INDEX

Horseshoes
Horseshoe Q&A [1-20] [21-40] [41-60] [101-120] [121-140] [141-160] [161-180] Tom August 5, 2003 Colona IL i pitch at 40 feet and use deadeye shoes.i try to pitch a 3 quarter turn but when i'm holding the shoe for release should it be flat or vertical? i have tried this both ways and i still don't feel any improvement in my pitch. Hi Tom, If your shoe isn't near horizontal when you release it, then it will be very difficult for you to make a ringer. I would think that if you work on your follow through, that would be a more effective way to improve your game. If you are really interested in improving your game, you might want to try getting more turn in your shoe. Of the top 100 men I would guess that there are less than 3 who use a ž turn. However, Alan Francis, who is the current World Champion, pitches a reverse ž turn. Good luck. Jim August 4, 2003 Richmond IN I have come across a pair of horseshoes And would like information about them. Nice balance and feel. On them it states " 1956 " "Columbus Ohio" Drop / Forged. My Mom said they were used by my grandfather in Pitching Tournaments. Please e-mail me if you have any knowledge or history of this type of shoe. Hi Jim, I am not 100% sure about the 'Columbus Ohio' shoe, but there used to be an 'Ohio' shoe. A similar shoe is manufactured by the Imperial horseshoe company. I don't have the history of the shoes, but I think they were first made in the 1920's or 1930's. You might want to get some more information from someone else in the horseshoe world. Try a message at www.horseshoepitching.com . Gary August 2, 2003 Mt. Pleasant UT Walter Ray, I am a frustrated Horseshoe pitcher! My natstat is currently 44.66 I have been practicing about an hour a day 4-5 days a week. It seems that all the practice I am doing is going no where! The last three tournaments I have been around 42% and seem to be stuck. I e-mailed you a year or so ago and got some good sound advise and am concentrating on my form. But maybe I am still doing something wrong! I would really like to move my game up a notch and get to at least (for now) 60% Any suggestions? One of the major problems I have is short shoes. I believe my ringer % would go up at least 10% if I could consistenly get the shoe to the peg. I constanly am leaving shoes wide open in front of the peg and it seems that nothing I have tried is helping. I have tried a longer backswing, making a full extention and makeing sure of my follow threw. And when I concentrate on getting it to the peg I either throw it over the peg or get my turn messed up. Do you have any suggestions? By the way I am a BIG FAN! I love to watch you Bowl and pitch horseshoes. I saw you in Ainsworth several years ago and look forward to seeing you again in Pocatello, ID. Thanks for your help! Double Ringers! Gar... 8>) Hi Gary, To help you with those short horseshoes, I recommend practicing a bit farther back than normal. Anywhere from 6 to 12 inches. You might try practicing this way for a few weeks and then move back up to your original distance. Hopefully it will help your short shoes and you won't be going over the stake either. Keep practicing. Dan July 27, 2003 Wilmington DE Hi Walter - I enjoy reading the Q & A's on your website so much I finally had to submit a Q of my own. I am in a precarious situation with my 1 ź turn and hopefully you can help me. I started throwing the 1 ź before I educated myself about it. I began throwing it without turning my shoe during my backswing (I keep my shoe palm up), so to turn my shoe I use a wrist snap. Now I am trying to throw it properly (palm towards me during backswing) to get more consistency and I cannot for the life of me stop snapping my wrist. Everything I have read or watched teaches you how to throw the turn properly, but nothing really deals with problems you encounter or in my case, how to break bad habits. Well thanks for listening and any help you can provide me with would be greatly appreciated. Thanks, Dan R. P.S. I am throwing from 40'. Hi Dan, You have a bit of a situation. I don't exactly snap my wrist at release, but I have no trouble getting the shoe to turn. In fact I have trouble slowing my turn down and I went from a 1 & ź to a 1 & ž turn. Basically what you could work on is following through so that your arm goes straight up and your pinky lifts up so that your palm is very flat at the point of release. Good luck. Jeff July 11, 2003 Cambridge Ontario Canada Hi Mr Walter Ray Williams, I know I just recently emailed you but I have a question that I need clarifying. I recently read in a book about the longest pitched perfect game of all time was 40 