The science behind the perfect conker – and why bigger isn’t always better

For many Brits, nothing heralds the start of autumn quite like the sight of conkers lining a woodland path. 

Every September, these iconic brown seeds fall from the horse chestnut – a non-native tree introduced to Britain in the 17th century. 

And as anyone who remembers their schooldays will know, conkers inspired the classic game played up and down the country’s playgrounds for 200 years. 

But what’s the best way to win a conker match? And when you’re choosing your conker from the ground, what exactly should you look for?

Speaking to MailOnline, scientists and conker aficionados have revealed the science behind the perfect conker – and why bigger isn’t always better.  

The game of conkers was first recorded on the Isle of Wight in 1848, 232 years after the horse chestnut tree was brought to Britain from south-east Europe.

It’s played widely in schoolgrounds and local clubs, as well as at the annual World Conker Championships, held in Northamptonshire since 1965. 

The two-player game involves drilling a hole through the conker, threading it onto a piece of string, and taking turns striking the other’s seed in an attempt to break it.

Many players assume that bigger conkers are better because they impart a more powerful blow to your opponent’s – but it turns out that may not be the case. 

Chris Quigley, co-founder of Peckham Conker Club, said smaller conkers can be stronger, as the compact size gives them greater density and less chance of breaking or weakening. 

‘Winning a conker battle is all about smashing your opponent’s nut, so the key to a winning conker is its structural integrity rather than size,’ he told MailOnline. 

Smaller conkers are also more difficult to hit, which gives you an obvious advantage when you’re defending rather than attacking. 

‘If you’ve got a tiddler then it’s likely your opponent will struggle to hit yours,’ Mr Quigley added. 

‘It’s definitely not the case with conkers that bigger is better.’ 

Another tip is ageing your conker – leaving it to dry over time in a warm environment – which removes moisture and makes it harder (although don’t age for too long as they can get brittle).  

‘We’d always say that ageing conkers is the best way to guarantee a hard and structurally robust nut,’ Quigley said. 

‘Age naturally draws out the moisture, whilst keeping the natural oils (which aid with its strength).’

Ageing conkers is also an alternative to pickling them in vinegar or baking them to make them harder – approaches that many consider cheating. 

Dr Rob Jackson, an ecologist and plant pathologist at the University of Birmingham, said he frequently played conkers as a kid and has ‘many good memories’.

He pointed out that conkers from more southernly latitudes have more mass (they contain more matter, meaning they will weigh more) compared to those further north.

A 2004 study found conkers from Greece have a mass five times higher than those from Scotland due to temperature differences – so it might be worth a trip south to stock up on conkers.

‘Seeds from more northerly latitudes are smaller than those in the south, a temperature effect – thus, choosing location of the seed might be important,’ Dr Jackson told MailOnline. 

If you’re collecting for a game of conkers, it’s always best to gather ripe ones from the ground, not pick them from the tree. 

Conkers attached to trees might not be ready and could still be soft in the middle, which is not good for a conker fight. 

In terms of the shape, Andy Eddy, gardener at the National Trust and former conker player, prefers rounder rather than knobbly or ‘kidney-shaped’ seeds.

‘The rounder the better because the blows tend to glance off,’ said Eddy, who recommends a diameter of 0.7-inch (2cm). 

‘If they have nobbles on them or are an unusual shape it means the opposing person gets more of swipe at you.’ 

How exactly a player swings as they aim for the pale circle varies, according to John Hadman, president of the Ashton Conker Club. 

‘Some people favour the overarm swing, where the conker comes down vertically,’ Mr Hadman said. 

‘Others go in from the side or diagonally, reckoning that it’s perhaps easier to go against the softer part of the nut.’ 

When you strike, there should be be (9.8 inches) 25cm of string between the hand and the conker, according to Woodland Trust. 

One final tip is to look at the tree from which your conker fell – in particular the size of the tree and the colour of the leaves. 

Horse chestnut trees can become infested by a moth called the horse-chestnut leaf miner (Cameraria ohridella), which lay eggs in its leaves. 

‘Leaves of infested horse chestnuts are way more shrivelled and brown, so tree choice might be important,’ said Dr Jackson. 

‘Taking seeds from a healthier looking tree with more green foliage might give you a bigger conker, better for battle.’ 

Lastly, the National Trust warns that you should not try to eat your conkers, even though they look much like the chestnuts we have at Christmas. 

They are not the same as chestnuts and can be mildly poisonous, making people sick if consumed.