Deadeye Clydesdale DF or Six Pac Sure Point?

[HittinWood]

I'm converting from a flip to a 1 1/4(RH).  I have narrowed it down to these two fine shoes but I can't seem to choose one.  Can you guys and gals help me out?  Any input would be greatly appreciated.  Thanks.

[HittinWood]

PS...Wanting to stay around $60 or less.

[gwhalen]

are you pitching on clay or sand?

[Dave]

HittinWood....Both in my opinion are good shoes for the 1-1/4 turn. I've been pitching a lot of years switching between the 1-1/4 and 1-3/4 turns. For the 1-1/4 turn I used the SixPac most of the time and the Clydesdale for the 1-3/4 turn. This year as an Elder and switching to the 3/4 turn for the shorter distance, I'm pitching the Clydesdale but carry the SixPac as a backup. I practice with them both by throwing 40 shoe games and it's rare that they aren't within a couple of ringers of each other. For me, the Clydesdale turns just a bit slower which is better for the 3/4 turn. Another shoe that for me works about as good as these two is the Alan Francis signature shoe. If I were still pitching 40' with the 1-1/4 turn, it would be  toss up between the SixPac and Francis shoe.

[fliptoon]

What is the story with the "Six Pac" brand of shoes? They seem to be difficult to find. Who and where are they manufactured? Who is the primary dealer? Does anyone know if they have a website?

[vicki]

Harvey Wobbe owns the Six Pac Horseshoe Company.  I would think any NHPA Game Related Sales dealer would have his shoes for sale.

Harvey's phone number is 636-942-3544 and his address is 4811 Tishomingo Rd., Hillsboro, MO 63050 if you want to contact him. It looks like he has three models.  Sure Peg, Sure Point and Sure Pitch.

Vicki

[HittinWood]

Sorry I was gone for a week or so and was not able to get back to those who responded to me.  I currently have sand in my pits at home due to less maintenance.  I will be getting more involved with finding tournaments and such so I am sure I will be on clay more and more.  I ended up getting the Clydesdale DF because when I was talking to a dealer he expressed that Six Pac may not be around too much longer and their shoes may be harder to get in the future.  Not sure if that is true or not but I didnt want to take a chance.  I am very pleased with the Clydesdales at this point for my turn.  It seems to turn very naturally, now I just need to dial in my accuracy a bit more which I know will come with practice.  I threw a "flip" for around 6-7 years and I have been throwing a 1 1/4 turn for less than a month now and I am already noticably better with way more ringers using the turn.  How is this so?

[Debby M]

Hittinwood,   you must have been a natural turner to begin with - it is as simple as that.    Most new pitchers pitch the way most people that they see pitch but that doesn't mean that they should pitch that way.    I see a lot of men, particularly, who hold the shoe like a flip pitcher but who's 'shoes turn as often as they flip.    The trick is to change the grip and still have it feel comfortable.    This is hard for pitchers who only pitch once a week so many of them stay with the flip.    But, Hittinwood, you sound as if you are on your way with the turn!    Enjoy!     What a great feeling to pick up a new turn and have it feel good so quickly!     Love it!

[HittinWood]

Thanks Debby, and you are right it does feel pretty darn good!  I still have my days that I feel like I have never pitched a shoe before and I am starting all over, but those slumps are become fewer and further between.  Another weird turn of events has led me to buy 2 pairs of Alan Francis "Bullseye" shoes, and now I am selling my Clydesdales that I really enjoy pitching(currently listed on Ebay, they are only a month old).  A friend of mine has a pair of the Bullseyes that I threw a few times the other day and I fell in love, so to speak.  They turn just as well as the Clydesdales but feel a little smoother and more comfortable in my hand and the release was awesome.  I know its not the shoes that make the pitcher, but having a pair that fit just right doesn't hurt!  I always like trying new shoes to see how they feel, but I don't see the Bullseye leaving my pits anytime in the near future.  Thank you to all who have responded!