shoes by someone from Ontario in a sanctioned league. But I am a big fan of yours and am really up to date with your stats. I thought you were the guy that had the record for longest pitched perfect game in 1977 in Hermiston Or against BOB WEST of 56 ringers for 56 pitches a stat that still really has me shocked and amazed with glee. Man you can Cling them like no other! I checked necessary engines and i found that stat but was it not sanctioned. I believe it was I just am a type of person who knows when something aint right in a book it should be noted. Anyways 13 plus perfect games and counting is completely remarkable I wish you luck at the Worlds I really Like your chances this year for Number 7 in the mens class. anways talk to you later and clarification would help! Yours truly Jeff Reynolds Cambridge Ontario Hi Jeff, There are several books around, I don't know specifically what book you were reading. There have been several perfect games over 40 shoes in length. Here is a link which has the official list of perfect games. http://www.horseshoepitching.com/publicity/index.shtml . Use the link to Statistics and then Perfect games which is down a couple of pages. It does include the game which I pitched against Bob West back in 1977 when I was 17 of 56 shoes. That is the longest sanctioned perfect game on record. I wish I was able to pitch like I used to, but I don't pitch that well anymore. I am going to try to win the World championship this year, but I need to improve my game in the next few weeks. Jeff June 28, 2003 Cambridge Ontario Canada Hello Mr Walter Ray I First would like to congratulate you on your bowling success this past year. Your so smooth out there and I guess you are a true anage to the old saying HARD WORk PAYS OFF! Anways I wrote you back in the beginning of the year about the 3 quarter reverse I must say thanks to the time you took to respond to it Your knowledge and insight are extremely helpful! I have been shooting 100 shoes a day every day and I have been ranging around 50 to 54 % in practice and 50% in tournaments . How do you get over the 1 out of 2 phobia because I try to pace myself take deep breath but I dont get many doubles as I should. is It mental because If I have what It takes to put on 1 I should for 2 out of 2 right? its my thought that playing people who are averaging higher then me would improve me what do you think? Anyways I wish you have the time to respond I know your a busy guy! And I wish you luck at the Eastern Nationsl, Greenville and The worlds! Yours Truly, jeff Reynolds PS: A gentlmen throws your shoe in hamilton do you not dristribute your shoe for sale in canada? i know a lot of people would buy them! ANYWAYS good luck! Hi Jeff, Sometimes the mental hurtles we put out there are tougher than the physical ones. I am also frustrated at not being able to throw ringers as often as I would like, and I used to be able to throw a lot of ringers! Statistically if you have 100 ringers out of 200 shoes you should have ź of those innings as doubles which would be 25. If you are below 20 or over 30 you might be a bit significant, but only if you were to continue that trend. I would concentrate on your form and hopefully that will translate to more ringers down the road. Practice is normally the best way to improve, but you also need to practice the right things. Playing against better players should help a player improve. I only endorse the Deadeye shoes. I am sure that they are available to anyone who wants to work at getting them. But sometimes there are extra expenses with international shipping and trade. Donna June 28, 2003 Candor NY HI THERE, i AM INTERESTED IN HOW TO SET UP A DOUBLE ELIMATION TOURMENT FOR OUR YEARLY FAMILY REUNION WE HAVE. Hi Donna, Check out this website for double elimination formats. http://www.cyberdarts.com/basics/brackets.shtml . Have fun. Gary June 18, 2003 Kirkland WA Walter Ray, have watch you bowl for a long time. Watch you and your brother throw horseshoe on espn years ago. Would like to know if you threw shoes any more. I bowl. carry a 205+ average.hope to here from you. When do start up again on tour again. Have a good season. Hope to here from you. Also did you bowl the abc tournment this year. Hi Gary, I still pitch horseshoes competitively. You can check out my reports on those tournaments on other parts of our website. I bowled in the ABC Masters this year, but as a 'touring professional' I am not allowed to bowl in the ABC Nationals. Buddy June 15, 2003 Victoria BC Canada Hey, In the 72 Worlds in OHIO you averaged 89.2%, wow... How did you do this considering you were really young like 12 or 