INDEX

Horseshoes Horseshoe Q&A  [1-20]  [41-60]  [61-80]   [101-120]   [121-140]   [141-160]    [161-180] Michael    May 30, 2002 Norwood PA Walter, I love to pitch horseshoes but I think I'm doing some thing wronge. I like to flip the shoe one time in the air so it lands flat, But I hold the shoe from the back, Is that the right way to hold the shoe? and my last question is I'm a right handed pitcher and I stand on the right side of the pit and alot of my pitches go to the left side of the pin, What should I do to fix this problem. Please see if you could help me. Thanks for your time Mike Mormando Hi Mike, Most (95 out of top 100) of the top 40 foot pitchers in the world pitch a turning shoe. It is kind of like throwing a slow turning Frisbee, except you don't want to flick your wrist. I have some detailed info on how to turn a shoe elsewhere on the website. Most right-handers pitch from the left side. But there have been many top players who have pitched from the other side. You could try pitching from the left side and see if that helps your alignment. Tyler   May 13, 2002 Leopold MO Hey Walter, I just want to say that I saw you on ESPN and I thought that was really awesome! But anyways, I have a question for you on horseshoes. I'm 15 years old and I'm finally getting as good as I've always wanted to be. I've one the Missouri Junior State Championship twice now and place 3rd in the Junior Boys World Championship Bracket in Hibbing last year. I've got my average up over 70% for the first time in my career. Anyways, I was just wondering if you had any trouble going from 30 feet back to 40 feet after you got too old to stand at 30 feet? I'm a little bit worried about moving back to 40 feet. I FINALLY got everything to work from 30 feet and I don't want to lose that. Is it hard to adjust after you move back to 40 feet? And also do you think it's easier throwing from 30 or 40 feet? Well anyways, I'm gonna let you go for now. Thanks for your time. ~Tyler Hi Tyler, I would definitely say that it is easier to pitch from 30 feet than 40 feet. When I was a junior player I started pitching at 30 feet. I had been averaging 85 - 90% when I was 12 to 13. Then, when I was 14 I moved back about 6 feet and with 8 months practice I averaged 82% at the world. I was very disappointed in my performance which prompted me to move the rest of the way back. I did manage to average 86% the next year pitching 40 feet, but it was my best tournament of the year and I did an extreme amount of practicing. I would recommend trying to get your average up to 80% and then think about moving back 5 or 6 feet. But it will take a lot of practice to get your average back up, even just that short of a distance move. Good luck. Linda    March 31, 2002 Hi I have inherited my dad's horseshoes. What is the correct way to hang horseshoes on the wall? Thanks Linda Hi Linda, I don't normally hang horseshoes on the wall, but I hear that if you hang horseshoes you want them so that the open end is pointed up so that the luck doesn't run out. If you ever want to play horseshoes I think you know where you can find the information. Check www.horseshoepitching.com for a lot of good horseshoe stuff! Roy    March 26, 2002 Morenci AZ I'm interrested in throwing a horseshoe tourniment, and would like to make a bracket for this game. can you help me with this. thanks roy wyatt Hi Roy, I am assuming that you are talking about a bracket like they use at the NCAA championships or something. Most sanctioned horseshoe tournaments use a round robin play where players are grouped according to a seeding method (usually a tournament average - Natstats, or a qualifying round) and then all of the players will play each other. I personally don't like brackets for tournament play, but they can be a quick way to run a tournament on a few courts. The problem with this method is that a player can be eliminated in 1 or 2 games depending on the system you use. The National Horseshoe Pitchers Association website www.horseshoepitching.com should have some information on running a tournament and might have a link to a place which has bracket info. There should also be information leading to the AZ charter. I do know that there is a club in Tucson where two of my brothers used to play. Their courts are at Reid Park. However, AZ doesn't play much organized horseshoes during the summer. Claudia   March 21, 2002 Agoura Hills CA I have a question. We are remodeling our backyard and I would like to put in a horseshoe pit. My husband is retiring in August and I thought it would be a fun diversion for reading and relaxing and BBQing. We only have room for one pit, making it necessary for all players to throw into the same pit. What I would like to know is how far is someone supposed to stand from the center of the pit to properly and "legally" throw a horseshoe? The second question is what type of base should I want to have put into the pit? And what type of sand would be best as a topper? The size of the pit (according to the drawing in my horseshoe game box) is 3' x 3' with another 6" all