The LadderBallPlus Guide to Being Awesome

One of the reasons ladder ball is so great is that there are very few rules. A sport in its infancy is ripe for innovation, especially one traditionally played in the yard whilst imbibing. Sure, winning ladder ball is important, but after a while a little friendly competition isn't enough. When you're ready, venture outside the confines of the "rules" and show the tailgate what you're really made of. Get ready to get in touch with your inner 80s movie jock because it's time to gloat, show-off, and be awesome!

Sweep the Leg So what if you lost? Two games, five - every ladder ball game you ever played - it doesn't matter! Whoever can throw it from the front yard, over the house, and onto the bottom rung first is the true winner, right? Right! That's just the sort of mindset you need to become awesome at ladder ball. The more difficult the trick shot, the better you look - especially when it's apparent that you aren't going to win the old-fashioned way. Simply throw your hands up and say, "This is stupid! I got places to be. Let's settle this with a REAL challenge." And then proceed to improvise a new ladder ball contest. So what should you look for? To the Trickster Go the Spoils Confidence. If you don't have any then you're not ready to climb the ladder ball ladder. Test: Do you feel like you're too cool to be reading this? If your answer was "Yes," read on. If your answer was "No," stop reading, practice your tosses, and come back later because you, sir or madam, lack confidence.

Are they gone? Good. The most accessible ladder ball trick shots (require less flexibility and/or accessories) are the "I can make that shot with my eyes closed" and the "I bet I can make it from over there" techniques. Classics. Helpful tip: when making up rules, opponents are never to be trusted. It's best to have some sort of makeshift blindfold handy.

Another neat trick you can do with ladder golf balls is the bounce. Find a hard surface to plant your ladder and say challenge to bounce it off the ground once or twice before hitting a ringer. Or - even cooler - bounce it off of a wall and onto the rung of your choosing. Always impressive, and it might be worth recording for Youtube!

Behind the back and through the legs are also fun, but ultimately blase when not issued from a great height or great distance. Destination throws add to your challenge's formidability and should be applied whenever possible.

Throw your bola from a moving vehicle (not while driving!). Compounding your ladder golf shot's difficulty with risk makes your opponent far more likely to decline, thus making them look like a "wimp" or "fraidy cat." These names should be used liberally for a full confidence-shaking effect. Also, if your opponent has a spouse present, be sure their inferiority is fully realized.

Upping the Ante
The last bit of ladder golf trick shot advice is this: there is no failure when you are awesome. Every trick shot challenge failure was, in fact, a practice for the real challenge. True trick shot ladder ball victory takes domination, a little luck, and a healthy embrace of the absurd. Always be ready with an even more extreme trick shot that is near impossible. It doesn't matter if you know you can't do it. That's the great thing about being awesome; it's all about persistence! As long as they forfeit from an impossible trick shot before you, you win. Huzzah! Ladder ball is fun, huh?

Helpful tip: getting some glow-in-the-dark bolas and ladders will make even routine shots look awesome as well extend the hours that you can accept challengers. Now that you have the tools to be a winner - no matter what - we challenge you to get the best equipment possible. What are you? A fraidy cat?