Scoring Rules
How points are calculated in cornhole using cancellation scoring.
Point Values
| Result | Points | Description |
|---|---|---|
In the Hole | 3 points | Bag goes through the hole |
On the Board | 1 point | Bag lands and stays on the board surface |
Off the Board | 0 points | Bag misses or falls off the board |
Cancellation Scoring
Airmail Drag uses cancellation scoring, the standard method for competitive cornhole. Here's how it works:
- Each round, both players/teams throw their 4 bags
- Count the raw points for each side
- Subtract the lower score from the higher score
- The difference goes to whoever scored more
- If scores are equal, no points are awarded that round
Example
| Round | Team A Raw | Team B Raw | Points Awarded |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 5 | 2 | Team A: 3 |
| 2 | 3 | 3 | None (wash) |
| 3 | 1 | 7 | Team B: 6 |
After 3 rounds: Team A has 3 points, Team B has 6 points.
Why Cancellation?
Cancellation scoring keeps games competitive longer. Without it, a dominant player could build an insurmountable lead. With cancellation, every round offers a chance to gain ground.
Round Maximum
The maximum points possible in a single round is 12 points (when one player gets all 4 bags in and the opponent scores 0):
- 4 bags in the hole = 12 raw points
- Opponent scores 0
- 12 - 0 = 12 points awarded
This is called a 4-bagger or perfect round.
Winning Conditions
Score Limit
Games typically play to 21 points. First player/team to reach the score limit wins.
Must Win By
When "must win by 2" is enabled, you need to be ahead by at least 2 points when reaching the score limit. Otherwise, play continues.
Round Limit
If a round limit is set (e.g., 10 rounds), the game ends after that many rounds regardless of score. Highest score wins.
Tie Games
If scores are tied when a round limit is reached, the result depends on tournament rules. Some tournaments play overtime rounds, others record it as a tie (for rounder formats).
In the App
Court Scoring Interface
When scoring in Airmail Drag:
- Enter bags "in" (through the hole) for each side
- Enter bags "on" (on the board) for each side
- The app calculates raw scores: (in × 3) + (on × 1)
- The app applies cancellation automatically
- Running totals update in real-time
Round History
The app shows a complete round history with raw scores and cancelled scores for every round, so you can review how the game progressed.
Verifying Scores
If there's ever a dispute, check the round history. Each round's raw scores are recorded, making it easy to verify the math.