Is 'ladder ball' Really For the Elderly?

             ***spoiler alert: the answer is maybe...

Looking back on July and August, I must say, I've played a lot of yard sports in the last two months. But when I reflect on the matter, I get hung up on one main question; what's the difference between all the projectile based yard games? I'm thinking primarily of horse shoes, ladder ball, and bags, though we could certainly add others to the fray (beer pong anyone?).

Lets think about it, we don't even have to get to deep into the details. Competing parties stand on opposite sides, next to their opponents target (of sorts), and launch a projectile of some kind towards it. Your score is based on proximity to the target, and if you're old enough, you can drink a beer while youre playing any of them. So what exactly is the substantive difference? Two balls on either end of a string (called a bola), a heavy metal U, and a cloth bag filled with beans. That's about it.

This simple distinction, however, translates into various advantages for some players and relative disadvantages for others, and age may be what matters. Bean bags are for kids. They're soft, blunt, and a miniature version of a favorite kids chair. Horse shoes, on the other hand, are hard, heavy, and easily turned into a dangerous weapon. They're definitely for adults. Adults with some arm strength. As for the bola, wielding it requires patients, finess, and precision. These skills come with age. I'm not trying to say a 10 year old will never school her grandfather in a game of ladder ball. In fact, I've seen it happen. But when it comes to planning your backyard parties, organizing your yard sports, and dividing up teams, it might be wise to keep this in mind. Obviously there are exceptions, but as a general rule of thumb, horse shoes is not gonna be grandma's strongest game.