Reset to Rise: Why Taking a Break Can Elevate Your Cornhole Game

Are you a competitive cornhole player who feels your progress has halted? You are playing multiple times per week and practicing every chance you have but getting that next level seams out of reach. Well, this may not sound like the best answer but maybe you need to take a break, step away and reset to rise! Read below with an open mind.

Cornhole Off-Season?

Every professional sport (MLB, NFL, NBA, etc) has an off-season. A chance for the players to reset and rise both physically and mentally. They focus on rest, recovery, and targeted training to improve their skills and physical fitness by engaging in activities like weightlifting, conditioning exercises, and skill-specific drills, while also taking time to heal from any injuries sustained during the competitive season and mentally decompress from the pressure of competition.

But what about cornhole? Although many pros play year-round, pro cornhole has an off-season. The ACL Pro division starts with the first National in February and ends with Worlds in August. But cornhole for the non-pro player doesn't have an off-season! The game never stops for most so you never get the opportunity to recharge yourself.

When was the last time you took a break and gave your body and mind a chance to rest? It might just be exactly what you need to reset your game, get over that slump or over the PPR hump!

Taking a Break – Reset Your Game

Most cornhole players, pro or not, play year-round, an average of three times a week and rarely take a break. CHALLENGE YOURSELF: step away for two months. No throwing bags, no scrolling social media, no checking Scoreholio.

Fill that time with something else like family, another hobby, a side hustle, travel, or even a different sport. Many cornhole players have taken up pickleball and love it. Great hand/eye training, strategy and best of all, exercise!

The best athletes were multi-sport athletes for a reason. Look at rookie Cooper DeJean from the Eagles, he was a three-sport athlete in high school and a top player in all of them! Taking a break from one sport while engaging in another helps you reset to rise in both the mind and body. Don't worry about forgetting how to throw bags because all that cornhole muscle memory is stored in your long-term memory (LTM), ready to be accessed when you return.

The Refresh Effect

Here, think about MLB pitchers in February. The first time they step onto that mound, smell the grass, and grip that baseball—how do they feel? Excited to be playing again. Hungry to become a champion this season. Ready to showcase their off-season work.

When you step away from cornhole and return, the same thing happens. You recharge yourself, reignite that fire, feed that hunger, and refuel the drive to win. It brings you back to when you first picked up a bag—when simply landing four bags on the board was an achievement. Remember how excited you were to hit a 4.5 PPR? Wouldn’t you want to reignite that feeling instead of being stuck in a plateau, frustrated and overthinking your game?

Do You Have the Strength to Step Away?

Stop worrying about the FOMO (fear of missing out) or the social aspect. Your new hobby, sport or activity will fulfill those needs for you. Besides, missing out on the weekly league cornhole drama will actually benefit you more mentally.

Most of the people we spoke with that stepped away for 1-2 months said they returned to new faces and fresh competition. And the best part, those new players had no idea who they were so they often underestimated them. But the sad part is many stated of the familiar faces, many were still stuck in a rut despite playing five+ days a week.

Taking a break will give you new perspective. Just like high school, when you return, you see who’s evolved and who’s stayed the same. And guess what? Cornhole really is like "riding a bike". You may be shaky at first, but after a few games, you’re back to where you left off—often even better. The pressure is gone. You’re playing for the love of the game again.

Final Thoughts: Sometimes, the Best Way to Improve Is to Step Away

Cornhole is more than just a game—it’s a passion, a commitment, and for many, a lifestyle. But like any competitive pursuit, non-stop play can lead to burnout, stagnation, and frustration. Taking a break doesn’t mean losing progress—it means resetting, recharging, and returning stronger. A true Reset To Rise

Stepping away for a couple of months allows your mind and body to reset, reignites your passion, and gives you fresh perspective. You’ll come back with renewed hunger, sharper focus, and the ability to break past the plateaus that once held you back.

If professional athletes take time off to improve, why shouldn’t you? Challenge yourself to embrace the break, reset your game and when you return, you might just find yourself playing better than ever.

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