Today’s project is a freestanding DIY hook and ring game tutorial. You may know the game as Bimini Ring Toss, Ring on a String or even the Tiki Ring Toss game. They are all one and the same. I’m going to show you how to make a hook and ring game for your own backyard. Be sure to read down to the bottom to find how to play and get my tips on a strategy to win.
Oh! You’ll find several more fun outdoor games to make and play at the bottom of my post too.
Ring on a String game or the Hook and Ring game is a popular game in Florida. It’s pretty easy to find one in beachside bars, casual restaurants and hang outs in beach communities from Pensacola to Key West. Even though I’ve seen them for sale, the DIY’er in me couldn’t handle the idea of purchasing something I knew I could make.
It’s the Power Tool Challenge Team’s theme day and this month our theme is Summer Fun. Showing you guys a hook and ring game tutorial and making one for myself in the meantime seemed like the perfect fit. Don’t you think so?
*Warning* This game has been known to cause lots of laughter, bring out competitiveness in otherwise laid-back people and can be played in teams 😉 In other words it’s a hoot to play and fun for all ages.
How to Make a DIY Hook and Ring Game Tutorial
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Supplies needed to make a DIY hook and ring game like mine .
- backboard – see below
- pressure treated wood
- graphite paper
- 1 1/2″ to 2″ ring
- #4 zinc screw hook 3 7/8″
- small eye hook 1 1/8″
- nylon string
- outdoor wood screws
Supplies needed to make the bracket with extending pole.
- outdoor wood screws 1 1/4″
- adjustable flag pole holder to fit 1″ pole
- 4 feet 3/4″ pvc pipe
- brown spray paint
Tools needed
- scroll saw or jig saw
- drill
- sander
If DIYing doesn’t sound like fun, you can always skip the DIY part and just buy a hook and ring toss game. I won’t tell anyone 😉
Modify my hook and ring game tutorial to fit where you’re putting it. I used a bracket with a pole to hang my string and ring because I didn’t have a ceiling I could hang the ring from. If you have a porch or ceiling, just hang the ring directly from it four feet from the backboard and skip the bracket and pole. I do like that we can take ours down when needed, like when we get a torrential rain storm that brings 50 mph winds here on the coast though.
Step one: Make a back-board for the hook. Of course I personalized mine by making a boat paddle for the hook 🙂 If you want to make one like mine, draw a design and use graphite paper to trace the design outline. Get tips on how to use graphite paper in my how to easily transfer graphics post. A square piece of plain wood wood be fine as well.
I used my scroll saw to cut out my boat paddle shape but a jigsaw would work fine too. I sanded the edges before painting.
Step Two: Hang the ring from a ceiling or a pole with a bracket on a wall. If you’re using a bracket, install the flag pole holder onto a wall or flat surface. Screw the small eye hook into one end of the pvc pipe, make a pilot hole first. Tie a long piece of nylon string onto the eye of the hook. Insert the painted four foot 3/4″ pvc into the bracket so the string hangs down.
Step three: Attach the backboard to a flat surface so the hook is about three or four feet off of the ground. Drill a large pilot hole to help screw the hook into the back board without splitting the wood.
Step four: Attach the ring. Tie the ring onto the string, it should hang down about 4 feet from the backboard and hook. Adjust the length until the ring easily fits onto the hook. If when it swings it hits above or below the hook, it needs to be adjusted. I left a little extra string to adjust my knots later because the string seems to stretch a little. I’ll melt the nylon edges and ends together when I’m sure no more adjustments need to be made.
Step five: How to play the hook and ring game instructions and winning strategies.
The object of the game is to swing the ring on the string like a pendulum and have it catch on the hook. If the ring hits the backboard, you’ve swung too hard. The trick is getting the feel to swing the ring just enough to where it touches the hook. The second part of the strategy in winning the hook and ring toss game is you want the ring to swing out slightly from the side, towards the hook. That way it can catch the edge of the hook and slide onto it.
Ways to play the hook and ring toss game. Start with an agreed upon number of points to win the game. Play in teams or with two people. Counting points, either one point for a “ringer” or one point when the ring hits the hook and 5 points when the ring is hooked are two ways the point system can be used.
