Alright folks, been getting tons of questions about cornhole scoreboards lately, so I finally took the plunge myself. Wanted to find something solid for our regular weekend BBQ tourneys. Grabbed my laptop and got digging into what’s actually worth buying this year.
Starting Point: Total Chaos
First off, our setup was pathetic. We’d been using folded printer paper with handwritten scores. Halfway through games, beer spills wiped out the numbers. Wind blew sheets into the neighbor’s azaleas twice last summer. Tried phone apps too – total joke when your hands are greasy from ribs.
Researched all night after work. Search results flooded me with options claiming to be “#1 Top Rated”. Filtered out cheap plastic junk under $20 – learned that lesson when Randy slammed his fist on one last July and it shattered like a Christmas ornament.
Hands-On Testing
Ordered three top contenders with next-day shipping:
- Brand X Scoretracker Pro: Looked heavy-duty online. Unboxed it – felt lighter than my cat. Magnets holding the score tiles? Nope, gravity-powered slide-fest. One bump and points went haywire.
- UltraScore Deluxe: This one promised “windproof design”. Tested it with my leaf blower on low setting. Tiles went airborne like dandelion seeds. Battery compartment needed a screwdriver to access – forget quick changes mid-game.
- TourneyMaster 5000: Almost didn’t order cause price made me flinch. Built like a tank though. Slammed it on my patio table intentionally – just a scratch. Big rubber feet stayed planted during our hurricane test (aka Gary pretending to be Hulk after losing).
Game Night Reality Check
Field tested all three during Saturday’s cookout. Brand X lasted two rounds before Dave tripped over the cooler and sent score dials flying. UltraScore’s tiny numbers had everyone squinting – terrible at dusk when the tiki torches kicked on. TourneyMaster? Survived spilled margaritas, toddler interference, and Hank’s “creative” scoring methods.
Key takeaways slapped me in the face:
- Visibility kills: Glare-resistant screens aren’t a luxury – they’re mandatory for outdoor play.
- Weight matters: Anything under 5lbs might as well be tissue paper.
- Button vs dial: Dials look cool but wear out faster than cheap flip-flops.
Final Setup
Returned the first two and kept the TourneyMaster. Yeah, it costs more than my first lawnmower. But after three months of weekly abuse – including that hailstorm in April – it’s still clicking scores like day one. Mounted it on a shepherd’s hook by the boards. Zero regrets except wishing I’d skipped the other experiments.
Grab beers first if you’re scoreboard shopping. Saves money and frustration. Trust me.