around for safety. I appreciate any information you can provide. Sincerely, Claudia Nichol Hi Claudia, They have detailed info at www.horseshoepitching.com. The courts should be in a 50' x 10' area. The stakes should be 40 feet apart. The men's foul line is 3 feet in front of the stake (37 feet) while the junior, women's and elder men's (over 70) foul line is 27 feet from the other stake. Usually there are platforms 18" wide and 6 feet long which are 3 feet (35 ½ ") from the side of the stake for the men while the platforms for the shorter distance players go from the 27 foot mark to the men's foul line. These would be cement for tournament players. Tournament players normally prefer a soft moist clay which holds the shoes better. The depth should be at least 8 inches for clay. I don't pitch on sand courts, so I can't speak on that. I hope this helps. Rich   February 27, 2002 Arcadia FL Walter Ray: Would please describe how to pitch a 3/4 reverse pitch from start to release. I have a friend in Iowa ( Stoney Jackson ) who pitches this turn and even though he is almost 70 does well with this turn still pitching from 40 ft.I have tried evrything else and thought maybe I could do better. Hope you get hot on the tour. Rich Hi Rich, To pitch a reverse turn you would bring your arm down with your fingers closer to your body than your thumb. Also your pinky would be closer to the other court than your forefinger. You would keep your hand in this position through the back swing and up to release when you would flatten your hand so that it is horizontal at the point of release. The steeper the angle you bring you hand down the more turn it will have, a flatter shoe will have less turn or even a flip. Practice helps make perfect. Shane   December 8, 2001 Victoria BC Canada Hi Deadeye, I am a big fan of yours Walter Ray. I am looking forward to seeing you and meeting you in Red Deer in 2002 at the World Championships. What will you be doing this year for Christmas? Will you be home? You are the master of the turn and a quarter, Deadeye. You have faced a lot of great opponents in your horseshoe career, can you tell me your three toughest you have ever faced? I think your seventh men's world title is right around the corner. I look forward to playing against you in the future ,win or lose it would just be an honor to play you. Have a merry Christmas Deadeye. Hi Shane, Thanks for your kind words. I am planning on being at the 2002 World Tournament up in Alberta Canada this coming July. I actually pitch a 1 & 3/4 now. I hope that my 7th title is around the corner, but my game isn't what it used to be. But I do plan on pitching better this next summer. Some of my toughest opponents are Alan Francis, Carl Steinfeldt, Jim Knisley, Dale Lipovsky, Mark Seibold and Brian Simmons. I have played numerous other top players, but some of them not as often as I would have liked or when they were in their prime. I look forward to playing against you some day as well. I will be home for Xmas with my wife, her parents, her grandparents and my dad. I will then visit the rest of my family (most of them) before I travel up to Seattle for the first tournament of the new year. Gary December 1, 2001 Mt. Pleasant UT Walter Ray, I read all of the Q&A letter and enjoyed them a lot. I understand from reading them that you have switched from a 1 1/4 to 1 3/4 or 7/8. I was just wondering why you made the switch? I pitched the 1 7/8 for years and got to about a 36% to 38% average. This past season I switched to the 1 1/4 because I felt that the shoe was open to the peg a longer amount of time and thus would result in more ringers. This was my theroy anyway. I have done better at 1 1/4 I am currently averaging 42% in tournament play. My high game in practice is 75% for 40 shoes and highest in tournament is 60%. Anyway I just wondered why you changed and do you think I should change back? Thanks, Gar... :o) Hi Gary, A 1 & 1 / 4 turn will be open longer than a 1 & 3 / 4 turn. But if it isn't open it is difficult to make a ringer. For some reason I have a problem with overturning the shoe so I decided to go with the 1 & 3 / 4 turn. I have had better tournaments with the 1 & 1 / 4 turn, but I have had several very good tournaments with the 1 & 3 / 4 turn (86% average). I think that my armswing may not be as good as it once was and I need to get some good practice to 'fix' it. If I were you I would do what ever you felt comfortable with. Doing something that doesn't seem right to you any more is not going to help your confidence which you need to play well. Gary December 1, 2001 Mt. Pleasant UT Walter Ray I am an avid bowler and Horseshoe Pitcher. I have followed your career for several years. A friend and I were at the world tornament back in the late 80s at aisworth Neb. and got to see you pitch. You are awesome. I love to watch you bowl as well. I have a favor to ask of you. In Utah Horseshoe pitching is dieing. The majority of particpants are retired and we no younger players. I am one of the VPs of the Southern Utah assn. and a former Asst. Regional