Starting out in axe throwing, specifically as a member of a league, can result in a bunch of
advice and guidelines from more experienced throwers. And that's great, honestly, as a way of diving deep in something new. But the problem is this: not everyone has supergreat advice, and not everyone throws the way you will end up throwing once you get your sea legs under you (axe legs? Halloween, after all...).
So in the time-honored tradition of giving advice to people who likely don't need it, nor ever asked for it, below you'll find a few tips that I wished someone would have told me when I started out in competitive axe throwing.
1. If you're nervous about throwing, do it first.
This might not be the case for other axe houses, but at the meadery there is a sort of genuflection (read: waiting quietly) that happens when a more experienced thrower goes up against a newer thrower. The newer thrower will inevitably wait for the more experienced thrower to do their thing before they themselves chop at the board.
And I'm not here to yuck anyone's yum, but if you're an anxious sort of thrower, you're giving yourself more time to be anxious about your throw.
Now I'm not suggesting that you throw immediately or you run back and forth from the boards to the line or anything, but sometimes (and especially when you're just starting out), just getting into a good, smooth, quick rhythm can help. It works on muscle memory, takes some of the overthink out, and gives you a little less time to dwell on missed throws.
2. Try the weird stuff.
This sport has yet to really calcify, you know? New axes are still being developed, new rules are still being fiddled with--new styles of throwing are still being scratched out in secret basements while some sort of opera plays...there's lots of room to experiment.
And if you're a new thrower just starting out, I urge you to explore every little, weird thing you can about axe throwing. Try different axes and different ways to throw. Try different tourneys and rule sets. Don't think that because you don't know what you're doing yet, that you can't do anything you like. Right now, axe throwing is like the wild west. It won't always be. So make sure you explore everything it has to offer.
The point of being a free-wheeling lizzy with the sport is two-fold, when you're new to it. One, trying everything helps you figure out what you like, and two, it gives you more experience, faster. So why not, right?
3. Don't be afraid to ask.
I have yet to meet a single person in this sport who is unapproachable. Likewise, I haven't met anyone in this sport who isn't willing to explain how they are doing something, or why. I'm sure there are some edge-lord types out there, but the ratio has to be pretty low.
Because of that, it's SUPER EASY to talk to anyone you're throwing against about what they've learned--or ask them to give you advice. If you see someone who is throwing how you want to, or who really nails clutches every time and can hold a puppy whilst doing it, just ask how it's done. Granted, it might not work the same for you--but it might just.
Asking experienced players for advice and help is a huge way to get better when you're starting out. You may find that after a few seasons your throw looks exactly like theirs, or you may find it's developed into your own, unique style. Either way, getting advice and learning from others is a catalyst for getting better, faster. Consider this your open invite to ask all your questions.
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