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Ladder Ball Rules Card

A one-page ladder ball rules card: how to play, how to score, and how to set it up. Hit print, fold it, and keep it with your set. Want the full walkthrough? See the Ladder Ball rules.

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Ladder Ball

rules card
Players2 or 4 (1v1 or 2v2)
Ages8+
Setup2 min
Spaceapprox 20 ft long x 6 ft wide

What you need

  • 1 or 2 ladder targets (3 rungs each)
  • 6 bolas total (3 per player or team, two colors)
  • A flat lawn or driveway about 20 ft long
  • Optional: a marker for the toss line

Scoring

  • Top rung = 3 points, middle rung = 2 points, bottom rung = 1 point.
  • A bola only counts if it stays hanging on the rung after all throws are done. Bolas knocked off during play do not score.
  • Many rule sets use cancellation: opposing points for the round cancel, and only the higher side banks the difference.
  • You must reach exactly 21 to win.
  • Bust rule: if your score would go over 21, that whole round is voided and you stay at the score you had before the round. You have to land on 21 on the nose.

How to play

  1. Set up the ladder. Stand the ladder target up and mark a toss line about 15 feet away (roughly five paces). In a two-ladder set, place the second ladder at the line so players throw back and forth.
  2. Decide who goes first. Flip a coin or rally. The winner throws first in round one; after that the previous round's scorer throws first.
  3. Toss your bolas. Each player throws all 3 bolas, alternating with the opponent. Underhand, overhand, bank shots, anything goes as long as you stay behind the toss line.
  4. Score the round. After all 6 bolas are thrown, count bolas that are still hanging on the rungs once any knock-offs have settled.
  5. Use cancellation (optional). Many players cancel matching points so only the leader scores the difference each round. Others let both sides keep their points, agree first.
  6. Win at exactly 21. Keep playing rounds until a player or team lands on exactly 21 points. Overshoot and the bust rule kicks in.

Set it up

Set the toss line 15 feet from the ladder (about five normal paces). The ladder itself has three horizontal rungs spaced about 13 inches apart on an upright frame. Bolas are two golf-ball-sized balls joined by a roughly 13-inch rope.