How to Play Duneshot
Duneshot is a beach game for two to eight players. You throw or roll a ball toward a hole you dug in the sand. The first side to 11 wins. These are pilot rules and may be refined before launch.
What you need
- A set: 2 Lift Balls, 1 scooper and 1 mesh bag.
- Open sand, such as a beach, dune or volleyball pit. Grass and packed dirt also work. Skip pavement.
- Two to eight players, in teams of one to four.
Setup
Dig two holes in the sand. Each hole is about 1 foot (30 cm) across and about 6 inches deep. Place them 25 feet (7.6 m) apart, measured center to center. For young players and family games, use a shorter court of 18 feet. The area within one step of each hole's near edge is the throwing zone.
Teams
Singles is 1 vs 1. Doubles is 2 vs 2, with partners split across the two holes, like cornhole. Casual games also work 3 vs 3 or 4 vs 4 with rotation.
Throw order
A frame is 4 balls, thrown alternately by the two sides from the same end. Each ball is one throw or one roll per turn. The side that scored more in the previous frame throws first. If the last frame tied, the order stays the same. After all 4 balls are thrown, count the frame, then play switches to the other end.
Scoring
- One point for every ball that ends up in the hole. Close does not count. Only the hole.
- A ball knocked into the hole scores 1 point for the side that knocked it in. This is true for your ball or your opponent's.
- Points are counted at the end of each frame.
Winning
Casual play: first to 11 points wins. Tournament play: win by 2, with a cap at 15. Pool games may use a 15-minute time cap, followed by one sudden-death frame. Standings tie-breaks go in this order: wins, head-to-head, point differential, then total points scored.
Fouls
- Foot foul: stepping past the near edge of your hole while throwing. The throw does not count.
- Out of turn: throwing before the opponent at your end. The throw does not count.
- Interference: touching a ball in flight or distracting a thrower. Replay the throw.
- Hole tampering: reshaping either hole, except with the hole-repair call. Loss of the frame.
Hole repair
Sand collapses. Any player may call "hole" to pause play and fix a collapsed edge by hand. You may not rebuild the hole deeper or wider.
The refill-the-hole rule
This rule is mandatory. The last sides on the court fill the holes level. Leaving an open hole costs a forfeit. Many beach towns regulate holes in the sand, so fill yours, and leave the beach flat for everyone.
The Lift Ball
The Lift Ball is a tennis-ball-sized hollow sphere with twelve recessed channels in two offset rings. The channels create lift as the ball spins, so it flies farther and rolls cleaner on sand than a smooth ball. It has a matte rubber grip and a hydrophobic finish.
Play safely
Throw toward the hole only, never at a person or animal. Recommended for ages 9 and up, with adult supervision for younger players. Read the full Play Safety notice before you play.
Questions
Email tim@duneshot.com.