Don’t have a dog in this year’s Super Bowl fight? No worries. Instead, take aim at a title of your own at the Cornhole Bowl. This annual event, hosted by Oil City Beer Company and put on by the Boomtown Baggers, is scheduled for Friday, Feb. 11, and Saturday, Feb. 12. Get ready for the big weekend with these seven(ish) training tips.

Tune Up Your Technique

When it comes to cornhole, form is everything. The American Cornhole League has you covered with these grip and throw fundamentals that’ll set the foundation for a winning – or at least competitive – Cornhole Bowl weekend.

Study Up on Strategy

Believe it or not, cornhole involves actual strategy. Who knew? Get the scoop on the four main shot types – blocker shot, the slide, the airmail, the push – courtesy of our friends at the American Cornhole League. Each shot type serves a different purpose, so work on them all and be ready for all scenarios come bowl weekend.

Learn the Rules

You should probably know how to play cornhole before entering a tournament. Here are the rules! This sounds like a silly no-brainer, but be honest – do you actually know the rules?

Stance Is Everything

Step into your throws? Throw from a standing position? Throw with your left or right foot forward? A consistent stance means consistent throws. And consistent throws mean … you won’t embarrass yourself. And that’s a win in our book. This video from U.S. Cornhole legends Steve and Jenn Vanderver will help you select and perfect the stance that works best for you.

Backyard or Advanced?

Unless you’re the Steph Curry of cornhole, you probably want to sign up for the Cornhole Bowl’s backyard bracket and not the advanced bracket. Keep that in mind when you register! And if for some reason you want Steph Curry to grace your home cornhole board, well, here you go.

Practice? We’re Talking About Practice? 

OK, you have a point. It does seem a little over the top to take cornhole this seriously. If you don’t want to devote a single second of your free time to training for the Cornhole Bowl, we don’t blame you. It’s perfectly fine to just show up and fling it. Worst case, you’ll be eliminated right away – and that means more time to enjoy Oil City’s awesome beer selection.

Get a Partner

The Cornhole Bowl is much more fun with a partner! The doubles bracket is definitely the way to go. After all, those Oil City brews taste so much better when you’re drinking with a friend.

Catch the Super Bowl at Granite 550

So you do want to catch that big football game between the Bengals and Rams? With the Cornhole Bowl long complete by the time Sunday rolls around, you’ll be able to catch every second of Super Bowl LVI right here at Granite 550. Come to the clubhouse Feb. 13, starting at 2 PM and catch it on the big screen. Drinks and food will be available.