The rules of ladder ball are easy to learn for all ages, but here we are going to cover how you can build your own diy ladder ball game.
The 2 most common ways to build your own ladder ball set are with PVC piping or wood. Keep reading for instructions on how to build both types of game sets.
DIY Ladder Ball Bola’s
To build your Bola, you will need 12 golf balls, nylon string, and a drill. While playing you want to easily identify each player or team, so make sure the golf balls are in 2 different colors. If you only have white, spray paint the balls in 2 different colors.
Step 1: Secure the golf ball in a vice grip. Using your drill, drill all the way through the golf ball, so you have 2 holes at each end.
Step 2: Thread your nylon string through the 2 holes of the golf ball. Hint: it’s easier if you use a chopstick or wooden stick to string through. Tie the string at each side of the golf ball tight.
Step 3: Repeat step 2 for the 2nd golf ball so you have 2 balls, one at end. Leave approx 12 inches of string in between each ball.
Step 4: Singe the ends of the rope with a lighter so the knot doesn’t come undone.
Optional: If you don’t have a drill, you can create the Bola’s with Tennis balls instead. Cut a whole in each of the tennis ball with an exacto knife.
How to Make a Ladder Ball Game out of PVC:
The supplies should cost you approximately $20 for the whole set and take approximately an hour to assemble.
Here are the supplies required:
– 19′ of 1 inch PVC pipe
– 6 PVC T-fittings
– 2 PVC elbow fittings
– PVC glue aka PVC cement
– Spray Paint
Step 1: Cut the PVC Pipes to size
Now cut the correct lengths with a mitre saw or hacksaw. Cut the pieces into these sizes:
– 6 of 18 inch pieces
– 4 of 12 inch pieces
– 3 of 24 inch pieces
Step 2: Assemble the ladder Ball structure
Steps are in order of building the structure from the bottom to the top:
Step 1: Add 3 of the 18″ pieces into a T-fitting. Repeat. Suggested to leave these fittings without glue to that you can dissamble for storage.
Step 2: Add a t-fitting to the top of the T structure on each piece you have. Now add a 24 inch piece, the first ladder rung, in between each.
Step 3: Add a 18 inch piece to the last spot of the t-fitting.
Step 4: Add another 24 piece for the 2nd ladder rung. Attach the 24 inch piece to each of the open t-fittings.
Step 5: Add the last 18 inch piece to the empty t-fitting.
Step 6: Add the elbows to the top and finish with the last 24 inch piece, completing the 3rd ladder rung.
That’s it!! building your own ladderball structure is quite simple and requires very little “handyman” know-how.
Keep reading to build a ladder ball game from wood, these instructions are a bit more advanced.
How to Make a Ladder Ball Game out of Wood:
The biggest complaint with most ladder ball sets, both bought and made yourself, is the durability and that they always come apart. A wood or metal ladder ball game solves this. Metal is quite difficult to make, bu you can find metal sets online. Keep reading for the instructions on how to make a ladder ball game of wood.
If you make it out of scrap wood, this will practically be free. Even if you purchase the wood, it should be under $20.
Step 1: Materials required & prep
– 14 ft of 2×4’s (can be used scrap wood), cut into 7 ft each
– 8 ft of 2×2’s, cut into 4 feet each
– 6 lengths of 3/4 wooden rods, cut into 20 inch lengths
– Drywall screws
Step 2: Assembly
Step 1: Drill 3 screw sized holes in the 2×4, the first hole is 3 inches from the top. The second is 20 inches from the top, another 20 inches after that, drill the 3rd hole. All the holes should be in the center of the 2×4.
Step 2: Hold the dowel up to the 2×4 where there first hole at the top has been drilled. Then from the outside of the 2×4, drill the screw through the 2×4 into the dowel. It’s easy if you have a friend to help hold the pieces together.
Repeat step 2 with all the remaining 5 dowels, attached to the 2×4. You will have 3 ladder rungs in total.
Last Step 3: Attach the base. Use 2 screws to attach the 2×4’s to the 4 foot 2×2’s.
Happy Bolas!
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