the national horseshoe pitchers - NHPA

The Horseshoe Pitcher News Digest/February, 1988
RINGERS HIT THE PEG
By DONNIE ROBERTS
A horseshoe won't be a ringer unless it hits the peg. (Smile) Having made that profound
observation, I will discuss some possible ideas that may help you hit the peg.
When you stand on the platform getting ready to pitch, it is a good idea to face squarely
toward the peg at the other end. Odds are this will be wise. Face squarely your target.
Most everyone brings the shoe up in front of them before they pitch it. It is a good idea to
bring the shoe forward in line with the peg you are pitching toward. Bring the shoe down in lin
with your target peg and as you pitch bring your arm up the target peg. With all three of these
arm motions lined up with your target peg, you should be in line.
When you take your step, step toward your target peg. There is no logic to stepping toward
court 3 if you are pitching on court 1.
Having a good follow-through should improve your alignment. Other errors in your delivery
may well be corrected by a good follow-through.
You aren't likely to hit the peg if you fail to look at it. During your delivery you should look at
spot on your target peg. Never take your eye off the target until you have let go of the shoe. I
suggest a target 4 to 6 inches up on the peg.
These are easy ways to improve your ability to hit the peg. The thing that will help you hit it
most often is a lot of practice.
One thing to be aware of is that many of you think that you have missed the peg on many
shoes that in fact were just not open.
BOB TOLBERT WINS AGAIN
By GLEN PORTT
No, he didn't win a horseshoe tournament, but he did win something better. For the past 5
years Bob had worked with city and county officials to put in horseshoe courts. Each year, it
seemed, he always received the same answer—Manana.
But "tomorrow" wasn't good enough for Bob. He enlisted the aid of Ted Waters, his State
Representative, to include 10 courts in a $10,000 grant from the department of Natural
Resources.
Today, Bob Tolbert has his courts, not 10—only 5, in the Jesse Tanner Memorial Recreation
Park—a county sports complex near Warner Robbins, Georgia—in honor of a deputy
sheriff killed in line of duty. Why only 5 courts? When the money was received, the board in
charge decided to use part of the funds for a soccer field. But, as Bob says, 5 courts are a
start.
To celebrate the opening, Bob lined up 60 doubles teams with practically every dignitary in
the area pitching. I attended the event. The first thing I noticed was there wer no backboards
or protective fencing. I asked Bob why. He said he followed the NHPA Horseshoe Court
Layout as prescribed—even to the raised foul line. Backboards and fences were not mentioned.
I cite this to show how important it is that the NHPA re-publish their guidelines,
eliminating the raised foul lines, and showing backboards and fences in its recommended
Horseshoe Court Layout—as approved by the 1987 W.T. delegates. New courts are being
built throughout the U.S. As Bob Tolbert said, "I wish I had known it. We had the money. Now,
don't know when it will be done." Regardless, Bob has 5 courts. He won.
1988 WORLD TOURNAMENT DATES—AUGUST 1 through AUGUST 13