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Category: Athletics

Polyurethane Makes Cornhole Gameplay Possible

You likely know that cornhole is a favorite pastime at backyard barbecues and tailgates. But, you might be surprised to learn that polyurethane has had a helping hand in giving rise to the game’s popularity.  It’s true. Whether picking up a cornhole set at your local sporting goods store or constructing your bean bags and boards at home, polyurethane is likely a part of your new game set.

Polyurethane Cornhole Boards

Frequent readers of this blog are familiar with the use of polyurethane in the design of surfboards. A set of strong, lightweight cornhole boards, great for transporting, can be constructed in much the same way. The creation of the boards starts with polyurethane models known as blanks. A craftsperson then shapes the blanks to the desired length and width before several layers of fiberglass and polyurethane resin are applied to them to achieve the finished cornhole boards.

Cornhole Boards Finished With Polyurethane Resin

The construction process described above may be the preferred method for creating a transportable gaming set, but it is not the most common way of creating cornhole boards. Instead, most boards are made using two-by-fours and long planks of wood, then finished with polyurethane resin. Polyurethane provides a sleek, smooth surface for the bean bags to slide along. It also gives the cornhole board a water-resistant finish that helps protect it from the elements.

Polyurethane-Coated Bean Bags 

If you think of modern cornhole sets, the one place you might be surprised to find polyurethane is on the bean bags used in gameplay. While it’s true that the contents of the bean bags and the outer material of the bean bags can vary widely, some manufacturers have turned to the use of a lightweight polyurethane coating on the outside of the bag itself to protect it from the elements. 

It’s a wise choice when you consider that cornhole is often played on hard surfaces like asphalt or rough surfaces like fields with tall, uneven grasses. The polyurethane coating on the outside of the bean bag helps keep the bag intact throughout repeated use, including repeated impacts from multiple tosses.Cornhole is a game for all manner of skill levels and athletic ability. It’s no wonder that its popularity continues to grow. Who knows? In the future, manufacturers may find even more innovative ways of using polyurethane to create cornhole sets that are more durable, lightweight and long-lasting.