There are many different points to launch a horseshoe. One piece that is commonly forgotten is the stance and footwork that occurs during a pitch. It’s time to review these basics and help get your game where it needs to be (ringing bells all day).
First things first… relax! Your body needs to function smoothly throughout the swing, so let go of being tense. Stretch before you play if you need to. Do whatever it takes to relax even before you grab a horseshoe. Think spaghetti, soft stuff, think loose! Ok, now we go to the positioning.
You want to start in a crouched position. If you’ve ever bowled, you know what I’m talking about. Knees slightly bent with a small spring in them. Now, most right-handed shooters will shoot from the left side of the stake. I have personally tried it both ways and I feel much more comfortable on the left side. I can line up with the opposite stake much better from here. I can also easily monitor how far I am from my stake and make sure I don’t go over the free throw line.
Start by taking your left foot and bringing it back about 6 to 8 inches behind your right foot. This is your balance foot. Most of your weight should be on your right foot at this point. Left foot back, weight on right foot, knees bent in a squat position, relaxed posture… let’s get going.
As you bring the horseshoe into the backswing, you’ll want to keep your right side loose. His right hip should start to bend and his right knee should bend a little more now. Remember, all this time until now your weight is still primarily on your right foot. Now, as you bring the horseshoe back (through the lift), begin to move your left leg forward as the horseshoe approaches your right knee. As you get past the knee, you should shift your weight onto your left foot. As the horseshoe comes up and releases, you should continue to shift your weight and straighten your left leg. The final position will have the left leg almost straight and the right foot barely touching the ground.
Always keep your shoulders square to the opposite stake before, during and after your throw. Your feet should point toward your target, the stake, throughout the swing. This is important! If you let your left foot drift off course, you can lose all balance of your throw. Your horseshoe could start to spin incorrectly or you could throw your aim to the left or right of the stake. Most failures are due to poor alignment, which is 90% controlled by the posture and movement of the foot during the swing.
So how far should you step with your left foot? Not very far at all. Take a normal step. Imagine if you were about to start walking. One small step is all it takes to power up your shot. Most of the power comes from the legs and not the arms, so you don’t want to do too much here. The most important part of your step is making sure you end up with your left foot pointing toward the peg. It is too easy to “go over” the right foot. If you’re not stepping straight, your left foot will likely end up leaning slightly inward. As discussed above, this type of incorrect foundation will result in poor pitches. If necessary, work on your swing footwork without a horseshoe in hand. You can still do the moves and you can do this inside. You can still hold a horseshoe if you feel like you need the weight, but you’ll probably just make everyone very nervous inside. Remember, practice makes perfect! Good luck!