United States Quoiting Association

To: USQA members

From: Tony Russo, USQA co-founder and board member
Subject: Constructing your own quoit pits
Date: March 5, 2018
Introduction
The following memo will supply all the information necessary to construct your very own quoit
pits. If you are fed up with high maintenance dirt pits or are new to quoiting and want pits of
your own, the following instructions are for you. This instructional will focus specifically on a
recessed pit bordered by wood and filled with clay. This type of pit is more durable due to its
wooden boxes which maintain the pits shape, and easier to prep due to its clay which retains
moisture and is easily flattened. Following the directions will give you good-looking and long-
lasting quoit pits to throw in.
Required materials
● Ample space ( at least 10x31 foot rectangle of level ground)
● Eight pieces of 2x8 inch or 2x10 inch 3 foot long pieces of lumber
● 9 cubic feet of natural red clay
● two solid steel rods 18 inches long and five-eighth to three-fourth inches in diameter
● Pebbles or gravel
● Shovel
● Sledge
● Tape measure
● One set of USQA quoits
Suggested…
● Used or new carpet
● Sharp knife
Note
Most of the listed materials can be found at your local hardware store.
Red clay can be difficult to locate. If it cannot be found at a hardware store try a craft store.
Many times red clay can be found in pottery sections. Other options include garden or building
supply stores, which usually sell clay by the bag.
USQA quoits can be found on the official USQA website. Visit
www.usqa.org/usquoits/usquoits.htm to purchase your very own set.
1) Find an area for your pits
USQA members2March 5, 2018

Unless you plan on throwing at night, find a shady area for your pits. This will keep you cool as
you pitch on hot summer days. Also, be sure to keep your pits somewhere the ground will retain
some moisture. Excessive water or swampy ground is bad, but a little moisture will keep the
clay in good condition for throwing. There should also be some open ground around your pits so
that nothing is hit by a stray quoit. The area you choose should be level. For exact
measurements see figure 1.
Once you have an area for your pits mark two points on the ground that are 21 feet apart.
Choose one of these points and continue to the next step.

(Fig. 1)
2) Dig the pit
Dig a hole that is 7 inches deep and 3 by 3 feet square. Once it is dug, insert your lumber into
the ground so that it borders the hole. After the lumber is securely in place and bordering the
hole, dig another 3 inches inside the box’s area. This will give you a pit that is 10 inches deep.
3) Fill the pit
Fill your pit with 6 inches of clay (Refer to figure 2 for pit layout and specific measurements).
This will make the lumber sturdier as it is pressed against clay on one side and dirt on the other.
Finally hammer a steel rod into the center of your new pit. Hammer until only 4 inches are
showing above ground. If the rod is loose or wobbly, take it out and fill a quarter of the hole that
is left with small stones. Reset the rod in the hole and your first pit is complete.

(Fig. 2)
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WARNING
Avoid using 2x4” or 2x6” lumber. These will not be planted firmly in the ground and they will
gradually lean inwards due to the clay being pushed back by quoits. Buy the specified lumber
for a sturdy box.
4) Make the second pit
First make sure that your second pit is placed at the proper distance. This can be done by
measuring 21 feet from the rod in your first pit. This point will be the center of your second pit.
Using it as reference, repeat steps 2 and 3 at this new location. Once these sections are
completed a second time, your new quoit pits will be complete! Grab your quoits and start
pitchin’!
5) Optional: Make covers for your pits
Using old or new material from a carpet, cut two 3 by 3 foot squares. By slashing an ‘x’ shape at
the center of these squares, they can be used to cover and protect your pits when they are not
being used. Simply place the carpet squares over your pit so that the hob slides through the hole
at the center. Be sure to set the softer side face down. By watering the carpets after placement
they will keep your pits in excellent condition for when you next throw.