13...how much did you practice...Did it help alot having your brother to practice with...and the big question what happened to your brother, pitching wise....He's averaging like 59% did he ever average over 80% at 40ft.......I would like to challenge you when you get there...But I am a 30ft in the juniors and you may not like to play with 30 fters....But I am averaging 78% and I can easily shoot in the 80's... I think i could give you a run for your money!!! well see...anyways!! thanx... see ya in Wisconsin _Buddy_ Hi Buddy, When I was younger, I used to practice an hour or two every day that it didn't rain. Right after I turned 12 in 1971 I had my highest tournament average when I pitched 94.3%. This included 2 perfect games and one game of 92 of 98. My brother Jeff was good practice for me after he got better. There was also another good player in our area, Alvin Vinsant who we used to pitch with. Jeff was a very good horseshoe pitcher as a Junior. The two times he won he averaged 85 & 87%. The 2nd time he won we were in a playoff together. I was pitching 40' in that year and was pitching very well. I shot 82 & 90% in the playoff games plus 88% in the round robin match against Jeff only to lose all 3 games. Jeff averaged about 75-80% when he was about 18 - 19 at 40'. Unfortunately after he went into the Air Force he was never quite the same. He has the potential to throw a lot ringers when he gets loosened up and had an 85% game a couple of weeks. He also seems to get really nervous, way more than most people and has some really bad games. I don't mind playing 30 footers. I enjoy playing against the best competition. I don't care from where they are throwing. If I have the time I would enjoy pitching a game with you. Good luck this year. Mark June 15, 2003 Martinsburg WV How would you make a chart for double elimination horseshoe tournament?? Thank You, Mark Hi Mark, The horseshoe tournaments that I play in are round robin competitions. The only double elimination tournament I play in is the ABC Masters tournament. I have heard that dart players use double elimination formats. Here is a link which has info on formats: http://www.cyberdarts.com/basics/brackets.shtml . You can check out www.horseshoepitching.com for horseshoe info. Good luck. Buddy June 15, 2003 Victoria B.C Canada Hey Walter Ray, Wow, I cant beileve the season you had this yr for bowling, and I hope you can win WT this summer in WI..You got a really good chance(like always) and i beileve its your turn again...anyways about horseshoes!!!... Ok.... Im 16 yrs old and my pitching is coming along good... I started in may of 2001 and averaged 48% by the end of that yr and just this past year I somehow got my average up to 76% and placed 2nd in the Junior Boys world champs!!!....Im stuck at 78% but am more than capable to average over 80% in a tourney and it just wont happen...I always seem to start with a mid to high 60's game and basically thats where I go wrong... cause i usually average really good after that first game to the end but its never enough...Im just wondering if there's an extra bit of focus or somthing to go up and above 80%...or is it just so much practice... I do practice alot and i can pitch at least 85% in practice, but when I come to tournament I just cant get it done...anyways if you ! could help me figure this out...a few questions for you...40 ft's a whole nother game...just thought I would let you know that when I get to 40 ft im gonna be after you!!! haha.... and when i become a pro bowler i am also gonna be after you...haha...if you dont retire any time soon...or if you dont get bored of domniating the PBA>>>I am currently averaging around 170...but i got alot of work to do... Thanx Hi Buddy, Horseshoes like other games is very mental. Everyone must find their own way to get over the hurdles we put up in front of ourselves. I do feel optimistic about my chances of winning the World tournament this summer, but my game still needs some improvement. Practice is a good way to improve your game, but tournament play is where you really test yourself. You need to have confidence in yourself. 