Ladder Toss

The designed object is a do-it-yourself ladder toss yard game, made out of PVC pipes. The instructions provide enough materials to make both sets of ladders, and are written as if you were making both sets at the same time.

Important: You can paint the pipes and/or weights if you want. However, t is recommended that you paint the desired sections before you put the set together permanently. The set can be put together without glue, and the parts that want to be painted can be removed and painted, then replaced.

Get materials from Home Depot or any other hardware store and/or sports store for the weights. These materials include:

1. 40 feet of PVC pipe, preferably ¾”, can be purchased from home depot as 4 10-foot poles and cut into 10 2-foot sections and 20 1-foot sections (20 feet in total for each section)

2. 12 90 degree ‘elbow’ pieces and 12 T-shaped ‘tee’ pieces, same dimensions as your piping (again, ¾” preferred)

3. 2 10-foot segments of string, preferably different colors to differentiate teams (to make 6 total bolas with tennis balls took about 8 feet with a bit left over, 10 is so that you have plenty of extra)

1. Note: Nylon rope is recommended, because it can be burned at the ends, making the knots stay better

4. 12 weights, usually golf balls

1. Note: In this example, tennis balls were used as weights, and only two bolas were made, so only 4 balls and 40” of string were used

5. PVC glue (optional, glue at all of the joints. For portability, do not use glue in the Putting the Ladder on the Base section so that the ladder can be removed from the base, making the set easier to transport.)

6. Drill and/or hole puncher (not paper one, looks like a sharpened chisel)

Construct the base of each set. Each base will require:

• 4 Elbows
• 2 Tees
• 4 1-foot segments of PVC pipe 2
• 2-foot segments of PVC pipe

For both bases, that is:

• 8 elbows
• 4 tees
• 8 1-foot segments of PVC pipe
• 4 2-foot segments of PVC pipe

It should look like a straight line, and there should be four poles in total (see photo).

The elbows should all be facing in the same direction. They should be parallel to the ground, with the hole of the tee facing up (see photo).

In other words, put the 2-foot sections in both of the elbow joints in two of the poles, so that only two of the four poles have two 2-foot sections in both of the elbows (see photo).

The end product should be 2 rectangles which will act as the bases to your ladder toss game.

Construct the ladder of each set. Each ladder will require:

• 2 Elbows
• 4 Tees
• 6 1-foot sections
• 3 2-foot sections

For both ladders, that is:

• 4 Elbows
• 8 Tees
• 12 1-foot sections
• 6 2-foot sections

The sides of the two tees should be parallel; the side that goes on the 2-foot section is the odd side (the 90 degree side).

These are not the same poles you created in the last step. The elbows should face in the same direction.

Sections should go;

1. In all of the elbows (4 sections)
2. Connect the 1-foot sections coming from the elbows into both tees on one of the 2-foot sections with tees.
3. Put 1-foot sections in the last side of the tees (4 sections)
4. Connect the 1-foot sections into both tees on another one of the 2-foot sections with tees.
5. Put 1-foot section in the last side of these tees as well

The pictures are in order 1-5 for the steps. After completing this step, you should have two ladders that have three 2-foot section rungs.

1. Put both of the bases down on the ground so that the odd side of the tee is facing up
2. Put the last unconnected 1-foot sections on the bottom of the ladders into both of the tees on each base

The bolas are the throwing objects in the game, which consists of two weights (in this case, tennis balls) attached by a string.

CAUTION: Wear proper safety equipment while using tools. Be aware that the ball may slip through the clamp, so always be alert while operating a drill or puncher.

I attached the string to the puncher and pushed it through, then pulled out the side without the knot.

This part of the rope will be the part that wraps around the ladder when you throw the bolas.

Congratulations! You have successfully created a Ladder Toss yard game!