The ACO Cornhole Handicapping System Introduced allows players of different skill levels to compete fairly against each other by assigning handicap scores based on their abilities. This makes backyard cornhole games more exciting and competitive, regardless of the age or experience level of the players involved.
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ACO Cornhole Score System
The American Cornhole Organization (ACO) has made a new score system. It helps players or teams with different skill levels play against each other fairly. This makes the games more fun and competitive.
Cornhole can be boring sometimes. We fixed that.
Getting your first bag on the board is exciting for many ACO players. It gets them hooked.
Then, getting your first bag in the hole, winning your first game, or getting four bags in a row is also exciting. These “first times” in Cornhole can quickly turn someone who plays in the backyard into someone who loves the game.
But after playing for a while, you realize that Cornhole is most fun and exciting when you’re playing against someone at your same skill level. The score is close, like 20-20, and the whole game comes down to the final round or even the final bag!
Close, competitive Cornhole games are the most exciting part of the sport. The ACO score system will help make more games like this happen!
About ACO Cornhole Score System
The ACO Cornhole score system allows players or teams with different skill levels to play against each other fairly. The less experienced player or team gets extra points each round to make it more even.
Unlike other scoring systems that give extra points per game, ACO’s system gives extra points every round. This makes the games more competitive.
It sounds complicated, but it’s really not! Let me explain simply:
The ACO Cornhole score system can easily be used by anyone playing in their backyard to make family tournaments fair and fun for everyone! And be on the lookout – ACO will soon have a division using this scoring system in their tournaments!
How the ACO Cornhole Score System Works
In regular scoring, the points one player gets cancels out the points the other player gets. Only one player can score points each round.
- A bag on the board = 1 point
- A bag that goes through the hole = 3 points
Example:
- Player 1 gets 1 bag on the board and 2 bags in the hole (7 total points)
- Player 2 gets 2 bags on the board and 0 bags in the hole (2 total points)
- 7 points – 2 points = Player 1 scores 5 points that round
In the ACO system, they use regular scoring. But before finalizing the score, the player with lower skill gets bonus “handicap” points added.
Example:
- Player 1 (better player) gets 1 bag on board, 2 in hole (7 points)
- Player 2 (lower skill) gets 2 bags on board, 0 in hole (2 points)
- Player 2 gets 4 bonus handicap points per round added to their 2 points
- 7 points – (2 points + 4 bonus points) = Player 1 scores 1 point that round
How ACO Handicap Scores Are Given
- ACO handicap scores are given to individual players based on the average points they get in one round of throwing all 4 bags. This is called Points Per Round (PPR).
- A “round” is when a player throws all 4 of their bags from one side of the board to the other side.
- Once you know your PPR, you can use the chart in the next section to find your ACO handicap score.
How to Find Your Points Per Round (PPR)
There are two ways to find your PPR:
1. Scoreholio
- Scoreholio is a software used for cornhole tournaments worldwide.
- If you already have a Scoreholio profile and have played games in it, you can find your PPR in your player profile.
2. ACO Frame Game
- If you haven’t used Scoreholio and want to establish a PPR, an ACO Frame Game is an easy way.
- An ACO Frame Game is a test to measure your accuracy and skill in pitching bags.
- It is done one player at a time.
- An ACO Frame Game has 13 Frames (4 bags thrown = 1 Frame).
- In each Frame, the player throws all four bags from one side of the board to the other.
- The player switches sides for each Frame.
- Scoring is traditional: 1 point for a bag on the board, 3 points for a bag in the hole. Max points for a Frame is 12.
- After 13 Frames, the total score is the player’s Frame Game Score.
- To find your PPR, divide your Frame Game Score by 13.
Example: Frame Game Score = 86 86 divided by 13 = 6.62 PPR = 6.62
Note: Your PPR will be between 0 and 12. Tip: For backyard games, one Frame Game is fine, but for more accuracy, do 3 or more Frame Games and average the scores.
You Have Your PPR – Here’s How to Get Your ACO Handicap Score
Use the scale below to find your ACO Handicap Score based on your PPR (Points Per Round):
| PPR (Points Per Round) | ACO Handicap Score |
| 0 – 1.99 | 1 |
| 2.00 – 2.99 | 2 |
| 3.00 – 3.99 | 3 |
| 4.00 – 4.99 | 4 |
| 5.00 – 5.99 | 5 |
| 6.00 – 6.99 | 6 |
| 7.00 – 7.99 | 7 |
| 8.00 – 8.99 | 8 |
| 9.00 – 9.99 | 9 |
| 10.00 – 10.99 | 10 |
| 11.00 – 12.00 | 11 (No Handicap ) |
How to Use Your ACO Handicap Score in a Game
Now that each player has their ACO Handicap Score, we can easily calculate who gets additional points in each Frame.
- The player with the lower ACO Handicap Score is the “Underdog”.
- The player with the higher ACO Handicap Score is the “Favorite”.
- To calculate the number of points the Underdog will get per Frame, subtract the Underdog’s ACO Handicap Score from the Favorite’s ACO Handicap Score.
Example:
- Player 1 (Favorite) has an ACO Handicap Score of 8.
- Player 2 (Underdog) has an ACO Handicap Score of 6.
- 8 – 6 = 2
- The Handicap “Spread” is 2 points.
- Player 2 (Underdog) will get 2 extra points toward their score during each Frame of the game.
Scoring Example:
- Player 1 (Favorite) gets 1 bag on the board and 2 bags in the hole during the Frame (7 total points).
- Player 2 (Underdog) gets 2 bags on the board and 0 bags in the hole during the Frame (2 total points).
- Player 2 is the Underdog, and the Handicap Spread is 2 points per Frame.
- 2 points are added to Player 2’s score before canceling points and calculating the Frame score.
- 7 points – 4 points = Player 1 scores 3 points for the Frame.
Can You Use ACO Handicap Scores to Play Doubles?
Yes, you can absolutely use your ACO Handicap Scores to play a doubles game!
- All 4 players use their individual ACO Handicap Scores.
- The 2 players at one end of the boards use their individual ACO Handicap Scores against each other.
- The other 2 players at the opposite end of the board use their individual ACO Handicap Scores against each other.
Make It Exciting
By using the ACO’s original Handicapping System, you can bring the fun and excitement of competitive play to your own backyard games. It doesn’t matter if you’re playing against your 10-year-old nephew or even if the ACO King of Cornhole Craig Ervin shows up!
ACO Handicapping PDF Download
Frame Game Score Sheet Download
FAQ’s
What is the ACO Cornhole Handicapping System?
It’s a scoring system that allows players of different skill levels to compete fairly against each other. Less experienced players get bonus “handicap” points each round to even the playing field.
How do you find your handicap score?
First find your Points Per Round (PPR) by either looking at your Scoreholio profile or doing an ACO Frame Game of 13 rounds. Then use the provided chart to match your PPR to an ACO Handicap Score between 0-11.
How are handicap points awarded during a game?
The player with the lower handicap score is the “underdog” and gets bonus points equal to the difference between the two players’ handicap scores added to their score each round.
Can handicaps be used for doubles games?
Yes, each of the four players uses their individual handicap score. The two players at each board’s end use their scores against each other.
Why use the handicapping system?
It makes games more competitive and exciting, even when players have differing skill levels. Close, back-and-forth games are more fun for all involved.
