How to Play Ladder Toss

By Jaques of London · Est. 1795 · Updated 2026-08-17

Ladder Toss is an outdoor throwing game for two to four players in which bolas, each made from two balls connected by a short cord, are tossed underarm at a freestanding ladder frame. Points are scored according to which rung a bola wraps around, and the skill lies in landing cleanly on high-value rungs while knocking off your opponent's bolas.

It travels well, sets up in minutes on grass, gravel, or a patio, and suits a wide age range, which is why it has become a fixture at garden parties, camping trips, and barbecues. The combination of simple rules and genuine skill in the toss keeps players of all abilities engaged from the first round to the last.

A little history

The game is sometimes called by various folk names including Ladder Ball and Hillbilly Golf, and its precise origins are unclear. It appears to have grown in popularity across North America during the 1990s as an informal backyard pastime, likely drawing on older cord-and-ball tossing traditions. By the 2000s it had spread widely in Europe as a packaged garden game. No single inventor or definitive first instance has been reliably documented.

Setting up

1. Place the two ladder frames upright on a flat surface, parallel to each other and five paces apart (approximately 5 metres, or 15 feet, for adults; shorter distances suit younger players).
2. Divide players into two teams of one or two. Each team takes three bolas of the same colour.
3. Decide which team throws first, typically by a coin toss or by each player throwing one bola and seeing who lands closer to the top rung.
4. Players stand beside their own ladder frame and throw towards the opposing frame.

How to play

1. Teams alternate turns. On each turn, every player on the active team throws all three of their bolas one at a time towards the opposing ladder.
2. Throw underarm, releasing the bola so it rotates and wraps around a rung. There is no restriction on throwing style beyond keeping both feet behind the base of your own ladder when releasing.
3. A bola that wraps around the top rung scores 3 points. The middle rung scores 2 points. The bottom rung scores 1 point.
4. A bola must remain on the rung at the end of the round to score. Bolas that bounce off or are knocked off by subsequent throws do not count.
5. Players may intentionally knock an opponent's bola off a rung with their own throw. If both bolas stay on the same rung after impact, both score.
6. After all bolas have been thrown in a round, scoring is calculated using cancellation scoring: subtract the lower team's total from the higher team's total. Only the team with the higher round total adds points to their running score. If both teams score equally in a round, neither team scores.
7. Collect the bolas and begin the next round. The team that did not score in the previous round (or the team that scored fewer points) throws first in the next round.
8. Play continues until one team reaches exactly 21 points.

Winning and scoring

The first team to reach exactly 21 points at the end of a complete round wins. Both teams must finish throwing all their bolas in the round before the winner is declared, even if one team passes 21 mid-round. If a team's score goes over 21 after cancellation scoring is applied, their score reverts to what it was at the start of that round, and play continues. A team must land on 21 precisely to win.

The fine points

The most common dispute concerns bolas that are still spinning on a rung when players go to collect them. The standard ruling is straightforward: if a bola is resting on a rung and not in motion when scoring is assessed at the end of the round, it counts. Bolas still swinging when you reach the frame do not score, as they have not settled. Do not touch any bolas until all throws in the round are complete, because moving them prematurely makes it impossible to judge what knocked what off.

A second regular argument concerns the bust rule. Some informal groups choose to ignore it and simply cap scores at 21 without reverting, but the standard game uses the revert rule described above as it maintains tension in the late game. Agree on this before the first throw. Similarly, clarify your house position on the exact throwing distance before play starts, as different set manufacturers print slightly different measurements on their packaging. Five metres is the most widely used adult distance.

How to win more often

• Aim for the top rung first. Three points per bola is the fastest route to 21, and even if you miss, a mid-rung landing still scores.
• Watch your opponent's bolas before you throw. If they have two bolas on the top rung, prioritise knocking them off rather than adding your own points.
• Develop a consistent release. A smooth underarm swing with the cord held lightly between thumb and forefinger gives a more reliable rotation than gripping the ball itself.
• In late-game situations when you are close to 21, calculate whether you need to play defensively. Scoring too many points in one round busts you back, so deliberately throwing low-value shots to land on the bottom rung can be the right call.
• When playing in pairs, co-ordinate with your partner. If the first player lands on a contested rung, the second player can focus on knocking the opponent's bola off rather than adding a new one.

Variations

Singles Play

With only two players, each stands beside their own ladder and throws towards the other. All other rules remain identical. This is the purest test of individual skill and is the most common format for a quick two-player game.

No Bust

In this variation, scores cannot go over 21 but there is no revert penalty. If a team's score after cancellation would exceed 21, it simply stays at 21 and the team must score net zero the following round to win. This makes the endgame slightly easier and suits younger or less experienced players.

Three Points to Win

Rather than reaching 21 exactly, the winning team must reach 21 and then score three consecutive net points in a single round, confirming their lead. This extends the game and dramatically increases pressure in the closing rounds.

No Cancellation Scoring

Both teams count all points they score each round regardless of what the opponent scores, and cancellation is dropped entirely. Scores accumulate faster, games are shorter, and the emphasis shifts from tactical knock-offs to pure accuracy. Good for quicker sessions or for introducing children to the game.

Ladder Toss: frequently asked questions