Image via Complex Original
As the weather heats up, you'll be heading outside, and what better way to spend that time than with a little friendly competition? While these games won't cause you to pull a muscle (unless you do actually pull a muscle, which means you're probably trying a little too hard), you'll definitely be able to flex on your opponents while in the comfort of your own backyard.
Get ready to rumble, drink firmly in hand.
Lawn Darts
Perfect for: Bar rats
The lawn version of the bar favorite, lawn darts involve throwing things at a circular surface, but this time from the air to the ground. While the game was banned in the U.S. and Canada 1988 after a child was injured by a metal-tipped version, the game has recently resurfaced with plastic or rounded dart tips. We still recommend that you stand a few paces back from the thrower when playing.
How to play: Each side takes turns throwing darts into a target ring approximately 35 feet away. Landing a dart in the ring earns the thrower one point. However, if the opponent throws a dart in the ring, the two points cancel each other. At the end of the round, each person tallies their points and the person who has the most darts in the target ring earns the difference between his points and his opponents' for the round. So, for example, if Person A throws 5 darts in the target ring and Person B throws 3 darts in the target ring, then Person A wins the round and receives 2 points. In some cases players add a second, smaller "bullseye" ring, as a way to win more points.
Wiffle Ball
Perfect for: Little kids (and drunk college students)
Wiffle ball is right above tee ball in terms of the most basic baseball skills. The stakes are much lower, with underhand throwing and plastic bats and balls (to replace wood and leather). It's a great way to teach younger family members the basics of baseball. On the flip side, the wiffle ball bat is an integral part of the classic drinking game "dizzy bat," a game that centers around drinking, spinning in circles and attempting to hit an empty can. Either way, there will be people acting like children.
How to play: Wiffle ball plays just like normal baseball. There's four bases, and the batter must round all four and come to home base before a run is counted. The ball is pitched underhand however, making for slower pitches and shallow hits.
Dizzy bat begins by having the batter chug and entire beer via the small hole found at the bottom of a plastic wiffle ball bat. While chugging, surrounding participants count out how many seconds it takes the batter to chug their beer. When the batter finishes chugging, they must set down their bat and spin around in a circle with their head on the bat for the same time it took them to chug their beer. Then they must toss an empty beer can into the air and hit it. If they miss, they must spin again three more times. This continues until the batter hits the can.
Tetherball
Perfect for: The aspiring Napoleon Dynamite
You remember how many "wicked skills" Napoleon showed off with the tetherball? He could totally do a backward jump kick and "hit" the tetherball. While we don't recommend playing this game by yourself, it can certainly be a fast-paced game that allows for dodgeball-like hits (on accident, of course).
How to play: Players stand across from each other on either side of a tetherball pole. One player tries to wrap the ball entirely around the pole clockwise, and their opponent tries to wrap the ball entirely around the pole counterclockwise. Players can only hit the ball once per volley and should aim to block and then return their opponents attempts to move the ball around the pole. Penalties can be called for stepping over the median line, double hitting the ball, or for hitting the rope or pole. For more information on how to play, click here.
Ladder Golf
Perfect for: Guys who think that Happy Gilmore is a current professional golfer
While there are a number of claims to the birth of ladder golf, the most interesting stems from the belief that it draws from the pastime of cowboys and caballeros, who threw live snakes at tree branches and fences for points. While the origins of the game may be disputed, its role as a popular backyard game is not. People from Martha Stewart (an O.G. to be certain) to Jimmy Fallon have been seen playing the game.
Even better still, taunting and distracting your opponent is encouraged by those who play the game. Get ready for your inner trash-talker to come out (just don't strangle your friends with the bolas when things start getting heated).
How to play: Begin by placing the ladder five paces away from the throw line. Players then throw their "bolas" (the rope with the balls on each end) at the ladder. The top rung is three points, middle rung is two points and the bottom rung is one point. Players can earn additional points by placing a bola on each run (a "1-2-3"), which earns an extra point or hanging three bolas on a single rung. This also earns an extra point. Games are played to 21. If a player goes over 21, their points for that round do not count. For more information on how to play, click here.
Cornhole
Perfect for: These guys
This is a game best suited for playing with a burger in hand and a grill going in the background. While the origins of the game may be unknown (some believe it to be tied to Native American tribes in Illinois, while others believe it to be related to a game started by a German farmer), it has undoubtedly taken root in backyard and tailgating culture. It is particularly strong in the U.S. around Ohio University, Michigan State University and the general area of Kentucky.
If you're really serious, the American Cornhole Association (deadass, you can find it here ) sets up tournaments for more serious players. We recommend you get some practice tosses in before you start calling yourself a "cornholio" though.
How To Play: Set the boards roughly 27 feet apart. You and your opponent then take turns throwing bean bags at the cornhole. Bags earn points by where they land, if at all, on the board. Points are counted after all bags have been thrown. If a bag lands on the board, and stays there until the end of the round, then that team earns one point. A bag that goes into the corn hole is worth 3 points. Bags that are on the ground, hanging off the board, or have bounced onto the board receive no points. At the end of the round, each team counts up their points. Only the team with the most points gains a score for the round. Their score would be the difference between the two teams' points. So, for example, if Team A received 8 points and team B received 5 points, only Team A would receive a score of 3 for the round. For more information on how to play, click here.
