Q:

What's the proper format for an SPF record?

Querying my domain I get:
The TXT records found for your domain are:
v=spf1 ip4:50.22.72.198 a mx:wordswithfriends.net ~all 

So superficially it appears OK.  However I also get the following message

SPF records should also be published in DNS as type SPF records.
  No type SPF records found.

I want to make sure things are absolutely airtight.  So in addition to TXT records I also want a pure SPF record.  However I cannot figure out the format.  Placing the same text in an SPF record does not seem to work. 
Edit:
At the moment I have a TXT record but not SPF record.  When I cut and paste from TXT straight to SPF I get some type of crazy recursive DNS error so quickly deleted the SPF.  I just want to know the correct format.  Copying
v=spf1 ip4:50.22.72.198 a mx:wordswithfriends.net ~all 

straight into an SPF record doesn't work.

A:

If you are trying to add an SPF record in addition to the usual TXT record, the format is exactly the same.
However, you need to use a version of BIND that supports SPF record types, i.e. 9.4.0 or later.
If your DNS software lacks support for "true" SPF records, I wouldn't worry about it. This record type is fairly new and you certainly won't need it for compatibility within the next 10 years or so. :)

A:

That SPF record looks correct to me, mine is quite similar to that.
Where do you get the SPF error? I checked the domain from my SPF client and it says it's okay.
You can always check the syntax here http://www.openspf.org/SPF_Record_Syntax and generate a new header here http://old.openspf.org/wizard.html?mydomain=example.com&submit=Go%21
$ spfquery -i 50.22.72.198 -m test@wordswithfriends.net -h wordswithfriends.net
pass
Please see http://www.openspf.org/why.html?sender=test%40wordswithfriends.net&ip=50.22.72.198&receiver=spfquery: 50.22.72.198 contains 50.22.72.198
spfquery: domain of test@wordswithfriends.net designates 50.22.72.198 as permitted sender
Received-SPF: pass (spfquery: domain of test@wordswithfriends.net designates 50.22.72.198 as permitted sender) client-ip=50.22.72.198; envelope-from=test@wordswithfriends.net; helo=wordswithfriends.net;

A:

Did you just set the spf record? if so the other side's dns server might be caching your old zone without the spf record. So just wait a day and then try.
I went to http://www.kitterman.com/spf/validate.html and you passed.

