Be the loudest voice: pressure vs points in axe throwing

So I’ve taken up a bad habit. But really just with one thrower: whenever I’m throwing against Joypocalypse, I tell her she’s a coward for staying down for points (which, to be absolutely fair, she only really does during tourneys). Axe throwing has a lot of…I dunno…cultural pressure, for the 100% clutch league/marathon/whatever. When people don’t join in on that expectation, they can be brow-beat into feeling bad about themselves.

Believe it or not (you really should), the first few posts I had on this very site were about the 5th throw/clutch/staying down nonsense: here (where I’m angry about asking your opponent what they intend to do) and also here (where I’m angry about it again, but in a different way). It is safe to say my opinions on the matter have…shifted.

Or maybe not shifted, but become a bit more nuanced.

In the case of Joypocalypse, our matches are typically pretty close. And when she’s up by two or more, she stays down. It makes sense – we trade wins back and forth like they were axe-throwing specific POGs (coming soon to the sport, no doubt) – and forcing me to get a premmy Clutch is a smart move (or taking the round outright, which happens fairly often, tbh).

Realisitically, the only thing I can do during those matches is make fun of her. I’m certainly not going to win the ding dang thing, so I revert to my exceptional wit and cutting words. Yes, I whisper “coward” under my breath just loud enough for her to hear it.

BUT: I only do that to Joypocalypse because she knows I’m not being very serious. Point in fact, some others in our axe house started calling her out on it (again, in a jokey way) and I told them they couldn’t do that. Hypocritical? Maybe from the outside – but truthfully, it doesn’t take much for a joke to go too far, and I’m not about that business, if I can help it.

I feel okay joking with Joy BECAUSE we have the sort of relationship that sets those clear boundaries, and because I know Joy is sure of herself/what she plans to do. Her voice is louder than my voice in that brilliant brain of hers.

And that’s kinda what I’m getting at.

Listen to your voice first, your doubts second, then anyone else (in distant third)

One of the biggest, most defining skillsets in our sport is how mentally strong a thrower is. No, I don’t mean intelligence (90% would be screwed, were that the case), I mean mental resolve. How well you can stay focused on what you’re doing, and how you’re doing it. Listening to people hoot and a’hollar around you, give you advice, or suggest “going up” or “points” or whatever else can pull at the corners of your own resolve – and that’s almost never great.

Again, fine lines, here: people can also be bards, and give you the clarity and belief-in-yourself attitude needed to do great things. But if you are planning to stay down for points while people are shouting “go uuuppp!” — and then do that crowdly “OOoOooooOOoOoohhhhhhuuuuuhhhh” thing when you don’t take their bait, that’s not a great feeling. It can make your next round (and maybe even your next few matches) feel less-than-great.

So what are you to do? Well, you can’t tell the crowd to shut up. You’ll become the heel of the league. Instead, you (yes, you!) prioritize which voice is the most important to listen to.

And that voice?

It’s you.

It’s always been you, Daniel.

Okay but imagine if you’re name is Daniel and you just read that. Holy hell you’d be losing your mind right now, hahahahahaha.

Right — anyway: by making your own voice the loudest one in your head, you become more confident in your decisions while throwing, regardless of what the crowd/your opponent is trying to push you into – and that takes away one stressor from everything else you’re balancing.

Go up. go points. go wherever: just make it your decision.

Joy is unapologetic in her decisions during the 5th round. If it’s a tourney, she’ll stay down if it’s close (unless it’s tied – then she goes up). She plays to win. That’s her goal, and her own voice is the loudest in the room — whether she’s speaking or not.

And because of that, there is little room for self-doubt, flippy-floppyness or feeling pressured. And there’s the lesson: if you’re going to make a decision, make it your decision. Not the crowds or your opponents or expectation’s. Make it yours.