each of the rungs, is typically worth 5 or 10 bonus points, while a triple (three bolas on one rung) is worth 3 bonus points.
The game is typically played to 21 points, but players can decide on any score they prefer. If a player goes over 21 points, they are "bust" and do not add anything to their score for that round.
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Bola composition
Ladder golf, also known as ladder toss or ladder ball, is a lawn game played by throwing bolas—two balls connected by a string—onto a ladder.
The composition of the bolas may vary, but they typically consist of two balls connected by a string. The balls can be golf balls, plastic balls, tennis balls, rubber balls, or even a monkey's fist knot. The key is that the balls should be of uniform weight to ensure fair play.
Teams are usually distinguished by the colour of their bolas, with each team having a unique colour. For example, one team might have blue bolas, while another has red, and a third team uses purple.
The string connecting the two balls should be of an appropriate length to allow for a comfortable grip and easy throwing. The ideal length may vary depending on the player's preference and the specific rules of the game being played.
While the composition of the bolas may vary, it is important to ensure that all the bolas used in a game are uniform in terms of weight and size to maintain fairness and consistency.
Players can choose to make their own bolas or purchase them from sports equipment stores. Some players may even opt to use makeshift bolas, such as small balls connected by string or twine, as long as they meet the requirements of uniform weight and size.
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Number of players
Ladder golf is a game that can be played with two or more players. It is often played in teams of two, but it can also be played individually. The game is suitable for people of all ages and skill levels, making it a popular choice for family gatherings, picnics, and backyard barbecues.
When played in teams, the players take turns throwing bolas (two golf balls connected by a rope) at a ladder-like structure with three rungs. The object of the game is to wrap the bola around the rungs of the ladder, with each rung being assigned a different point value. The higher the rung, the higher the point value.
In a team of two players, each player throws three bolas per turn, alternating throws with the other team. If a player's bola wraps around a rung, they earn the corresponding points. The team with the highest total score after a predetermined number of turns or a certain point threshold wins.
For an individual game, the rules can be adjusted to suit the number of players. In this variation, each player throws three bolas at the ladder, aiming to accumulate points. The player with the highest score after a predetermined number of turns or upon reaching a certain score threshold is declared the winner.
The flexibility in the number of players and playing styles makes ladder golf a versatile and inclusive game, suitable for a wide range of social gatherings and events. It promotes You may want to see also Ladder golf, also known as ladder toss, is a lawn game played by throwing bolas (two balls connected by a string) onto a ladder. The game was patented in 2002 by Pennsylvanian Robert G. Reid, a postman who had played the game with his family for decades. Reid played the game on Escapees campgrounds in the United States in the late 1990s before deciding to file for a patent in November 1999. Some origin stories speculate that the bola is a stand-in for a live snake, which cowboys in the western United States or caballeros in Mexico would throw at fences or branches for points. The game may have been played by these cowboys and caballeros long before it was patented by Reid. After playing the game, Reid filed for a patent in 1999 and received it in 2002. He then sold the patent to Ladder Golf LLC, which was recorded in the patent office in March 2005. The company then began manufacturing the game commercially and sponsored a tournament in San Diego in April 2005, featuring 32 teams. The game involves tossing balls, often golf balls, connected by a rope at a pipe structure. The balls on the bolas can also be plastic balls, tennis balls, rubber balls, or a monkey's fist knot. The rungs of the ladder may be made of plastic pipe, wood, or other materials. The construction of the game is relatively easy, and the items needed to play are two ladders and a set of three bolas per team. Each ladder has three rungs, each rung scoring a different point value. One common method of scoring is to have the rungs be one, two, and three points. You may want to see alsoGolfing at the Masters: A Beginner's Guide
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Origin
Golf: Mastering the Perfect Swing
Frequently asked questions
