from the commissioner

Backyard Game Guides & How-Tos

Weekend builds, straight answers, and the picks worth your money. Everything I have learned running the league, in one place.

DIY BUILDS BUYING TIPS BEST PICKS

Build it yourself

grab the saw
Person assembling a cornhole board frame with a drill and 2x4 lumber Build it

How to Build a Cornhole Board

A regulation cornhole board is 48 inches long by 24 inches wide, with a 6 inch hole centered side to side and sitting 9 inches dow…

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Stack of sanded 2x4 blocks forming a giant Jenga tower on a patio Build it

How to Make Giant Jenga from 2x4s

A giant tumbling tower is 54 blocks, and the whole trick is one number: cut each block to 10.5 inches. A standard 2x4 is actually…

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A family playing the classic Connect Four four-in-a-row game Build it

How to Make Giant Connect Four

A giant four in a row stands about 3 to 4 feet tall and works the same way the tabletop one does. You build a wood frame that hold…

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A player pitching a horseshoe toward the stake on a grassy backyard court at sunset Build it

How to Build a Regulation Horseshoe Pit

A regulation horseshoe court is two pits with steel stakes set 40 feet apart, measured stake to stake. Each stake stands 14 to 15…

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Collection of handmade wooden yard games arranged on a grassy backyard Build or buy

DIY Yard Games: Build It or Buy It

I have built a lot of yard games on my driveway, and I have bought just as many. Some games are genuinely worth a Saturday with a…

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Read up before you buy

do the homework
Read up The Best Backyard Games of 2026

The best backyard games of 2026, ranked by the commissioner: party hits, kid favorites and gift-worthy sets. Check prices on Amazon.

Read the guide → Care guide How to Wash Cornhole Bags Without Ruining Them

How to wash cornhole bags the right way: corn-filled bags spot clean only, all-weather bags can be washed. Or grab fresh bags on Amazon.

Read the guide → Read up Wedding Lawn Games: Rent vs Buy

Wedding lawn games rental vs buy: real cost math, resale value and what to do. The commissioner runs the numbers. Check prices on Amazon.

Read the guide → Read up Are Lawn Darts Illegal? The Real Story

Are lawn darts illegal? The real story on the 1988 ban, what's legal now and safe soft-tip alternatives to buy. Check prices on Amazon.

Read the guide → Read up Outdoor Games Without Equipment

Outdoor games without equipment: tag, races and classics you can play right now, plus cheap kits to level up. The commissioner's list.

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still deciding?

Let me pick for you

Not sure where to start? See my ranked best-of lists by category, or answer four quick questions and I will hand you a lineup built for your backyard.

See the best by category → Try the Game Finder