Besides the shape what’s the big difference between the two?

I fish in lots of rocks.  For me the football doesn’t get hung up as often or as bad as the arky.

Shape of the jig head identity’s the type jig it is.

Ball head and Football jigs pre date Artie jigs because only 90 degree bend hook were available for jigs. The football shape helps to keep the hook upright on slack line so it doesn’t roll over sideways like a ball head does. The football head allows more weight without affecting the hook point distance from the line tie. The longer hook of the football  is an advantage when casting jigs horizontally. Early football jigs only had wire weed guards, no space for larger diameter fiber guards.

Arkie head uses a 60 degree bend hook moving the line tie forward allowing space for the fiber weed guard and longer sled shape head to slide through brush and other cover snags easier then other jig designs. The longer head shortens the hook length covered with lead going into the basses mouth. The more compact Arkie design works best worked vertical and in heavy cover.

Tom

 

@WRB .... I have to say any of your posts are always a joy to read. 

20 minutes ago, WRB said:

Early football jigs only had wire weed guards, no space for larger diameter fiber guards.

Why does GYCB still implement the V shaped wire weed guards? Was looking at them and thought the stiffness would interfere with hook set.

@WRB so the football head is better at horizontal retrieves. How about if it’s soft bottom?

17 minutes ago, GTN said:

@WRB so the football head is better at horizontal retrieves. How about if it’s soft bottom?

Yup, exactly. If it's a hard bottom and not a lot of weeds, a football head is the way to go. It will pick up any grass you fish it through with the wide head. If it's a soft bottom but not "mucky" a football head can leave a trail of dirt which can work well but if it's a few inches of muck on the bottom then I would go with an arky head and lift and drop the jig (vertical drag) instead of horizontally dragging it like a football head jig.

The other consideration is wood. If there is a lot of wood, I'll also go with an aky head as it doesn't hang up as much on wood. With minor wood, you're usually able to pop the rod with a football jig to set it free.

The Yamamoto football is the original design with the hook eye located on the top of the head, no room for a fiber weed guard. The original design optimizes hook length for higher strike detection. 

The new design moves the hook eye forward and lower recessed into the front of the football, putting more lead closer to the hook point and allowing a fiber weed guard hole. The new design does keep the hook from rolling over but like a Arkie jig more jig head goes inside the basses mouth during the strike.

Trade offs. I prefer the original design as it tends to lift the hook point and trailer under line tension instead of dragging the jig forward hook down.

Tom

PS football jig work best down hill regardless of the soil type, clay and rocks provide good crawdad hiding places. Mud flats imo a t-rigged worm is a better choice.

 

I use an arcy head as a do everything jig...I swim them, skip them under docks or overhanging trees, I crack them, hop them and drag them.

 

 

After reading responses I went to TW to look at football head jigs but started thinking maybe I already have some in the “extra extra jig box”. Sure enough I found these. 6- 1/2 and 7- 3/4oz football jig heads. 
I have some living rubber that I can tie to them also