Ring Toss Secrets

By Karen Boyd

Updated September 22, 2017

Carnival games like ring toss can be tricky, but there are secrets that help improve your odds.
i carnival games image by Janet Wall from Fotolia.com

The ring toss game is simple in theory, yet surprisingly difficult in practice. Many carnival employees make a living with the ring toss game at fairs and carnivals because participants don't know what they are doing. And although ring toss is not an exact science, there are several tips and tricks you can put into practice to greatly increase your likelihood of beating the odds and winning the game.

Practice

As the age-old saying goes, practice makes perfect. The best way to get really good at ring toss is simply to take the time to practice the game. Try setting up your own ring toss game in your backyard, and practice different techniques for throwing the rings as well as different speeds to throw it at. By simply throwing the ring over and over again you will develop muscle memory for the game and before too long your skills are bound to improve.

Snap Your Wrist

By snapping your wrist as you throw the ring, you achieve the greatest amount of spin. This spinning motion will help stabilize the ring, give it a more level path, and help with the accuracy of your aim. Also, the more level and steady your ring, the higher the likelihood that it will stay on a peg when it lands. (See reference 2)

Toss and Drop

Tossing the ring out and over the pegs and letting it drop straight down is an effective method for winning at ring toss. This technique makes the ring travel slower through the air and will improve your chances of keeping the ring on the peg once it is dropped. Additionally, trying to throw low in order to minimize the height of the ring will increase your chances of winning. (See reference 1)

End Over End

Tossing the ring end over end in a flipping motion is a technique for winning at ring toss that works well for some people. This method may not be as accurate as some of the other techniques, but it will limit the surface area of the ring that can bounce off of the pegs. With this system you are less likely to bounce off the pegs, and are therefore more likely to score a point. (See reference 1)

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