GoSports giant 4 in a row game
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Guides Build a Giant Connect Four for the Yard
weekend buildBuild a Giant Connect Four for the Yard: Full DIY Plans
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 holds a 7 column by 6 row grid, mount it between two side posts on a base, and drop big discs down the columns until somebody lines up four. The only numbers that really matter are the disc size and the gap the discs fall through.
- 7 X 6 GRID
- 42 DISCS
- ONE WEEKEND
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This is a two day build, not because it is hard, but because cutting 42 discs and waiting on paint takes time. If you can run a circular saw and a hole saw and drive a few screws, you can finish it over a weekend. Here is the cut list, the spacing math, and every step in order.
Step by step
- Gather lumber and tools You are building a grid panel, two side posts, and a base. Grab a sheet of half-inch plywood for the 42 discs, plus 1x3 or 1x2 boards (or ripped plywood strips) for the grid bars. Add two 2x4 or 2x3 side posts about 3.5 feet long, a wider board for the base, 1.25 inch wood screws, and wood glue. Tools: circular saw, a 5 to 6 inch hole saw on a drill, a sander, a square, and a tape measure. cut listBuy: 1 sheet ½" plywood (discs + base), 1x3 or 1x2 strips for grid bars, 2 posts @ ~42", 1.25" screws, glue. Tools: hole saw 5-6", circular saw, drill, sander, square.
- Build the 7x6 grid frame The grid is two parallel panels with the discs falling in the gap between them. On each face, run vertical 1x3 bars to make 7 columns, then short horizontal bars to mark 6 rows. Space the columns so each opening is your disc diameter plus about 1/8 to 1/4 inch of side clearance. A 5.5 inch disc wants roughly a 5.75 inch wide slot. Build both faces the same, then join them with spacers slightly thicker than the disc so it drops without binding. cut list7 columns x 6 rows. Column opening = disc diameter + 1/8" to 1/4". Gap between the two faces = disc thickness (½") + a hair, so a ½" disc falls in a ~5/8" gap.
- Build the side posts and base Cut two side posts about 42 inches tall and screw the finished grid panel between them so the whole frame stands on its own. Cut a base board wide enough that the assembly will not tip when a kid leans on it, around 24 to 30 inches across. Attach two short feet under the base front and back for stability. Square everything before the screws go fully home so the columns stay vertical and the discs fall straight. cut listPosts ~42". Base board 24-30" wide with front and back feet. Check the frame is square so columns drop true.
- Cut the 42 discs Chuck a 5 to 6 inch hole saw in the drill and cut 42 discs from the half-inch plywood, 21 for each color. Clamp the plywood and back it with scrap so the discs do not splinter or kick. Cut all 42 to the same diameter, because one fat disc that drags is enough to spoil a column. Punch out the center plug from each disc if your hole saw leaves one. cut list42 discs total, 21 per color, all the same 5-6" diameter from ½" plywood. Back the cut with scrap to stop splintering.
- Add the release rail at the bottom To reset the game you need to dump all the discs at once. Make the bottom rail of the grid removable: a slat that slides out sideways, or a hinged bottom bar held by a pin or a knob. When it is in place, discs stack up the columns. Pull it out and every disc drops into a tray or the grass so you reload fast. Test that the slat moves freely with a full board of discs resting on it. cut listBottom = a slide-out slat or hinged bar with a pin. Make it the full grid width so all 7 columns release at once.
- Sand, seal, and paint Sand every disc edge and both faces with 120 grit so they fall smooth and do not catch on the grid bars. Sand the frame too. Paint 21 discs one color and 21 another with exterior latex, two coats, and let them cure fully. Coat the frame and posts, then seal everything with an exterior clear sealer or spar urethane so the set survives being left outside. cut listSand discs and frame to 120 grit. Two coats exterior latex per color (21 + 21). Finish with an outdoor clear sealer on discs and frame.
- Assemble and test the drop Stand the frame on the base, slide the release rail home, and drop a disc down each of the 7 columns. It should fall freely and stack with no jamming. If a disc hangs up, sand the disc edge or widen that slot a touch until it clears. Fill all six rows in a column to confirm the grid holds 42 discs, then pull the release rail and watch them all drop. That reset is the part everyone loves. cut listTest every column with a full stack of 6. If a disc drags, sand its edge or open the slot 1/16" at a time, never force it.
Getting the disc spacing right
Spacing is the one thing that makes or breaks this build, so cut the discs before you build the grid. Measure a real disc with calipers or a tape, then size each column opening to that diameter plus 1/8 to 1/4 inch. Too tight and discs wedge halfway down. Too loose and they rattle past each other and miss the row.
The front to back gap matters just as much. Half-inch discs need a gap a little over half an inch between the two grid faces, so they slide flat without tipping and stacking crooked. When in doubt, build a single test column first, drop a few discs, and adjust before you commit to all seven.
Make it travel and store flat
A 3.5 foot frame is awkward to haul to a tailgate or a campsite, so plan for takedown. Screw the grid panel to the side posts with knobs or wing nuts instead of permanent screws, and the whole grid lifts off the base for flat storage. The base can ride separately.
Keep the 42 discs in a lidded tote so bare-wood edges do not soak up rain and swell. A swollen disc is a disc that jams, so dry storage is the simple insurance that keeps the set playing like new for years.
Rather skip the saw?
If cutting 42 discs and dialing in the spacing is not your idea of a weekend, a finished set shows up sized right and ready to drop. These are the ones I would buy.
Yard Games giant 4 in a row
Vetted by the commissioner and ready to play out of the box.
Hey! Play! giant 4 in a row
Vetted by the commissioner and ready to play out of the box.
Build a Giant Connect Four for the Yard FAQ
How tall is a giant Connect Four?
A backyard giant four in a row stands about 3 to 4 feet tall once it is mounted on its base. Most DIY builds land near 3.5 feet, which puts the top of the grid at a comfortable height for adults to drop discs and for kids to still reach with a small step. The base adds the stability that keeps a frame that tall from tipping.
How many discs does giant Connect Four need?
You need 42 discs, 21 of each color, the same as the tabletop game. The grid is 7 columns by 6 rows, which holds 42 discs when completely full, so cutting 42 covers a full board. Cut a couple of spares while the hole saw is out, since a chipped or warped disc is easy to swap.
What size discs for giant 4 in a row?
Most DIY builds use discs around 5 to 6 inches in diameter cut from half-inch plywood. The exact size is up to you, but pick one and cut all 42 identically. The size you choose then sets your grid spacing: make each column opening the disc diameter plus 1/8 to 1/4 inch so the discs fall freely without jamming.
How do you reset a giant Connect Four after a game?
Build a release at the bottom of the grid. The common method is a removable bottom slat or a hinged bar held by a pin that runs the full width of all 7 columns. With it in place the discs stack up the columns. Pull or swing it open and every disc drops out at once into a tray or the grass, so you reload in seconds.
Should I seal a homemade giant Connect Four?
Yes, if it lives outside. Paint the discs in your two colors with exterior latex, then coat the discs and the frame with an exterior clear sealer or spar urethane. Bare plywood that gets rained on swells and warps, and a swollen disc jams in the slot. Sealing the wood and storing the discs dry keeps the set dropping clean for years.