When I started throwing axes, I was blown away by how quickly (and readily) more experienced throwers were willing to help me get better. I think my very first match, Trevor (yes, I remember) basically stopped during the 2nd round to coach me a bit on foot position and how to continue my throw after releasing the axe. And it made a difference - both in hitting the ding dang target, but also in my perception of what axe throwing was.
Soon after, Bob (one of our resident pros) gave me tips, too. And then Otter, and then Teemo and so many others.
All that axe throwing advice was great - it helped me develop into a half-decent thrower who can finish on the "podium" every once in a while. But it also confused the hell out of me, for a while.
AXE THROWERS FEEL BETTER WHEN OTHER THROWERS GET BETTER.
One of the great things about our sport is that nobody has, like, a "Micheal's Secret Stuff" manner in which they throw that they won't tell anyone else in the sport. We're a transparent bunch, it seems - if we see someone struggling with their throw, we will do anything we can to help them get better. It's charming.
But that also means, just by the nature of it, that a new thrower is getting advice from multiple sources, and the advice they're giving often doesn't line up. One thrower might tell a newbie that they should put there feet on A, but another thrower will say "you should really put your feet at Z." Someone will say "hold your axe like this" while another will give advice that is entirely counter to that hand position.
SEEK AXE THROWING ADVICE, BUT DON'T FOLLOW ALL OF IT, ALL AT ONCE.
When you're new, that lack of consistency can really send you for a loop. All of these other throwers, presumably, are better throwers than you (a new thrower) are, so the advice they're giving you is good. But if you try to follow all of it, you're not going to get anywhere.
For me, in my case, specifically -- for me that is. Personally: I learned most advice is good advice, but isn't always good, all the time.
Let me put that another way: Bob's advice to me was solid, but I was a brand new thrower listening to someone who was much further along in their mastery than I was. Add to this: Bob has a very particular, Bob-ish throw. It works really well for him, but I have yet to see anyone else really do something similar.
Truth is, I never got the very best advice I could give to someone who is just starting out and wants to know who to listen to:
LISTEN TO EVERYONE, BUT DON'T APPLY EVERYTHING.
When I get started with something, I'm a flighty fellow. I want to try as much as I can, as soon as I can. That means, in this case, that I was modeling my throw after the people I admired in my axe house. And, brother, I admired a lot of people.
That meant that I didn't have a single...I dunno...system(?) for throwing. I had the hand position of Trevor, the foot position of Teemo, the throw of Anne, etc. etc. All of those people were much better throwers than me (prolly still are), but I was stunting my own growth in the sport by copying only parts of their throws. I was making some sort of horrible abomination of a throwing process. And that, my friends, was a silly move. A real silly goose moment.
I'm not saying a new thrower shouldn't listen to more experienced throwers - but I AM saying that new throwers shouldn't apply everything they hear. Instead, new throwers should figure out what works best for them, and then pursue advice that helps enhance that particular style/method.
OFFER TIPS IN THE VACUUM OF THE PERSONAL
And this advice goes for more experienced throwers, too, just in reverse: if you're offering advice to a newer thrower, don't just give them the tips that make them into a little, mini-you. Figure out what works in their own throw and help them enhance that throwing style. Let the new thrower figure out how they want to change their throw, or how their current throwing style could use some work. Take the lead from their own questions and concerns - and for the love of the clutch, don't offer a bunch of advice before asking if they'd like some. Seriously. Chances are they're already getting tons of advice from multiple sources, and your advice (even if it's real good) will do more to confuse than clarify.
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