Director for Utah and I really want to start promoting the game so that it doesn't die. What I would like from you, if you would be so kind, is a letter of recomendation to league bowlers to pitch Horseshoes during the summer to keep their arms in condition. I would like to pass this letter on to all the league bowlers in the state this spring encourageing them to take up HS pitching and where and when they can participate. I know you are extreemly busy and hope you can find the time. I could really use your help. It would be a real shame for me to win the State title because I was the only one left to pitch! :o) Thanks, a big fan Gary Gilbert :o) Hi Gary, I do feel that pitching horseshoes is a great way to keep a good bowling stroke or even improve it. I am not exactly sure why more people don't play competitive horseshoes as I think it is a great game to play. There are so many things for people to do that many don't find time to get involved with a another activity such as horseshoes. What I find interesting is that many of the older people who get involved with horseshoes wish they had been introduced to it many years before. I was lucky to be introduced at a young age and loved to practice which allowed me to improve. Good luck on your quest to get more horseshoe players as I think you and they will enjoy it for many years to come. Jason November 30, 2001 Elmore OH Hi Walter Ray, I have a horseshoe technique question for you. I have watched many hundreds of hours of video, which includes some of the greatest stars of horseshoes. This includes Curt Day, Elmer Hohl, Alan Francis, Walter Ray Williams, Ted Allen, Fernando Isais and others. I have noticed that every single one of them has a backswing that is either straight or trails behind their back. Your form, for the the most part is the same, but I do have a video of you from 1982 in which your backswing goes out, or to your right instead of in a straight line or behind your back. My question is: Have you ever thought about this part of the swing, or is it something that should be done naturally? The reason I ask is that I have a bit of an outswing in my delivery. I average about 57%, and am constantly making small improvements. Should I worry about it or just keep practicing. Sorry for the length. Thanks. Jason Hi Jason, I think that your observation is pretty accurate. The same is true of top bowlers. Your arm naturally falls next to your hips. A good arm swing should be such that your arm is very close to the legs. The problem comes about when it gets to close and you hit your legs. I actually bump my leg with my ball when I start my swing. I will also graze my leg with my horseshoe on the start of my swing. I even used to hit my ankle with my horseshoe or bowling ball many years ago on occasion; not a good thing! I believe that my arm swing does a 'figure 8' in my back swing. Where it starts to go out (to the right), but gets behind me as I start the forward swing. I would recommend trying to keep your arm from getting to far from your body on the upswing. You might need to lean a bit to the right (if you are right handed) so that the shoe doesn't hit your leg. Good luck. Steve November 27, 2001 Broadalbin NY Hi Walter Ray i just wanted to say i love throwing your dead eye horseshoes they are very nice how many different shoes do u have. I was wondering do u though horseshoes when you are on the tour bowling after u are done for the day. I live by albany ny and i hope i can talk to about horeshoes could u give some pratice tips that u use when u pratice im throw about 55% wanna im prove on that well thanks for your time... thanks steve wagoner Hi Steve, I endorse the Deadeye horseshoes. They have 4 models I believe. I prefer the drop forged Clydesdale model. When I am on tour I usually don't have time to practice once the competition starts. If I happen to know a good player in the area I am traveling I have been know to get together and practice with them. But usually there needs to be indoor facilities as the tour is during the colder months. Gene    November 11, 2001 San Marcos CA Comments: We saw you pitch in a tournament at the Los Angeles County Fair in, as we recall, 1981. That was the year we moved to CA. However, on http://www.nhpa.net/simon.shtml, there is a score card for a playoff game you pitched against "Simon" that is supposed to have been the 1980 World Invitational at the L A County Fair. Was there a tournament in 1980 and also one in 1981 (or, perhaps, a later year)? Also, congratulations for #34! Hi Gene, They had a horseshoe tournament at the Los Angeles County Fair for 5 years if I remember correctly from 1978-1982. The game against Ralph Simon was pitched in 1981. It was quite a game. Ralph pitching incredible at the end of the game. I had a huge lead which it turned out I needed. Those were fun tournaments and I was fortunate enough to have won it every year. Rick    October 30, 2001 Tampa FL Comments: Walter- I have watched you bowl for years, I have noticed you are always on top of the game. Does playing horse-shoes help in your