Pin my DIY Hook and Ring Game for later!
Silly as it sounds, I’m pretty excited about making my DIY Hook and Ring game. I plan on practicing this evening to get my ring swing and curve down-pat. My sisters are coming for a quick visit tomorrow and I’m sure we’ll end up at the hook and ring toss game…especially after I’ve whipped up a few fresh mango margaritas!
I mentioned it was the Power Tool Challenge Team’s monthly get together. Our theme this month is Summer Fun. Take a look below at what the other team members came up with. These gals are so talented I love seeing the creative projects each month!
My Repurposed Life Portable Folding DIY Pallet Bar
Create and Babble Limbo Game Station
My Love 2 Create Ring Toss Game
The Kim Six Fix Cornhole Game From Cabinet Doors
H2OBungalow DIY Hook and Ring Game Tutorial
Do you have a favorite outdoor summer game you love to play? Share it below in the comment section!
More outdoor projects from H2OBungalow you may enjoy
You and your sisters are going to have such fun! Enjoy those margaritas! Pinning!
Hi Jeanine…yes we are! I’ve wanted one of these games in our back yard for the longest time. I’m so glad this challenge fit to help me get motivated to make one. You know we love the fresh mango margaritas here! Thanks so much for sharing my project!
This sounds so fun! I am glad to be introduced to it, thanks for the great tutorial! Pinned!
Hi Mindi and thank you! It’s a fun game and really easy to play! Thanks so much for pinning it!
Oh my gosh – my kids played this for hours at a party we went to recently! I have to make one! Thank you – pinned and shared.
Funny Karen! I see them everywhere now. It’s such an easy game to play. It was a breeze to make too. Thanks so much for your visit!
Hey! How fun that you made your own hook and ring game. I’ve only played this once, and funny enough it was in Florida.
I love how your game turned out.
pinning!
gail
Hi Gail! Silly as it sounds, I’ve wanted one for the longest time in our backyard. Now you’ll have to come back to Fl to play 🙂 Thanks so much for sharing my game!
I have never seen this game. It looks fun! Enjoy playing with your family!
Paula…This game would be perfect for your lake house! It’s a fun, mindless game that any age can play. I can see you getting creative and making a rustic backboard for the hook and mounting it by a dock, deck or porch 🙂 Thanks so much for stopping by!
Stopping by via Savvy Southern Style. Your pictures just sucked me in. 😀 Your back views are amazing. I would love to be right on the water. As for the game, you did a really nice job of making it. The color is perfect for your corner of the world and your instructions and photos make it look easy enough for someone like me. So glad I stopped by.
Hi Mia and thank you! We love our waterfront place. It’s taken a long time to get it where we wanted. It’s still a journey in process but that’s been half the fun. Glad you enjoyed the Hook and Ring game instructions. It’s easy to make and play and extremely addictive in a group! Thanks so much for your sweet comment and visit 🙂
What a great idea! My teenage son always plays this when we go to Margaritaville at the beach! I am pinning this to go on my to-make list!
Hi Mary! Your son will love you for making him one of these games! Seriously, we’ve had so much fun since putting it up. It’s a great way to bring a piece of the beach home with you…and super inexpensive to make as well! Thanks so much for leaving a sweet comment.
What a fantastic summer game idea! We have been in an outdoors games mood all summer so this is perfect! Thanks for sharing your DIY with us at Merry Monday this week!
Hi Marie and thank you! This game has been fun, I’m doing my best to rope anyone who comes over into a game of Hook and Ring! LOL, I may have created a competitive monster in myself with it. Thanks so much for your sweet comment and hosting each week!
This looks like a fun game and I’ll be featuring it in my Merry Monday round-up! Thanks for sharing your tutorial.
Hi Erlene and thank you! We’ve had so much fun since putting this game up! We have friends coming over today for the 4th and are planning a tournament. It should be fun as we have some competitive people in the group! LOL Thanks and have a great week 🙂
Thanks for a great tutorial to make this game. It looks like a lot of fun. Thanks for sharing at Merry Monday. Hope to see you at the party next week!
Hi Jenny and thank you! This game is SO addicting and fun to play! Especially if you have a group of friends or a competitive family 🙂 Thanks so much for hosting and see you next week!