Ladder Ball is a fun, social yard game that can be enjoyed by two or four players.  

To win this lawn game, be the first to score 21 points exactly!  

Find the video tutorial and written explanation for how to play ladder ball below.

Ladder Ball Video Tutorial

Needed

Two or four players; Ladder Ball set (two game ladder structures, six golf ball bolas - three of each different color)

Setup

The ladders are placed 15 feet apart.  This distance can be changed based on player ability.  

This outdoor game can be played one vs one, where players will throw from one end to the other, then switch ends to toss from.  

The game can be played 2 vs 2 where teammates stand across from each other.  Each team will use different colors of golf balls on their bolas.

Objective

The object of the game is to be the first team or player to get 21 points exactly.  Points are scored by having your bola hanging on a ladder rung at the end of a round.  A differnt point value is assigned to all three steps of the ladder.

Game Play

The game begins with a player throwing all three of their bolas to the rungs of the ladder on the opposite side.  The bolas are thrown one at a time and can be thrown anyway the player chooses.  

After all three bolas are thrown, the opposing player will throw their three bolas.  After all bolas are thrown, it is the completion of a round.

Scoring

Each player will score points according to where their bolas ended the round.  

Each bola on the top rung is three points, each bola on the middle rung is two points, and each bola on the bottom rung is one point.  

Each player or team scores the total points for their bolas on a the ladder rungs for each round.

The first player or team to get to 21 points exactly will win the game.  If a player goes over 21 points in a round, the points for that round are not counted.

Rules

  • The next player to throw first in the next round is from the team that scored the most points in the previous round.

  • When throwing, a player’s feet must not cross in front of the ladder, this is known as the toss line.

  • Players can knock off an opposing team’s bolas with the toss of their own bolas.  Only bolas still on a rung at the end of a round will score points

  • An optional bonus point can be scored if a player gets all their bolas on the same rung, or has one bola on each ladder rung.

  • Players must hit the exact point total of 21 to win the game.

  • In the fun event of a tie where both teams get to 21 points in the same round, extra rounds are played.  The first team to end a round 2 points or more ahead wins the game.

If you are just starting your ladder ball journey or looking for a fantastic beginner set that is hassle-free, budget-friendly, and easy to manage, I highly recommend the Go Sports ladder ball set on Amazon.

This set has everything you need for a fun game of ladder ball, including 2 targets with built-in score trackers, 6 soft rubber bolas perfect for both outdoor and indoor play, and a convenient carrying case for easy storage and transport.

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