40' is a lot tougher than 30', but you will find that out someday. It takes a lot of practice to make the adjustment. But if you work hard at it, you should be able to make it. Linda June 9, 2003 Plainfield CT Hi Walter Ray, Someone suggested to me recently that if they made a special lightweight shoe for women and seniors, this could eliminate the thirty foot pitchers rule. They said that if the shoe is light enough, a women should be able to pitch from forty. I've never thrown a shoe lighter than 3.7 I'm wondering if it would be better to go light weight? I noticed that there is a light weight shoe, 3 pounds 3 1/2 ounces (Pony) on your website for sale. My question is: Do you think a shoe that light would be any good? Do you know of anyone that throws a real light weight shoe? Because it is so light, will it carry the distance? I don't wish to get caught up in the thirty/forty foot controversy. I'm only interested in being able to get through a tournament without feeling so exhausted when it's over. I know that practicing will improve stamina, but I'm thinking of going with the light weight shoe to help in that department as well. I appreciate any ideas, thoughts or input you have on the subject. Thank you in advance. This is my third question to you in the past couple years, and you've given me excellent answers so far. I value your opinion. Linda Hi Linda, The normal weight of pitching horseshoes is 2 pounds 8 ounces or 2.5 pounds. The Pony shoes which you mention are as light as 2 pounds 3.5 ounces. That is a little bit more than a ź of a pound difference. The lighter shoes would be affected more by wind. I don't know at what point a light shoe would start to be ineffective. But for a person who is used to pitching 27' (the short distance foul line used by women, juniors and elder men), I don't think that the lighter weight will make up the difference of 10 extra feet (37' foul line) used by the men. Since over 99% of the women use the short distance foul line I would recommend that you also pitch from the shorter distance. It would be similar to playing golf from a shorter tee distance. If you were to play from 40' then you would be giving a huge advantage to your female opponents. Personally I wouldn't worry about the men who don't want to play against 30 footers. It isn't like we are playing for very much money in horseshoes. I personally like to play against the best players I can and they are very often short distance players. If you are interested in being the best player that you can be I would encourage you to pitch from the shorter distance. There have been many ladies and some junior girls who have pitched from 40' throughout the years. It is a matter of timing with some strength. There is a top lady pitcher from Kansas who averages over 75% and even over 80% at times, Mary Ann Peninger. She used to pitch 40' and averaged around 50%. I kept mentioning to her that if she moved up to 30' she would be much better and now she has and is a major contender when she is at the world tournaments. Good luck in your pitching. Matt May 08, 2003 Good Afternoon, I recently spent quite a bit of time installing two > new horseshoe pits in my yard. It looks and works > great, however I am experiencing an unforeseen problem... The pitching lanes are made of cinder blocks and are flush with the ground. They provide a great hard surface to pitch from, but the weight of the shoes is enough to chip and crack them when they miss the sand. I tried rubber coating the "corners" of the shoes but it ripped off after only a few misses. Are there any non-marring shoes with a hard plastic skin or something that wouldn't crack my lanes? I'd be willing to do almost anything before having to replace the entire thing! Thank you very much! Matt Hi Matt, I don't think you are going to care for my opinion on this! Unfortunately I think you made an error when you installed cinder blocks as your pitching platform. Cinder blocks are really not that sturdy and horseshoes will definitely damage them. I would recommend replacing your walkways with cement. It will also chip, but not as bad as the cinder blocks. If most of the damage is occurring in the front of the box, you could try what I did for my own courts. I dug 4x4 pieces of wood into the ground in front of the courts, so any shoe hitting short would hit the wood (instead of the brick pavers I have around my court). When the wood gets really beat up, I can dig them up and replace them. The only competitive shoes I know of are all metal. I guess you could try and put some silicon type caulk on the shoes, but I doubt that it would last. The other thing is that your walkway should be 18" from the stakes on either side. Sand is easier to take care of , but clay is preferred by most tournament players. The better you and your buddies get, the less you will damage your walkways so keep practicing. Connie May 2, 2003 Goshen IN Afer a visit with my uncle the subject of horseshoes came up and he is wanting to purchase a set of Ohio "O" horseshoes. Can you tell me where I can find and purchase a set of them? It does not matter if they are new or used. Thanks for your help