Badminton
Perfect for: People who take backyard games a little too seriously
You know the type. The guy that grunts with every swing like he's playing at Wimbledon and celebrates every point like he's just secured his second Grand Slam title. Badminton, while being an Olympic sport for over 10 years, is still an accessible game that is played in backyards all over the world. The game is traditionally British, but is now populated heavily by those who don't have the patience to practice tennis. Either way, it's best to think of this as a median between tennis and ping-pong (and to take it that seriously as well).
How to play: The object of the game is simple, hit the shuttlecock (the netted thing with a plastic tip) back and forth and prevent it from hitting the ground within your side of the court. Serves are taken diagonally, and the team that scores the point serves again. Games are typically played to 21 points, but a team can only win by a margin of two points or greater. For more information on how to play, click here.
Kan-Jam
Perfect for: Your bro-y cousin and guys who wear "sand-blasted" snapbacks with beer brands on them
"Hey bruh, it's so nice, I just want to stand and chug my Natty Ice."
"But, don't you wanna to show off all the work you put into your guns yesterday?" "Wait dude, you're saying there's a sport that allows you to stunt so you look like you're doing something really athletic, while still holding on to a cold brew?"
Dave Matthew's Band concerts and frat houses haven't been the same since.
How to play: Place the two cans 50 feet apart. The thrower stands opposite from their partner, who is standing in the same spot at the other can 50 feet away. The thrower then throws the frisbee. The partner of the thrower attempts to deflect the frisbee into the can. Points are given in three ways. If the thrower hits the can after his partner hits the disc towards the can, then the team is awarded one point. If the thrower hits the can without any help from his partner, then the team is awarded 2 points. If the thrower throws the frisbee and his partner deflects the disc through the top of the can (also known as a "slam dunk") the team is awarded 3 points. If the thrower throws the frisbee through the slot on the front of the can, then his team instantly wins the game. Games are typically played to 21 points. If a team goes over 21 points, then they are sent back to 15 points and the game continues.
Bocce
Perfect for: Old Italian men
Originating in Ancient Rome and developing into its current form in Italy, bocce is a game not unlike bowling or other games in which something is tossed or thrown. Often, you'll hear avid players of this game speak of "finesse," but not in phrases that explain that directly. ("Treat the ball like a lady" is an example heard on more than one occasion) Expect it to play like chess in the park. It may seem simple at first, but it'll take one game with a veteran to know that some have spent their lifetimes mastering the simple art of bocce.
How to play: Play begins when one player throws the boccino (a small white ball) somewhere between 8.2 to 16 feet away from the throwing line (anything shorter or longer will be rethrown). Teams then begin to bowl balls (underhanded), attempting to place their balls as close to the white ball as possible. The team that does not have their ball closest to the boccino continues to bowl until they have the closest ball or their balls run out. Both teams ultimately bowl all of their balls until they no longer have any more. Only the team with the closest ball to the boccino can score any points in the round, and each of theirs ball that is between the boccino and the closest ball of their opponent earns one point. Games are typically played to between 7-13 points total.
Croquet
Perfect for: Anglo-philes
Kings have played it. Prime Ministers have played it. Hell, even Alice played it in Wonderland. Croquet is something so quintessentially British, that you may want to cop a pair of Church's before you pick up a mallet. The game is simple enough—passing balls through wickets with the help of a mallet. However, its relaxed nature has bred a strong international following. It's not a surprise to find croquet associations all over England, South Africa, New Zealand, and the United States; all with a deep glossary of vocabulary and terms. Needless to say, while it may not be on a professional level, things can get a little cutthroat when there are numerous "roquets" and fellow players send your ball on "buggy rides."
How to play: Players pick a single ball of a single color (red, blue, yellow and black) or divide into teams of "hot" colors (red and yellow) and "cold" colors (blue and black). Play order flows from blue, who goes first, to red, black, and then yellow. Place the ball 3 feet south of the first wicket. If the ball passes through the first wicket, take another stroke, otherwise your the turn is over. Play continues for all other players, with a player earning a bonus stroke every time their ball passes through a wicket. If your ball comes in contact with another ball and comes to rest next to it, you may take two bonus in the forms of hitting the opponents ball away and taking a second stroke or doing nothing and having two bonus strokes The objective is to pass the ball through all the wickets twice. For more information on how to play, click here.
Horseshoes
Perfect for: OG's and Americana enthusiasts.
Like Coca-Cola, cheeseburgers, and childhood obesity this one is an American classic. Chances are, you have played (or at least watched someone play) horseshoes in your lifetime. A number of the games on this list are based off of the construct that horseshoes established; throw an object at a target and how it lands in relation earns a number of points. History notes that a form of horseshoes has been in use since about 2,000 B.C., but the modern form of horseshoes that we see today can be marked back to the mid 19th century in the U.S.
How to play: Start by placing two stakes around 40 feet apart. Each player takes two horseshoes and takes turn throwing both of their horseshoes at the their target stake. Points are earned by achieving a "ringer" (when the horseshoe completely encircles the stake) or by having their horseshoe come within six inches of the stake. A ringer earns three points and a "close" horseshoe earns one point. If one pitcher throws a ringer and then his opponent throws a ringer, both ringers are nullified and no pitcher receives points for either ringer. Games are usually played to 21 points, but this varies.