One of the hallmarks of axe throwing across organizational bodies is the chance to throw whatever axe fits your throw/style/aesthetic best. Sure, there are limitations, but generally speaking, a thrower isn't limited to just a single, standard model of axe. One can choose from a wide variety of makers, styles, handle lengths, bit sizes, etc. etc. etc. It's part of what makes the sport fun, I think - the chance to buy too many axes and adorn them with your own personality.
So let me just pose this out there: how many problems/how much streamlining of rules could happen if governing bodies just decided: hey, this is the hatchet and this is the big axe you use when you throw in this sport.
Just typing that paragraph above made me feel icky.
Now, for my part, I'm not about a standardized axe option. I really enjoy that I have the opportunity to fiddle around with dozens of options and waste all my money on a recreational sport. But I do want to participate in this thought experiment. Partially because I like brain exercises, and partially because I've tried to write two other posts for today and both of them died on the vine. (One was about what was/was not acceptable heckling, and another was about installing heckling booths at axe houses a la muppet show.)
RULE STREAMLINING
The one, big advantage I could see in having a universal hatchet/big axe option would be how much streamlining would happen around equipment requirements. In IATF, at least, the requirements would come down to:
Here are the min-max handle lengths
You can't modify the equipment beyond sharpening, handle length, and handle modification (tape, thinning, etc.).
Forget all the questions about beards or bit length or weight or any of that stuff. Now you just get your IATF/WATL-issued axe combo and you're in it.
"EQUIPMENT ADVANTAGE" DISAPPEARS
Now I don't know how much this holds water, but stay with me: some people can create, or can afford, axes that are pitch-perfect for the sport. If someone doesn't have the ability or economy to get a custom, razor thin, perfectly made axe, they MIGHT suffer a bit when it comes to throwing. If we went to an "issued" axe, all of that goes away. All equipment becomes equal because all equipment is, you know, the same thing.
CLEARER PATH TO WIDER INTEGRATION
Again, this is not a strong argument, BUT: if there is only one option for axes, it'd be a clearer path for camps/rec leagues/not-currently-traditional-axe-throwing-orgs to start up leagues on their own.
This is something that we bumped into with bike polo, back in the day: we wanted to spread the sport into high schools to build up recognition and play numbers, but there wasn't really a standardized equipment checklist for schools/rec leagues to look at for the sake of getting started.
Now, do I think schools these days will be into buying a ton of axes to have hanging around? No, not really - but maybe? I dunno. It could be advantageous if there was a single package deal that groups could purchase that would include everything they needed to get 10-15 people started in the sport. I guess. If they're into that sort of thing.
THE ANSWER TO MY OWN QUESTION: NAH.
I think there is a case for standardization, and frankly I wouldn't be terribly surprised if it comes to pass that the options for hatchets and axes becomes, standards-wise, limited. But I do think the variety open to throwers AND the non-standard nature of that variety is important - nay, integral - to the enjoyment of the sport.
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