Set up thegame everyonestays for.
Buying guides for cornhole, bocce, horseshoes, ladder toss, kubb, croquet, roundnet, giant games and backyard play equipment, with official dimensions, distances and the build quality that survives a summer outside.
Pick the game
Tossing games, ball games, net games and backyard play. Every guide includes the official layout so you can set it up right.
Cornhole
Boards, bags and regulation setup
Horseshoes & toss games
Horseshoes, ladder toss, washers and more
Bocce & ball games
Bocce, pétanque, croquet and kubb
Net & yard sports
Roundnet, badminton sets and yard sports
Giant & party games
Giant blocks, yard pong and tailgate games
Trampolines & play
Trampolines, swing sets and playsets
Setup, lighting & storage
Court layouts, lights, scoring and storage
Rules, distances and setup
Compare putting mats, outdoor greens and chipping nets by practice space, maintenance and the kind of golf shots each supports.
Understand how nine-wicket backyard croquet is laid out, when a full-size court fits, which set pieces matter and how casual rules differ from organized play.
Compare combination badminton-volleyball sets by net adjustment, boundary layout, included gear and the rule details that change between games.
- 04
Bocce Ball Sizes and Court Dimensions for Backyard Play
Bocce
- 05
Building a Cornhole Board: Plywood, Bracing and Finish
Board building
- 06
Cornhole Bags Explained: Resin vs Corn Fill, Speed and Weight
Cornhole bags
- 07
Cornhole Board Dimensions, Distance and Scoring Rules
Cornhole rules
- 08
Horseshoe Pit Dimensions, Pitching Distance and Scoring
Horseshoes
- 09
Horseshoes vs Washer Toss: Space, Sets and Rules
Target games
Backyard Games questions, answered
Is a putting mat or chipping net better for a backyard?
Choose a putting mat for rolling practice in a small area and a chipping net when you have clear room for short airborne shots.
Read: Backyard Putting vs Chipping Games →Is backyard croquet the same as nine-wicket croquet?
The USCA describes nine-wicket croquet as its backyard form. Informal play may use local variations, so agree on the rules before starting.
Read: Backyard vs Nine-Wicket Croquet →Can one backyard net work for badminton and volleyball?
A combo set can adjust for both games. Check how the poles change height and whether the package includes separate boundaries and rules for each activity.
Read: Badminton and Volleyball Combo Sets Compared →What size are regulation bocce balls?
107 millimeters in diameter, about 920 grams each, under international and US federation rules.
Read: Bocce Ball Sizes and Court Dimensions for Backyard Play →How thick should a cornhole board top be?
The ACO specification allows a minimum 1/2-inch hardwood plywood top with cross-section backing, or 3/4-inch plywood with or without backing.
Read: Building a Cornhole Board →Are corn-filled or resin-filled bags better?
Resin-filled bags last longer, resist weather and pests and keep their feel. Corn-filled bags are traditional but break down and should be kept dry.
Read: Cornhole Bags Explained →Built to last outdoors
We check sets against official dimensions and weights, and say plainly when a set is sized for casual play.
Each guide says who the set suits, who should look elsewhere, and what to check before you buy.
Brands cannot buy a review or a spot on a list. Partner codes save you money; they never decide what we recommend.
Prices are dated, codes are updated across the site at once, and pages are revised when a product, standard or rule changes.
The backyard games index
- 01CornholeRegulation and tailgate cornhole boards, bags by fill and speed, custom boards, lighting and court layout.4 pages
- 02Horseshoes & toss gamesHorseshoes, ladder toss, washers, Kan Jam-style disc games, ring toss and safe lawn darts.4 pages
- 03Bocce & ball gamesBocce and pétanque sets, croquet, kubb, lawn bowls-style games and court building.4 pages
- 04Net & yard sportsRoundnet, combination badminton and volleyball sets, tetherball, soccer and football yard games.4 pages
- 05Giant & party gamesGiant tumbling blocks, yard dice, giant connect-four style games, yard pong and tailgate party games.0 pages
- 06Trampolines & playTrampolines and enclosures, swing sets, wooden and metal playsets, slides, ninja lines and climbing.1 page
- 07Setup, lighting & storageCourt and pit layouts, night-play lighting, scoreboards, tournament brackets, weatherproof storage and care.0 pages