Though cornhole, beer pong, and other tailgating games are plenty of fun, they lack any possible danger. Stump, on the other hand, provides friendly competition and the opportunity to hit yourself or a fellow tailgater by “accident”. The basic idea is that you take a hammer, flip it in the air once, catch it, and in a continuous motion try to hammer an opponents nail into a stump. Wikipedia tells us that the game is a derivative of the fairly bland German game Hammerschalgen. The Kraut’s version doesn’t appear to include the flip of the hammer, which eliminates tricks shots and some safety concerns. They do however have the game set up in some North German taverns, so gezundheit to them.
I was unaware of the game until recently seeing it in photos from Taylor Takes a Taste’s trips to Virginia Tech and Penn State. I was obviously curious and did a little research. For a complete list of rules and variations you can check out WorldStump.com. For our use, I’ve adapted a set of rules from PartySchooled.com
Stump Rules
Setup:
1. Place an evenly cut log (1 foot in diameter) on the ground or on a stand
2. Using medium sized nails, lightly hammer one nail for each participant into the stump just enough that it stands.
3. Grab a drink
Instructions:
All players stand in a circle around the stump in front of their nail with a drink in hand. The first player takes the hammer by the handle and tosses it, making at least one complete rotation, catches it, and in a somewhat fluid motion attempts to hit someone else’s nail. The hammer is then passed to the next person in the cirlce and they repeat. A person is eliminated when the top of their nail is flush with the stump. The last person standing is the winner.
Rules:
If you drop the hammer you take a drink and pass the hammer without hitting a nail
If you miss the nail you are hitting you take a drink
If your nail is hit you take a drink
Once your nail is flush you have to finish your drink and sit out until the game is over
Tagged as: penn state, stump game, virginia tech
The majority of cornhole boards I see around campus are the wooden handmade variety. And if you have the skills and time to make one, I highly recommend it. But there are also viable alternatives for the lazier and less crafty sect. I recently received a set of plastic all weather boards from SC Cornhole. These waterproof boards are shipped in either white, red, or orange (white can be painted) with eight bags. The entire cornhole set weighs under 50 pounds and the boards fit together for storage. Another bonus with this set is that the the back leg is also a door to a compartment where you can store the bags.
As far as game play, these boards stand up to the test. There is a bit of coarseness on the playing surface of the boards that makes it less slippery than you’d expect from plastic. After a game, the boards are easy to wipe off and/or clean with water and soap on occasion. All in all, I could only find one fault with this cornhole set. Though the boards fit together, they don’t lock together in any way. So it’s a bit tricky for just one person to actually carry them. A workaround would be to buy some sort of strap from Home Depot or Wal-Mart to keep the boards secured together. You can get this set for $100 and it should last you plenty of tailgating seasons. After our testing, we approve. Of course, our carpentry skills are about as good as Homer Simpson’s so we don’t have a choice.
Tagged as: cornhole
This is the coolest customized cornhole board I’ve seen. Norm’s Tailgating appears to be the creator and exclusive seller of these iconic tributes to former Hawkeye’s coach Hayden Fry. In addition to selling these boards, Norm’s also sales tailgating spots in the front yard of his house near Kinnick Stadium. I’m assuming that the closing of the Magic Bus will mean plenty of business for Norm. The big shocker here is that Alabama fans haven’t started putting Bear Bryant pictures on cornhole boards yet. It should be an ordering option on all Daniel Moore prints. There’s also no word yet on if anyone will create a cornhole board for the legendary Coach Hayden Fox
Tagged as: alabama, cornhole, iowa
If Atlanta is any indication, bocce ball is about to blow up as the leisure sport of choice. Piedmont Park has just added two courts and believes they can net $20 for one hour reservations. Ormsby’s is the hottest new bar in West Atlanta and features two indoor AstroTurf courts that are constantly packed. So why has bocce ball gone relatively neglected as a tailgating game so far?
The main disadvantage compared to other tailgating games, is that it requires a relatively flat grassy area. The advantages are numerous. The simplicity of the game makes it playable for kids, women, and the drunkest among us. The entire set weighs in at 10 pounds and requires zero setup, making it extremely portable.
The Day of Games recently sent me their 90mm Bocce Set. This inexpensive set features a carrying bag, balls, and a combo bottle opener/ measuring tape. As for bocce ball itself, it’s a very simple game that’s easy for anyone to pick up in minutes. You start by throwing the pallino (little white ball) about ten yards away. The person/team that throws the pallino then tries to play the first of their balls close to the pallino. You can then either alternate turns or allow the second team to play their balls until they place a ball closer. Once all balls are thrown, a point is awarded for each ball a team has closer than any of the opposing team’s balls. This is where the tape measure comes in handy. Games go to a predetermined set number of points 9, 11, 15 etc. The Day of Games 90mm set only costs $22. You can also pick up cornhole, ladder toss, horse shoes, and beer pong tables from them.
Tagged as: bocce ball
I recently received an email wanting to know if I would feature Buzz Shot the Beer Pong card game on this site. I have agreed. Your average beer pong game is really fun and allows 2-4 people to socialize and drink. Then some douche walks up with his set of 10 different rules that “we always play by” and proceeds to suck all of the fun out of the game. Well now those douches have an aid in their quest because Buzz Shot:
* Helps eliminate the same people consistently winning by adding additional variables to the game, such as shooting with the opposite hand, making a bounce shot instead of an arc shot, having to choose a guest to take your shot, take a shot while sitting down, losing a turn, etc.
* Helps introduce those who may not be inclined to play the game as is (Guys….especially the female crowd)
* Is an excellent “ice breaker” at a party. Have a hard time starting up a conversation with those you don’t know? Bring BUZZ-SHOT along to a party and you won’t have that problem!
These are the worst pitches I’ve seen since the Boom Cooler. Yeah, if girls are intimidated by Beer Pong, they will be much more likely to play if you add rules that force them to take trick shots. Also, what would be your reaction if a stranger walked up to you and asked if you want to play Beer Pong, but then informed you that we’d be playing with a set of Monopoly Community Chest like cards? Would punching them in the throat be too polite? I have my own set of rules for Beer Pong. Throw ball into cup. Occasionally chug beer. Talk shit. That’s the beauty. That’s the fun. Leave it alone.
Tagged as: beer pong
