Ladder toss: equipment, setup and scoring for recreational play

Ladder toss is a lawn and beach game where players throw bolas at a ladder-shaped target and score by wrapping them around its rungs. It suits a relaxed group outing because the rules are short. Your plan has three jobs: get the set assembled correctly, choose a playing spot that fits the setup, and agree on one scoring version before the first throw.

What the game is called and what the equipment looks like

Ladder toss, ladder golf and ladder ball are names for the same game, as Bolaball notes in its guide. A bola is two balls joined by a length of cord. The target is a frame with three horizontal rungs. Players throw the bolas so they wrap around a rung, and higher rungs score more.

This guide uses the Franklin 53102 set as its main example. Franklin's instruction manual lists two targets, six bolas and eight ground stakes in the box. Other sets may differ in part count and assembly, so if you own a different model, use that model's manual in place of the Franklin steps.

What your plan needs to settle

Which ruleset you will use. The Franklin manual and the Gather Together Games version score the game differently, so pick one and stick with it.
Where you will play. Franklin's setup calls for clean, level ground and staked target legs.
How far apart the targets go. Franklin suggests 25 feet. Gather Together and Bolaball both use about 15 feet.
Who is playing. Franklin's rules allow singles or two teams of two, and the manufacturer sets age and supervision guidance.
How you will carry the rules. A one-page reference card stops arguments mid-game.

Limits that change the plan

Ground and stakes. Franklin's setup secures each target leg with a ground stake on a clean, level area. If your spot is soft sand, rocky or paved, you cannot rely on the stakes holding. Some beaches, parks or rental properties may also not allow stakes. Check the ground and get permission before you plan around the staked setup.

Space. You need room for the throwing distance between targets plus clear space around them so no one walks through the line of throw. Franklin allows the 25-foot distance to be shortened where space is limited. That makes a narrow beach patch or small yard workable, at the cost of an easier game.

Players and ages. Franklin recommends gentle underhand tosses and adult supervision for younger players. Its manual says the set is not for children under three. It also prohibits wrapping bolas around any part of the body and sitting or standing on the targets. A group with toddlers or energetic younger children needs a supervisor and a spectator area away from the throwing lane.

Luggage. The packed size and weight of the 53102 set are not stated here. If you are flying or packing a small car, check the product listing or measure your boxed set before you commit to bringing it.

Choosing a ruleset

Two published versions fit casual play. They differ in throw order, scoring and how the game ends, so mixing them causes disputes. Choose one before play starts.

Detail	Franklin 53102 manual	Gather Together Games version
Target spacing	25 feet suggested, shorter if space is tight	15 feet, adjustable
Players	Singles or two teams of two	Head-to-head players
Throw order	Sides alternate single throws until all bolas are used	Each player throws all three bolas, then the opponent throws
Who starts	Coin toss first; the higher scorer of a round starts the next; after a scoreless round the same side starts again	Not part of this summary; agree before play
Rung values	Bottom 1, middle 2, top 3	Each player keeps their own rung totals
Do opponents cancel?	No, both sides can score in a round	No, both keep their own totals
Game end	21 points or nine rounds, whichever comes first	Exactly 21 points
Overshooting 21	Not an issue; the game ends at 21	A round that would pass 21 adds nothing
Ties	Must win by two; tied games continue	If both reach 21 together, play extra rounds until one leads by two
Bonuses	Not part of the rules	Optional

Choose the Franklin rules if you own the 53102 set and have staked, level ground. You also get a built-in time limit of nine rounds, which helps when a group is taking turns or the light is fading. Choose the Gather Together version if your space only fits about 15 feet, or if your group enjoys the exact-21 finish. Bolaball's recreational guide offers a third variation that also uses about 15 feet and adds cancellation: opponents' bolas on the same rung offset each other. Treat it as a separate ruleset rather than adding it to either of the others.

Worked example: the exact-21 rule

Illustrative example under the Gather Together rules: a player has 19 points and lands one bola on the top rung (3) and one on the bottom rung (1). That round is worth 4, which would take them to 23. Because it passes 21, the round adds nothing and the player stays at 19. Under the Franklin rules this situation does not arise, because play ends once a side reaches 21, subject to the win-by-two requirement.

Planning sequence

1. Pick the ruleset. This determines your spacing, throw order and finish rule, so decide it first.
2. Choose the location. Note the ground condition and whether stakes are allowed. If either is unresolved, choose another spot or another game.
3. Inventory the set at home. For the Franklin 53102, confirm two targets, six bolas and eight ground stakes before you pack.
4. Bring the assembly diagrams. Franklin's manual contains the diagrams for the bases and scoring frames. Keep a printed or saved copy with the set.
5. Prepare a reference card for your chosen ruleset only (template below).
6. On site, assemble the bases and scoring frames following the diagrams, on a clean, level area.
7. Stake each target leg.
8. Measure the distance between targets: 25 feet for Franklin, shortened if needed, or 15 feet for the Gather Together version. Pace it out or bring a tape.
9. Brief the players on underhand throws, keeping clear of the throwing lane, and Franklin's safety rules. Assign a supervisor if younger children are playing.
10. Decide who starts. Under Franklin rules, use a coin toss.

Reference card template

Fill in one card per ruleset and keep it with the set. Writing down the measured distance and tie procedure in advance settles most mid-game questions.

LADDER TOSS – HOUSE RULES
Set / ruleset:      ______________________
Assembly manual:    kept with set? [ ] yes
Measured distance:  ______ feet
Throw order:        ______________________
Who starts:         ______________________
Rung values:        bottom __  middle __  top __
Cancellation:       [ ] yes  [ ] no
Game ends at:       ______________________
Overshoot rule:     ______________________
Tie procedure:      ______________________
Safety:             underhand only; no one in the lane;
                    no wrapping bolas on people;
                    no sitting or standing on targets

For the Franklin 53102, complete it like this: 25 feet, or shorter if space requires. Sides alternate throws until all bolas are used. Coin toss for the first round, then the higher round scorer starts, and the same starter continues after a scoreless round. Rung values are 1, 2 and 3, with no cancellation. The game ends at 21 points or nine rounds, whichever comes first, and you must win by two, extending tied games.

Details to confirm before you rely on the plan

Whether stakes are permitted at your beach, park or rental, and whether the ground will hold them. If not, the staked Franklin setup is not an option there.
That your set's parts match the manual. Do this before you leave, since a missing stake or bola is hard to replace on site.
That you have the manual for your exact model. Assembly and part counts differ between brands.
That the space allows your chosen distance plus a clear area around the targets.
Packed size and weight, if luggage or vehicle space is tight.
For teams of two under Franklin rules, where partners stand and how the six bolas are shared. Check your manual or agree on this before play.

Adjusting when conditions change

If the ground won't take stakes or stakes aren't allowed, don't set the targets up unsecured on the assumption that they will stay put. Move to a spot where staking is possible and permitted, or choose a different activity for that location.

If space is tighter than expected, shorten the distance. Franklin explicitly allows this. Record the new measurement on your card so every round is played from the same spot.

If time is short, Franklin's nine-round limit already caps the game length. Under the Gather Together version, an exact-21 game can run long, so agree on a cutoff before starting if you need one.

If younger children join, switch everyone to gentle underhand throws, add an adult supervisor and move spectators well away from the throwing lane. Children under three should not play, per Franklin's guidance.