Axe Throwing Tip I Learned Late: Have a "Lock Point"

Dear readers: I spend time thinking about axe throwing. A lot of this thought, outside of questions like "how much of a mole man do I look like to other throwers?" and "I wonder if eating a whole stromboli just before league night is a bad idea," is spent thinking about what makes throwers more accurate, and more better.

Yes. More accurate and more better. That seems right.

But a big problem in the sport, at least in my limited experience, is how rare it is to come across a clear set of marching orders when it comes to measurable, meaningful improvement. You're likely throwing with an average spread of throwers (some great, some good, some just figuring it out). And when you're just starting league play/in the sport, it's not the easiest thing to ask people you don't know (yet) "how throw better, tho?".

So, in my case--and I think in the case of plenty of throwers out there -- I had to learn by watching, by experimenting, and by eventually making buds with some really great throwers who are as patient as they are skilled.

OPPORTUNITY COMES A'KNOCKIN

The man himself: Otter Guy

I throw on Wednesdays at Meduseld Meadery. We don't have dozens and dozens of throwers, but there is a stark sorta divide between the Wednesday (cooler) league throwers and the Thursday (AV club kids) league. It's pretty rare that Wednesday (more winsome) throwers really get a chance to interact with the Thursday (toad kissers) league, so our ability to learn is cut down to just our fellow throwers on our respective nights.

But lo, A fella named Otter Guy decided to switch over to Wednesday (loved by all puppies) league, and that presented me with a rare-since-very-early-in-my-throwing opportunity to once again learn from the Appalachian Gentleman himself.

Where I have gotten arguably better over the past year or so, Rob (The Otter Guy, the Appalachian Gentleman) has gotten undeniably better. Plus he's an absolute gem of a person, and I find it very easy to talk to him about lots of shit.

So when Otter Guy told me during practice before Wednesday (every mother hugs us longest) league that he noticed all the great throwers seem to have a "lock point," I paid attention.

WHAT'S THE AXE THROWING "LOCK POINT"

Alright, I bet lots of you already know this AND I FEEL AS THOUGH I KNEW IT, TOO - but the actual, you know, realization took me until this moment to understand.

The "lock point" is, simply put, a moment in an axe throwers natural throw that they stop moving their throwing arm. The rest of their body may be moving (their cute little feets, their surely-destroyed-due-to-delinquency knees, etc.), but they put their axe in a particular position and keep it there. Maybe it's just for a second, maybe it's for a while, but they lock their axe in one position, and keep it there until they begin their throwing routine.

Now, I can hear all [a single dozen who read this blog] say:

And yeah, you're right. I've not seen any thrower who just walks up and continues their steps into a throw. There IS NATURALLY AND BY DESIGN a point where people go from "let's talk about the newest House of the Dragon episode" position to "I'm going to throw now oh God do I look like a mole right now?" position.

But I'm talking about something else. I'm talking about having a deliberate point where you position your axe in an EXACT spot that makes the throw more purposeful, more accurate, and more repeatable.

MY EXAMPLE (TO HELP EXPLAIN WHAT i'M TRYING TO SAY)

My throw up to maybe a week or so ago was one where I'd line up my throw by holding my axe with the head pointing towards me, and the bottom of my handle pointing towards the target. I'd line up my throw based on shit that is not terribly important to explain, and then throw.

And that worked alright for me. BUT I wasn't getting the most reliable results (sure, I typically got bullseyes, but they were all over the place within the bullseye itself).

So I started experimenting with a new "lock point" that was more reliable. In my case, it is bringing the axe head to the side of my head/my ear. I lock it there for the entirety of my step/movement, then release.

The difference in this case was the secondary movements of my axe. When I was holding it out in front of me, I still had to draw it back to throw the ding dang thing.

Now, my axe is already in position for the throw. It's "locked in" and ready to, you know, fire. That means I'm not moving as much. It means I don't need to think/consider how my arm is moving nearly as much. by "locking in" my axe for the throw, I'm removing a considerable amount of variables from my throw, which helps me be a touch more accurate - and repeatably so.

Instead of:

1. moving my axe to starting position

2. stepping, while...

3. pulling my axe/arm back to throw

4. throwing

I am now:

1. Moving my axe into a "locked" position

2. stepping, and then...

3. throwing

Again, this might be something that everyone knew except for me. And if that's the case, thanks for coming along on this journey.

But for anyone else out there who is trying to figure out their throws and haven't considered this, you know, uh, consider it.