A quick note: if you haven't already, check out the most recent episode of "Not Axe Murderers" where I'm the guest! You can watch/listen to it right here.
Chances are high, if you throw axes that is, you've experienced a scourge of our sport: Stormtrooper Syndrome. Prevalent as it is, there are still a few of us who won't recognize the symptoms without ol' doc badger explaining it. So lemme drop some knowledge on you fools:
Stormtrooper Syndrome: You can't hit anything you mean to.
There. You're welcome.
Now, The thing about Stormtrooper Syndrome that is most nefarious, I believe, is how frustrating it feels. Sure, missing bulls and clutches blows, but it blows even more when, typically, you're able to get those little guys. Those lil' buddies.
Through extensive laboratory testing and research, the medical team here at badger HQ have come up with a few ways to treat and even fight against stormtrooper syndrome. Here's your prescription, my dear readers:
Try listing the steps of your throw in yer head whilst throwing.
I've found this to be particularly useful when I'm struggling to land my throws where I mean to. Basically, just go through your pilot checklist of steps to get your throw right. It sounds (in my brain) a lil' something like this.
Spin your axe in your hand, you handsome little fellah.
Look at your right foot, place it.
Left foot, place it.
Wiggle your left foot for some reason. I don't know why you do this, but here we are. Good wiggle, buddy.
Close your bad eye (LEFT. LEFT EYE. DON'T CLOSE YOUR OTHER ONE DINGUS.
Line up your axe handle with where you're throwing, bud. Yeah. Like that. Good work.
Stepnthrow.
Stand like a lil' ballerina. Cutie.
Now, that list is gonna be different for you and if it's not, we need to talk. By reminding yourself of your entire throwing process, you're more likely to hit your marks a bit better. There's likely one part of your throw that you're not doing like you normally do - and by going through your checklist, you're more likely to pay attention/correct it. Simple dimples.
Alternately, change something small and see if that fixes it.
Hey. Hey bud? Hey my little heartmallow? We live in meat suits. Fallible, unpredictable meat sacks.
And those meat tubes we exist in are not into doing the exact same thing the exact same way all the time. It'd get boring.
So it might be the case that your shoulder isn't producing as much power as it typically does, or your hips are less loose/more loose than normal, meaning your step is different. Perhaps you're wearing a tee shirt that feels funny, and it makes you self-conscious to a point where you're not throwing with the same abandon most people know you by.
Whatever it is, it's okay to change something little to see how that affects your throw. This little thing might be moving up/back in your starting spot. It might be shifting your stance to the left or right. Maybe using chalk/not using chalk.
And while the little thing might be enough to fix the issue, it might also be that adjusting in general acts as a little reset to your brain/body to hone back in.
Switch axes
This is a big switch, and I get it. I understand the audible gasp you just made in the Dunkin' line. But hear me out: sometimes modern problems require modern solutions. And in this case, it might be that you're too comfortable.
Mind wandering, or as I call it: My Brain's Big Day Out, is a real thing. And if you've muscle-memory locked your throw in place, that gives your brain parts a lotta extra time to think about how baby centaurs walk around with floppy human-baby bodies up top, or if that one squirrel is really a friend, or if they just like chilling near you while eating free peanuts.
Switching something big (like your axe) can make your brain return focus to what you're actually doing. I've seen this in action before, and to be honest I don't know if it's the very best idea, but it seems to work. Honestly, I don't think you need to stick with the new axe for a very, very long time (maybe just one match, maybe just one league day), and you certainly don't need to buy a series of new axes every time your throw starts slipping...but that does sound like fuuuunnnnn.
Speed up/slow down
People, inherently, want to fit in. Even the most edgelord humans are hard-wired to want community. Part of that, psychologically, is to match what someone else is doing if you're both doing the same thing.
That means if your fellow axe thrower is going faster/slower than you, you might start throwing slower/faster yourself. And that's gonna mess you up, babe.
So, if you find you're missing your bulls more than you typically do, consider if it's due to how quickly you're lining up and chuckin' that axe. Remember: your opponent should never dictate the way you throw. For me, I ask myself if this is happening about once a match. It helps preserve my throwing autonomy. My throwtonomy.
DO NOT get hung up on Stormtrooper Syndrome
The worst thing you can do is get hung up on having Stormtrooper Syndrome. Letting it get to you and throwing the rest of your matches b/c you have a grump is miserable, and not worth the self-pity.
Instead, remind yourself that this sport is a silly one, you'll be free of these crushing symptoms soon, and maybe start making laser-gun noises each time you throw. I mean, you might as well get something out of it, right?
I know you're going for the yuk yuks and all, but damn if you didn't nail a couple of things in this piece!