With the advent of corn toss bags and cornhole games has come something of a backlash from traditionalists who insist that there is no better backyard sport than horseshoes. These people seem to feel threatened by the emergence of such a closely-related sport, but I believe these fears are unfounded. The two games are different enough that I’m sure they will always have large, devoted followings. A review of these distinctions is in order, however.
From a safety standpoint, it’s hard to argue against the fact that corn toss bags are superior to horseshoes. It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to understand that a cornhole bag wouldn’t hurt a fly while a horseshoe could potentially kill someone if thrown hard enough. In addition, the ground spikes that are necessary for a game of horseshoes could easily harm someone if they tripped over them or landed on them. Finally, a horseshoe pit is also a tripping hazard, while a cornhole board is unlikely to cause similar issues.
Where horseshoes are superior, however, is in the area of durability. You could leave horseshoes outside year-round and they wouldn’t be damaged at all. On the contrary, cornhole bags and boards would hardly last six months if left outdoors full-time. If the rain, ice, and snow didn’t compromise these materials then the wildlife certainly would. Cornhole bag material is no match for a hungry squirrel with a penchant for corn.
As for the question of which game will grow faster going forward, I believe the answer has to be cornhole. The primary reason for this is that it is a safer format so that people of all ages can play. Horseshoes, on the other hand, are so heavy and dangerous that they are no place for children and weaker individuals. That said, I believe a hardcore group of horseshoe game enthusiasts will persist for generations to come. It has tradition on its side, and that’s not something that goes away without a fight.