Horseshoes is a game that is enjoyed by all. However, there are many people that don’t understand the rules of play or scoring that is involved. Some individuals don’t want to play because they can’t throw a ringer. If you fit into that category, you are not alone. Still there are things that you can do to improve your general knowledge of the game as well as toss a ringer. Many individuals use terms like “throw” and “pitch” a game. In actuality, you use a underhanded toss. When I used google search, I even discovered that some games of horseshoes had names like Chinese or Alien horseshoes. However, we will stick with the simple urban game of horseshoes.
Before you even start to play a game, establish or know the rules. If a game has already started, don’t try to change things. Just know what the rules are. However, if you are setting up the game for the first time, here are some things to consider. The tossing distance is determined by who is playing. Men toss from 40 feet. Women, juniors, and seniors toss from 30 feet. So to adjust your horseshoe area, just alter the throwing lines. Place your pegs thirty feet apart. Place the men’s throwing line 10 feet behind the closes peg. The other three groups will throw from the peg itself.
Scoring is different all over. Whatever you go with, don’t change. A shoe tossed to within 6 inches or the length of s shoe at it’s opening is one point. A leaner (shoe up against the post) is 2 points. A ringer is 3 points or 5 points. If your game goes to a lower number say 20 or lower, use 3 points. If it goes to 21 or higher use 5 points. The closes tossed shoe to a peg always cancels out the other shoe in scoring. The player or team that last scored goes first in an inning. Just stay consistent and don’t change.
Now that we have that out of the way, here are some tips for tossing a ringer. Make sure your peg is tall enough. The peg should be 36 inches by 1 inch thick. It should be at least 18 inches above the ground and straight. Short pegs pushed over at an angle make it harder to throw a ringer. Always throw from the same spot. Don’t move from one side to the other.
There are four different ways to to toss a horseshoe. The one and a quarter turn. Hold the shoe by one of the shanks. The open end of the shoe facing left to right for lefties or the opposite for right handed individuals. Feet together. Step forward as you swing your arm. this is very similar to a bowlers arm movement. The arm will be lifted to a level position with the ground. People get confused and say that they need to lift their arm higher. What they are doing is following through. The shoe should be released with a slight wrist twist that allows the shoe to spin 450 degrees. One and a quarter turn.
One and three quarter toss. The shoe is held with the opening to the right. Use your own grip. You will use more torque in your wrist snap and get the shoe to rotate one and three quarters around. Many individuals prefer this method because of their wrist snap being stronger.
The three quarter turn. Until 1989, this toss wasn’t used very much. However, lately it has caught on with many players. Hold the shoe like the one and a quarter toss. toss it to a much slower rotation. The open end faces to your left, if left handed and right if right handed. The toss is counterclockwise to make it turn three quarters.
The flip. this method is used by more individuals than any other. The shoe is held in the middle of the arch. When it is tossed, it rotates no more than once in a 360 degree circle. However, many will try to keep it from rotating at all and just keep the shoe parallel with the ground, as the open end of the shoe approaches the peg.
Whichever toss you decide to use always use the same grip, release point, and arch. All three are as important as the other. Too tight a grip and it will soar higher. Too loose a grip and it may go lower. The release point should be parallel with the ground straight out from your chest. If your arch is too high, it will come up short on the toss. If it is too low, it will either over shoot or not make it to the pit. When given the opportunity to do a few tosses before playing, do so. You can quickly make adjustments.
Horseshoes is a very good social game. Be a gracious winner or loser. Always compliment all the players during and after a game on their play.
One last thing. Practice safety. Keep your distance when others are throwing towards you. Shoes will roll quickly at times. Keep little children far away.
