The Pinnacle of Competitive Horseshoe Pitching
The NHPA World Championships represent the highest level of competition in the sport, drawing pitchers from across the United States, Canada, and around the world. Held annually—traditionally in July—the World Tournament is overseen by the NHPA Executive Council, with a designated World Tournament Director responsible for format, scheduling, and event operations. This prestigious event crowns World Champions across multiple divisions and stands as the ultimate test of skill, consistency, and competitive excellence.
World Singles Championships
The World Singles Championships feature separate divisions for Open Men, Open Women, Juniors, Cadets, Seniors, and Elders. Competitors are seeded based on
verified ringer percentages in eShoe, and many divisions use preliminary Class Play as a qualifier for the Championship rounds. Championship divisions operate under their own sanction numbers, meaning Class Play and Championship Play each count as separate tournaments.
Final standings are determined by games won and lost, with playoff formats used to break ties for first place. Ladder-style playoffs, extra innings, and ringer-percentage tiebreakers ensure that every title is earned on the courts. Winners in each division hold the title of World Champion until next year’s tournament. Records set at the World Tournament are tracked separately from general sanctioned-tournament records, preserving the historical significance of World-level achievements.
Eligibility for the World Singles Championships requires most adult pitchers to complete four sanctioned events at their division distance within the previous 12 months. Juniors and Cadets need only one. Active-duty U.S. military members and their immediate families receive special eligibility considerations.
World Doubles Championships
In addition to singles play, the NHPA proudly hosts the World Doubles Championships, a rapidly growing annual event that debuted in 2025. At the inaugural tournament in Wentzville, Missouri, Maxine Griffith and Marlene Ray made history by becoming the first-ever World Doubles Champions. This event now appears annually on the NHPA calendar and offers a unique team-based competitive experience that complements the tradition of World Singles play.
A Tradition Spanning Nearly a Century
The World Tournament has been hosted across the United States and Canada for decades, with some locations becoming multi-time hosts. Utah leads with 15 tournaments, followed by Florida (11), Ohio (8), Kansas (6), Iowa (6), and California (6). Recent host cities include:
- 2025 - Sandy, Utah
- 2024 – Kennewick, WA
- 2023 – Lansing, MI
- 2022 – West Monroe, LA
- 2021 – Winnemucca, NV
- 2019 – Wichita Falls, TX
- 2018 – Florence, SC
- 2017 – St. George, UT
- 2016 – Montgomery, AL
- 2015 – Topeka, KS
These events regularly attract hundreds to more than a thousand competitors, making the World Championships one of the largest and longest-running competitive events in the sport.
The Ultimate Goal for Every Pitcher
Whether competing in Singles or Doubles, the NHPA World Championships are where pitchers test their skills against the best in the world. With structured divisions, rigorous qualification standards, and a legacy of excellence, the World Tournament remains the defining stage for crowning champions and setting records in the sport of horseshoe pitching. The World Championship is a player experience unlike any other, the indoor event is a showcase like none other in our sport and the crown jewel of the association!