in advanced Connie Hi Connie, I don't believe that the Ohio 'O' horseshoes are made any more. I believe that there is an Imperial shoe which is very similar to those. Check out this link on our website http://www.walterray.com/market/shoesimperial.shtml Or you could go to a horseshoe tournament in Indiana. Unfortunately I don't have a link for the Indiana horseshoe association. Roxanne April 29, 2003 Santa Maria CA Really just wanted to say HI to you two!! Paige, I've loved reading the diary (so to speak).....I've laughed out loud so many times at some of your expressions. I have heard those words come out of my mouth so often.....guess we must have the right words huh?? Really want to know what you think of Bakersfield trying to get the World's in 2005. Talked to Casey Sluys this weekend in Tulare, and was just kind of wondering if you think it could happen, and if it's a good thing. Of course I'm still not practicing my pitching, but I have the best time of anyone out there and look forward to pitching with your sisters-in-law (Diane and Vicki) come state tournament time. All the best Roxanne Hi Roxanne, It is nice to hear from you. We are glad that you are enjoying our website. I don't know all of the details about who is bidding for the 2005 World tournament, but it does sound like Bakersfield has a nice place to play. It will give me an excuse to go out to California. You might want to practice a couple of times before then. (smile) Lorena April 26, 2003 Ukiah CA I would like to procure a copy of the program that you wrote for Horseshoe tournament statistics. We have 3 tournaments each year and it would be so nice to be able to do the stats on the computer. I have used the program with Gail Sluys and I like it very much. Someone has donated a Packard Bell computer that runs Windows 98 with an Okidata Okipage 8W printer. I have tried to access a web site to get more information on your program but have not been successful. I do not have the internet at home but have access to it at school. If you could send me some information on how to obtain the program for the Ukiah Horseshoe Club I would be very appreciative. Thank you, Lorena and Gil Tournour WR answered this via e-mail Linda, April 21, 2003 Plainfield CT Hi Walter Ray, My question really applies to both horseshoes and bowling. Does a world class pitcher/bowler, like yourself, experience "slumps?" If so, how long do they usually last? I'm not a bowler, but I am a horseshoe pitcher. I've just returned to the sport after a seven year hiatus. My game has slowly gotten back to where it should be, and maybe even a bit better. I pitched indoors all winter, and I'm now at 55%. I fully expect that to shoot up to 65% within the next few tournaments, and hopefully higher by the end of summer. I've noticed that since I've been able to play outside, my game has really improved. In the backyard, I'm throwing between 60%-80%. I can do that for days in a row, and then all of a sudden, I can't hit the broad side of a barn. Sometimes, it takes me a week before I can get out of it. However, after each slump, I notice I do get a tiny bit better. I'm wondering what your experience is with slumps. Do you have them? How long do they last? Are you able to work yourself out of them quicker now than you could have when you were less experienced? Thank you so much for taking the time to read my letter. I know you're a busy guy. My thanks also to Paige. I love reading her journal entries. I hope someday to meet her. Who knows? Maybe at a World Championship or some other tournament! Take care, and keep up the good work. Linda Hi Linda, 'Slumps' happen to everyone. However, my idea of a slump might be quite different than other people's idea of a slump since everything is "relative". For example, I feel that I am in a 'slump' with my horseshoe pitching even though my NHPA average is over 80%. But if you consider that it has been as high as 90%, you might see why I feel that way. Also my horseshoe game has been worse than it is currently. Practice is the best way I know of to get out of a slump, but you also need to practice the right things. Practicing bad habits only reinforces bad habits. So you need to find someone to give you some advice and then try to practice the "good things". These principals also apply to bowling, but it is more difficult to know in practice if you are bowling well or not due to lane conditions. The best way for me to know if I am bowling well or not is to bowl in a tournament which is one of the reasons I like to bowl regional tournaments. Fortunately, I haven't been in a slump for some time with my bowling. And I hope I'm