An empty cornhole bag can be made out of several different materials. One of the most common is what is called duck cloth. The duck cloth is durable and is a pretty solid universal material for most cornhole players. This is what the ACA uses to make their cornhole bags.
There are also several other materials that you can use in place of the duck cloth. Suede works well to get a nice smooth slide and some people even use leather for the same effect. You can use virtually anything as long as the specs mentioned below are followed.
Cornhole bags were traditionally filled with corn, that’s where the name comes from – that and the hole you throw it into. Because corn does not hold up over time, the ACA allows for bags to be filled with plastic pellets which has the same effect on how bags respond when thrown. The plastic pellets are really the best option because they hold up over time and through weather much better. Even without moisture, corn will begin to decay over time and the bags will lose their structure and won’t react how you want them to.
The plastic filler is the best type of material you want to use in your bags. They are much more weather and waterproof. The majority of bags available on the market will have this type of filler. If you are making your own bags and want the traditional feel, then there is nothing wrong with using corn, but buy additional cloth so you’re prepared to make more. You can also purchase corn filled bags from the ACA.