WEEEEELLLLL, dear reader, I have to first admit something before I start: I throw axes that are, typically, cut down to about 15-16 inches on the handle. I've become used to it, and don't wanna explore a different length of handle because change scares me. But I went ahead and donked cutting this Premier hatchet down. As it turns out, eyeballing how your hand sits on your current hatchet, replicating that hand placement, and then cutting based on where the new axe sits is, uh, not smart. So I rolled into Meduseld Meadery with an axe that was precisely 13 inches and one millimeter more. I had very little expectation of actually managing to throw the thing.
But, to my surprise and delight, I threw just as well if not a touch better with the Premier axe - at least much better than I was expecting. a
The axe felt well balanced and light in the hand. It was easy to get it to sink at a good angle, and wasn't afraid of digging into the boards. My throw is kinda a Canadian flick, kind of a dart throw, and it worked very well for me.
Fortunately, a fellow thrower had an uncut IATF Premier on hand, and in throwing it "out of the box" with a sixteen-inch handle, I found it to feel a little less balanced - it felt heavier than it actually was, if you're picking up what I'm putting down. My fellow thrower agreed, which is nice because I seek validation. I will say: the finish on the handle felt/responded like a pool stick treatment - which made throwing a little funny, unexpectedly "sticky." I needed to use chalk, as I expected to, and might very well sand off the black paint so I don't need to think about it each time I throw.
Out of the 3 matches I had, I won 2 using an axe I hadn't thrown at all until tonight. It felt natural to throw it. I ended up not adjusting the placement of my feet (compared to throwing my typical Plumb National Victory) when I settled on a position, and that was rather delightful, too. There's still PLENTY of time to figure out if this is a hatchet that I'll use until my eyes start lingering to the next shiny thing but, to be honest, I was pretty delighted with it.
Comentários