The rules for your set
This guide follows the Ladder Golf Original Tournament Edition manual from Tosso. Ladder Golf is a brand, and other ladder toss manufacturers use different scoring and setup rules. Check the instructions included with your equipment before you play.
The manual describes a bola as 2 golf balls attached to each other by a nylon rope, and states the object is to wrap your bolas around the rungs of the ladder. Each ladder has 3 rungs: a top, a middle and a bottom. The game is listed for 2 to 4 players, ages 8 and up.
| Element | Value | Where it appears in the manual |
|---|---|---|
| Ladder spacing, two ladders | 15 ft / 5 paces | Playing Directions setup diagram |
| Toss line, single ladder | A line drawn 5 paces from the ladder | How To Play |
| Bolas per player per round | 3 | Ladder Golf Official Rules |
| Top rung | 3 points | Scoring and Points |
| Middle rung | 2 points | Scoring and Points |
| Bottom rung | 1 point | Scoring and Points |
| Game total | Exactly 21 points, going over voids the round | How To Play |
Distance and the toss line
The manual specifies spacing the ladders 15 ft or 5 paces apart, and marks a toss line at each ladder in the setup diagram. If you are playing with a single ladder, the instruction is to draw a line 5 paces from the ladder and throw from there. Any player who steps past the toss line during a toss commits a foul and that toss is void.
Other brands print different spacing on their own boxes and instruction sheets, and plenty of casual groups shorten the distance for children. Check the instructions that came with your set before assuming 15 ft, and if you are mixing sets or playing at a party, state the distance out loud before the first round.
Turn order and scoring
The starting player or team is decided by a coin toss. A round consists of every player tossing all 3 of their bolas, and the manual is specific that the first player must toss all 3 bolas before the next player throws, individually and underhand. The winner of each round earns the first toss of the next round, and no player may walk to the ladder before the current round is complete.
Scoring happens only once both teams have tossed all their bolas. Points come from bolas still hanging on the rungs at that moment: top rung 3 points, middle rung 2 points, bottom rung 1 point. Bolas knocked off during play do not count. The manual also gives an optional bonus point for hanging all 3 bolas on the same rung, or one bola on each of the 3 rungs, in a single round, which makes the maximum a player can score in one round 10 points.
Reaching exactly 21, and the bust rule
Games are played to an exact total of 21 points, and to win a player must be the only one to score exactly 21 after the completion of a round. Going over voids the whole round: the manual's worked example is a player on 18 who needs 3, scores 5, and therefore counts none of those points and enters the next round on 18 again.
The manufacturer rules do not use cancellation scoring. Both sides keep whatever they have hanging when the round ends, unlike cornhole where the lower score subtracts from the higher. Some other brands and house rules do apply cancellation, so read your own set's sheet rather than importing the cornhole method by habit. On a tie, the manual sends tied players into as many overtime rounds as needed until one player finishes a complete round 2 points ahead, and notes the 2 point rule applies only in overtime.
Compare ladder-toss set materials and construction ↗
Gear to consider
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SetsCheck price on AmazonGoSports Classic Ladder Toss Set
Classic PVC version; two targets, six rubber bolos and case
A portable PVC ladder set with soft rubber bolos and built-in score markers.
Choose the Classic option when comparing this price with the separate Pro version.
SetsCheck price on AmazonGoSports Steel Ladder Toss Set
Powder-coated steel version
A steel frame for buyers who want a sturdier alternative to PVC ladders.
Allow more carrying weight than a plastic set and store the frame dry.
A few common questions
Is ladder toss scored with cancellation like cornhole?
Not under the Ladder Golf manufacturer rules. Those rules count every bola still hanging when all bolas have been tossed, for both sides, with no subtraction between the teams. Cancellation is a house variation and appears in some other brands' instructions, so confirm which one your group is using before the first round.
How far apart do the ladders go?
The Ladder Golf manual specifies 15 ft, described as 5 paces, between the ladders, with a toss line at each. Brands differ, so a set from another manufacturer may print a different distance. With a single ladder the manual tells you to draw a line 5 paces from it and throw from there.