not anytime soon! Good luck with your bowling. Briana April 11, 2003 Pagosa Springs CO I love pitching horseshoes, I was wondering which shoes you would recommmend, I like the looks of the colt and stay on, I am a female 115lbs, 5'2" and have been pitching from the 40' line, after reading your site, I am considering moving forward. Thank you Briana Hi Briana, I pitch 'Deadeye Clydesdale' horseshoes, but I pitch a turn. If you throw a flip, those shoes might not be the best for you. I am not that familiar with what shoes would be best for a flip shoe player, but those brands you mention might be good. I would check out some of the local horseshoe pitchers and they might let you try one of their shoes. You should be able to find some information on horseshoe pitchers in your area by clicking on the NHPA website (www.horseshoepitching.com). I think that you will find that 30' is much easier than 40'. Good luck and enjoy. Kevin April 1, 2003 Crystal City MO Dear Walter Ray I am a big fan or yours and have watched you on tv for years. I am also a health/pe teacher for Windsor Middle School in Imperial, MO. I have been in contact with the Missouri Horseshoe Association in getting some equipment for a Lifetime Activities class for my students. Do you have any suggestions on where I can find equipment, our school's budget has been cut drastically and I have been told I would not be getting any money for my class. My contact has also informed me that you will be in town on May 4-5, I am going to try to attend this event, but I am also on the Jefferson County Bowling Association Board of Directors and we are hosting the state tournament near by, so I may not be able to get away. Any advice you could give me will be helpful. Thank you for your time Kevin Jenkins Windsor Middle School Hi Kevin, You could ask your local horseshoe club for old unused horseshoes. I am not sure what the closest club is, but is sounds like New Melle is nearby. Tournament horseshoes are normally quite a bit more expensive than the lower quality shoes you can get at the stores. Sometimes the local pitchers will have extra shoes that they might donate. Good luck in your venture. Kurt March 26, 2003 Mitchell SD Conagratulations on your bowling this year. I believe a few years back (3-4 years), that Deadeye Horseshoes was making a shoe that appeared identical to the Steinfeldt shoe. I was in Arizona at a tournament, and remember Bill Courtwright was there with his little trailer, and I remember him showing them to me. However I have never seen them advertised. Can you give me more information about these shoes? Are they still being made? If not, could I contact someone, to find out if there are any laying around somewhere? Were they pretty much identical to the Steinfeldt? I really like that style of shoe, but lately I broke one. If I could pick up 4-5 pairs, I probably would Thanks Kurt Hi Kurt, Hi-Temp which owns the Deadeye horseshoes, does make other shoes now and then and might even have made the Steinfeldt shoe. I don't know if the Steinfeldt shoes are still being made, but I don't think so. I would check on the www.horseshoepitching.com website. You might be able to find someone who has some info on them. Walter Ray The following information is from a contact that is in the horseshoe business. We forwarded your question to him in hopes of getting some additional info for you: That shoe was out more than a few years ago! But it did exist. Steinfeldt designed a shoe, it was v-shaped, and was originally cast by Bill Courtwright, but not many people knew that. The cast shoe had a high breakage, but it became popular for a while, so instead of giving up on it, they decided to try a drop-forged version of it, which is what this guy is referring to. They even put a textured surface on it just like the E-Z Grip. It was called the Steinfeldt Stay-On. Breakage continued to be a problem, even in the drop-forged version of the shoe and so they had to abandon production on that one too. I can tell you from our experiences in manufacturing that it was absolutely a design flaw, not a manufacturing problem. So, they only ever made just one good-sized run of the forged shoe and quit after that. I would be guessing that happened in the mid 90's. It's hard to remember now. I haven't seen a new or used pair of those since about 1999, so I couldn't be of any help as far as locating any of them. I would guess that he's going to have a very hard time finding even one used pair. M&M's are probably the shoes that look the closest that are currently in production. Horseshoe Q&A [1-20] [21-40] [41-60] [101-120] [121-140] [141-160] [161-180]