PITCHING TECHNIQUES
All explanations applies if the player is right-handed. Left-handers apply the opposite way.
The Fundamentals of the Delivery
It will take many hours of patient and practice to develop into good pitcher. Then if your like me you may never achieve that statis. Just remember that horseshoe pitching is a fun sport and one the whole family CAN do together.
Start with the hold on the shoe. Since pitchers have different size hands, fingers and shapes everyone will hold the shoe differently. The main object here is to have the shoe to land OPEN towards the stake.
The top pitchers generaly the use one of the four type of turns.
The one and one-quarter (1-1/4) turn and the one-quarter (1/4) turn use the same grip.
The one and three-quarter (1-3/4) turn and the three-quarter (3/4) turn use the same grip.
The (1-1/4) turn and the (1-3/4) turn seem to be the best for most pitchers.
Then there are the what I call the flip flop shoes. Sometimes a flip flop will make a turn. I have also seen reverse or backward turning shoes used to some sucess.
To make a shoe turn either 1-1/4 or 1-3/4 times, it must be held by one of its two shanks. The proper way to hold it is with the fingers wrapped around one of the shanks. The thumb extends across the top of the shank. The index finger and middle fingers go underneath. The first joints of the fingers curve up over the edge of the inner circle of the shoe. The third finger may be used like the index and middle fingers. Or, if the little finger is small and unable to balance the shoe alone, the third finger is used to assist the little finger.
While holding for the 1-1/4 turns, the opening of the shoe is to the left. With the 1-3/4 turns, the opening is to the right.
To balance your shoe, grip it about halfway between the heel and toe caulks. Practice will show whether your grip should be shifted a little either way to perfect the balance. If you want a more full hand grip, shift the weight of the shoe from the first to the main joint of your index finger. This places the shoe farther back in your palm. The best way to place your thumb is straight across the shank. If you want to change the pointing of your shoe, merely shift your grip and change the pointing of your thumb.
One and three-quarter Turn
The 1-3/4 turns requires a slightly different action of the arm and a little more wrist action than the 1-1/4 turns. It has to make an half turn more. Most players using the 1-3/4 turn, find that the shoe balances better when held closer to the toe. The 1-3/4 turn shoe usually needs to be pitched higher than the 1-1/4 turn shoe.
Gripping the shoe near the heel makes it open more quickly. It does not turn any faster, but when held near the heel, with the thumb in a parallel position to the shank, the shoe is already turned in the hand. When gripped near the toe, the opening of the shoe is pointed halfway between the right and front. (That is when the shoe is extended, in the flat position, before the player.) Regardless of the pointing of the shoe, the turn is called the one and three quarter. The slightest change in your grip will make a difference in the way your shoe balances and turns. Pitchers with long swings, find it unnecessary to hold their shoes near the heel to get enough turns.
As a rule the 1 1/4 turns requires more attention than the 1 3/4 turns. Less wrist-motion is required to pitch the 1 1/4 turns. Usually, the fingers are spread a little more widely on the shank of the shoe. A slow turning 1 1/4 turn shoe that lands too flat is likely to rebound off the stake. But when given a good wobble and made to hook the stake from the right and left sides, the 1 1/4 turn shoe is very good.
Try using both methods for awhile. Select the one that seems the easiest to control. then stay with it. Don't change your turn just because another pitcher believes it will help you.
A pitcher will do best by sticking to his original turn, providing it is one of top four turns.
You DO NOT need to force your shoe to turn with your wrist. When done properly, the shoe will turn on its own, let the shoe work for you.
Hold your shoe at full arm length before you. Swing it in the flat position up so it is in line with your eyes and the opposite stake. As you start your back swing, turn the shoe to the vertical position. Keep the shoe in this position until after it passes your leg in your forward swing. Then, bring the shoe back to a level position with a free, natural roll of your arm. Keep your wrist stiff and in its natural position. As the shoe again comes up into a direct line with your eyes and the opposite stake, relax your fingers and release. Be sure to release your shoe in a level position so it will land flat. If the shoe lands on its edge it will roll.