[2ringer6]

 HittinWood,
Try the A-Mac if you get a chance, turn real well. You do have to pitch them more than down and back to make a decision as they are the ergonomic shoe from M & M.

[HittinWood]

2ringer6, I have seen those and really have wanted to try them out with that design but I don't know anyone around my area who has them for me to look at.  I do not know any dealers around here(Central Ohio) so I just have to try out other pitchers shoes whenever I can, and recently the chances have been slim(except for the Bullseyes the other day).  I would difinitely give them a fair shot if I could!  Thanks for the recommendation!

[Dead Horse]

I believe this is the most overrated question going around.
Maybe your different but I don't find much difference in Horseshoe pitching shoes.
If you know how to pitch you can pitch them all pretty much the same.
However I do have a favorite.

Ted Allen

I mostly find all shoes are designed from that style.

If you're Hot, you're Hot, if you're not, you're not!

:-)

[HittinWood]

Dead horse, thanks for the post but I will have respectfully disagree.  Have you ever held a Clydesdale or an Alan Francis Bulls-Eye shoe?  They have a thinner, wide blade and have a drastically different feel then a shoe like a Ted Allen or other narrow blade shoes.  I have not been pitching forever but I can definitely tell a difference in those different styles of shoes, no matter how hot I get.  I have bigger paws than the average bear and these wide blade shoes just fit me better.

[Dead Horse]

I do have to laugh!
 Here's why:
My girlfriend just started and wanted to buy her own shoes. She was using a pair of my DeadEye Regulars and liked them. So she went shoe shopping to buy her own.
She bought some without me knowing it and they turned out to be Clydesdales. Anyway, I pitched them and here's what I did which is what I've always done with other shoes.
You name them and I've pitched them, even the Vipers!
I took the pair of Clydecdales and Ted Allens and pitched them against each other. Guess what, No difference in ringer percentage. Which is why I say it's not the shoe but the way you pitch the shoe. Sure there are physical differences but overall they are the same and will do the same.

By the way, girlfriend said she didn't like the Clydesdales and picked up another set of my Clydesdales and said she liked them better. (LOL) So here's what I did. I started pitching hers just for fun and then switched to my other pair. Girlfriend came along and wanted to pitch so I said here's my shoes you liked. She proceeded to pitch and liked them so much better than the ones she purchased.
I had a good laugh when I told her they were the shoes she purchased that she said she didn't like before.

Trust me, that part is all mental.

So pick up a set and pitch the best you can and along the way you will develop to a shoe you prefer. So if you're just starting, purchase the shoe you can afford and worry about hitting the pit for now and control how the shoe opens when it nears the stake. More Ringers will come with time.
It is very important that you control the shoe and not let it do what it's going to do if you just throw it.

After all that, here's my take on purchasing a good shoe.
Always, always, buy Drop Forged steel. They can be welded where a cast shoe can not be! Very important issue there!

Happy Pitching!
 I'll be here if needed.
ED Posey
edsboatworks@hotmail.com

FYI: I'm 47 and have been pitching on and off since I was 12. Have thrown the 1 3/4 & 1 1/4 turn since started and used to cry that I would never be able to play this game!!. (P.S. I will hurt you if you ever tell that to anyone!! J/K)
TX JR State champ 3 years in 70's. pitching up to 80%.
Currently pitching 40' About 45% with high game 75% in league on down to 20%.
Yes you can laugh!
Sometimes the darn shoes just don't want to go around the stake. That's when I have to say, it's just not meant to be!!!!!
I can tell you why and can correct sometimes but if you can help everyone solve that problem we could get rich!!!

Hope you've enjoyed this response.

[HittinWood]

Great response and input but it looks like we will have to agree to disagree(even tho your experience in the sport is far greater than mine).  I will always feel that getting a shoe that fits you specifically will help improve your game.  Why else would there be so many different types of shoes on the market?  Easy, because not every shoe fits.  Also, I prefer the "dead softness" of a cast shoe over a drop forged shoe, and I would never think about welding a broken shoe no matter what the material.  I would just buy another pair.