The Ultra Viper B Cornhole Bags are a popular choice. These bags have both strong advantages and notable drawbacks. In this review, I’ll break down their performance, durability, and design to give you a clearer understanding along with some personal insights on how they’ve held up over time.
Ultra Viper B Cornhole Bags Review
Speed Ratings
- Listed Speeds: 5/9
- Actual Speeds: 4.5/8.5
When you first get the Ultra Viper B, you’ll notice that it plays fast out of the box, with the fast side hitting the 9 range. However, as the bags break in, they settle into a more manageable 8.5 speed, especially on the fast side. The slow side, though, can be inconsistent, playing around 4.5, but sometimes sticking so much that it behaves more like a 1 or 2.
Bag Template and Fullness
- Size: Large (L: 5.875″ x W: 5.875″)
- Fullness: Medium
- Weight: 452g
- Bead Fill Type: Mix
The Viper B is a large template bag, designed for players who want a bag that runs right into the hole. It’s not ideal for roll or flop shots, but if you have open looks at the hole, this bag will find its way in. It lands flat and runs smoothly on the board.
Dot-Free Preference
One of the reasons I selected the Viper B over other Ultra bags is the absence of control dots, which I find annoying. I wish Ultra would release more versions of their bags without these dots, as many players, myself included, find them unnecessary. A version of this bag in the 6/9 speed range without dots would likely become a top contender.
Performance and Break-in
In the early days, these bags were almost too fast. I threw more bags into the hole than with any other set, but I also threw a lot off the back of the board. Over time, as they broke in and I improved, the fast side settled into a manageable 8.5 speed, making them more consistent.
Stick Side Issues
The biggest downside to the Viper B is the slow side. Under certain conditions, the bag just sticks and refuses to move. Where it lands, it stays. While the fast side performs well, the slow side can become frustratingly sticky, turning what should be a 4.5-speed bag into something much slower.
Airmail Consistency
Interestingly, I found the slow side great for throwing airmails. It grabs the board hard, and the bag’s hole-friendly design means that whenever I get near the hole, it drops right in. However, this feature doesn’t make up for the slow side’s inconsistency.
Durability Concerns
It’s worth noting that these bags are prone to pulls. Within the first five minutes of throwing, I noticed a pull on the stick side. After a couple of months, three of the bags had developed pulls. While this doesn’t affect performance, it’s something to be aware of as it speaks to the bags’ durability.
Final Thoughts on Ultra Viper B
Overall, the Ultra Viper B is a solid bag. It excels at finding the hole and runs smoothly on the board, but the slow side’s tendency to stick in certain conditions and the durability concerns with pulls may give some players pause. If Ultra made a version of this bag without the control dots and a more consistent slow side, it would easily rise up my rankings.