Most pitchers make their aim point correspond with their release point. This prevents a variation in the length of their swing. Swing your shoe back and forth. Note the slight pull exerted on your fingers as the shoe starts to level into release position.
Practice is needed to control a turn. The grip and delivery should keep the shoe from turning less than twice. It should turn more than once and less than twice. If your turn is too slow, raise the height of your shoe. If your turn is too fast, lower the height. Eight feet above ground level seems to be a good starting point.
Your grip should be firm, flexible, neither too tight nor too loose. A tight grip may cause your shoe to either turn too much or flip flop. If your grip is to loose, it may fail to turn enough or slip from your fingers before you are ready. Finger control is very important.
Your release and aim points should be the same. Your finger positions on the shoe must be correct and they must not be allowed to slip during your swing. Your turn is dependent on the way you grip, swing and release your shoe. All of your fingers are the controller of your release. Your forefinger will remain in contact with the shoe longer than the others and has the most influence to the shoe.
When ready to deliver, extend the arm. Hold the shoe caulks down, in the flat position. Grip it just tight enough with the fingers and thumb to keep it from tipping down. The weight feel of the shoe should tell the proper finger tension for a firm and flexible grip. The shoe must leave your hand smoothly. Don't let it slide off your fingers. The less drag on your fingers the better. Don't try to release the shoe with a jerk of your arm or wrist.
NEVER STAND TENSE. Your body should be naturally erect. Most good pitchers assume a slight crouch. Stand to one side, on a line about even with the stake. Most generally right handed player should stand to the left of the stake. A left hander takes his position on the right-hand side of the stake. Your arm will have better alinement with the stake.
Always pitch from the same side of the stake at both ends of the court. If you stand to the left of the stake at one end of the court, stand on the left side at the other end.
If you are right handed - One of the most popular methods of stance is with the left foot back of the right. Your weight will rest on the right foot. The left foot is used for balance. As you swing your shoe backward, relax your right hip and knee and bend slightly forward. Your weight stays on your right foot until your forward step is completed. Then your weight will shift to your left foot. Your body straightens up as you swing forward and release.
Some stand with the left foot in front of the right foot, some stand with both feet together. Either way keep your weight on the right foot. (Left handed pitchers do the opposite.)
Always stand well balanced and squarely facing the opposite stake, with your shoulders square with the pit. Point your toe straight at the stake. Your left foot, whether a few inches ahead or behind your right, should be parallel with your right foot. Don't allow your toe to point off. This may off balance you just enough to cause your to pitch to the right or left of the stake.
REMEMBER, most misses are due to poor alignment, most of which is caused by the way you stand.
The delivery step governs the swing and follow through. Use a normal step, like that used when walking. A short, easy stride is enough to place ample power behind your shoe. A too long step will throw you off balance and cause a too pitch low. The step is started a split second before the arm reaches the peak of its back swing. The step is completed about the moment the shoe passes the standing leg, during the front-swing. The step must be perfectly timed with the swing.
A right handed player should step forward with his left foot. A left hander should go ahead on his right foot. Perfect coordination of the right arm and left leg (or vice versa) enables a player to develop a longer swing, a smooth follow through and a balanced delivery. Step and swing directly toward your mark, be careful not to into the bad habit of cross stepping (like I do). Stepping out of line is one of the most common faults to overcome. Turning the toe inward throws the body off balance and ruins your alignment. Proper footwork is is needed for balance and timing.
Some good right handed players step ahead with the right foot. But, very few develope greatness with this form. It throws the body out of whack, in the hips and at the peak of release.
To control of your shoe, you must control your feet.
The best way to study your stance, step, release and height is by using a video camera. Watch your recordings in slow motion to see what the differences are especially in the release. This was helping me a bunch.
Then I injured my shoulder (not by pitching) and tossed them for few years with a bum shoulder. My scores keep going down, but, I didn't quit to let the shoulder heal. When I finally did stop for a year only to return back to pitching my game was as bad as when I started. I had developed so many bad habits pitching with pain my game has suffered. So don't be a fool keep your body healthy.
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