bowling swing or techniques? Just curious Rick Baruta Tampa, FL Hi Rick, I started playing horseshoes before I learned to bowl. I think that my arm swing from pitching horseshoes carried over to bowling. I believe that it helped me to become better at bowling with less bowling. I am not sure that my horseshoe pitching helps me with my bowling these days, but I still enjoy pitching. By the way, I am not always on the top of my game, but I appreciate your observation. Steve Toledo OH Comments: Hi, Walter Ray. I am a new horseshoe pitcher and was wondering about the arm. Should it be totally loose or should your wrist be tight? Also, do you try to think positive at all times when pitching? Thanks. Hi Steve, It does help to think positive thoughts whenever you do anything. I would say that your arm shouldn't be too tense. I would also suggest that your wrist be kind of firm and not prone to much movement. Rob Sandusky OH Comments: Walter Ray, You came up very quickly in your average as a Junior horseshoe pitcher. Can you remember when you first started pitching? What were the things you worked on the most? What do you think made for the most improvement in your game? Thanks. Walter Ray Replies: My Dad taught me the 1 1/4 turn when I was nine years old. I fell in love with the game. When I was young I played as often as I could...for as long as I could. I don't remember practicing anything specific, just playing. I did develop good timing and eye-hand coordination. I think all that practice and some natural ability is why I was successful at the game. Marilou Warren OH Comments: Walter, do you remember my father who pitched horseshoes for over 60 yrs. His name was Herbert Pinch? Yes, I do remember Herbert. He was a very good horseshoe pitcher in his day. Also, he brought a lot of joy to people at the World Tournaments in his later years with his "clowning". Take care, Gary July , 2001 Muscatine Ia Comments: Hi Walter, I've been a fan of yours in both sports bowling and horseshoe. Your grgrgreat, may question is in the sport of horseshoe. I would like to know what grip you use and see it illustrated in a picture. Thank you, Gary Elliott I currently use a 1 & ¾ turn which is more accurately a 1 & 7 / 8 turn. I will try and get a picture on the website. The picture on my stats page is from when I pitched a 1 & 1 / 4 turn. The thumb is on the flat side of the shoe with my pinky very near the back of the shoe. John July, 2001 Danvers MA Comments: I am about to construct a pit and am wondering where is the best place to buy a quality horseshoe set? Check out www.horseshoepitching.com under game related items. You will need to get quality horseshoes through the mail. Alex June , 2001 Belton Tx Comments: Hi, I'm from Hawaii and came to Texas last year to make my home, (dummy?, but still have a house in the country (Waianae), in Oahu where I met you and played an exhib. on portable pits (I'm talking about H/shoes), Of course I was very happy to just play with you. You were there for a PBA at Aiea Oahu and my friend Frank played one game with you. That was in 1994. I am a 36 percent player and use cal-flip shoes and can't seem to get any higher then 36. I need help. I am 66 years old but am ready to continue learning to play. I was once a member (NHPA), and past president for the Nanakuli Horseshoe Club in Waianae. Need some tips on improving my game. God Bless and thanks for listening. Aloha.....Bro Alex PS. I have a one flip turn. Practice is the best way to improve. There are many players who average much better with a flip so I can't honestly say that is the reason. Maybe you aren't doing something you need to be doing such as having a swing which is fairly straight, or a good follow through. Maybe you should seek out a top local player to try and help you. Donald Iva SC Comments: I'm a bowler as well as well as I love to pitch shoes. When I threw my first bowling ball I threw what I called backhanded. To describe it,instead of throwing it underhanded I flip it the opposite way. I did finally change. Unfortunately I pitch shoes the same way. Could you send some information as how to throw shoes like the old time guys use to? I like the way they make them turn. Bowling and pitching is all recreation for me. Thanks in advance, Donald If I understand you correctly, it sounds like you would bring your arm forward with your wrist leading the ball and also the horseshoe. Most horseshoe pitchers either flip the shoe or rotate it like a slow frisbee. I believe that the turning method is more effective for getting the most ringers. Turning the shoe is achieved by slow rotating your arm so that your thumb is closest to your leg on the upswing of your delivery to your thumb being on top of the shoe at the point of release. You might want to watch some good players in action. Under the www.horseshoepitching.com site there should be a connection to the different charters (links) and you should be able to find a schedule of tournaments. Good luck. Horseshoe Q&A  [1-20]  [41-60]  [61-80]   [101-120]   [121-140]   [141-160]    [161-180]