Tuesday tips: getting better means remembering the basics every throw.

I'm a noticer. A pay-attention-er. I'm well known for being a little freak who stares at what people are doing like I'm some sort of time-traveler who doesn't know what's going on and is amazed by even the smallest, inconsequential thing. Partly because I'm so scared of engaging with any person, and partly because I'm just interested in observing. An observinationer.

And there is one thing I've noticed about really consistent, points-laden throwers: they throw with intention.

The body and the brain aren't always on the same page.

I think it's easy to, you know, turn your brain off when throwing. After a while, muscle memory will take over in the piloting of your meat vehicle, and you'll be free to think about what you're going to eat for dinner, or replay your favorite scenes from Alone or whatever. And while I approve of all disassociation types, the truth is yer muscle memory isn't gonna be enough to do excel at this here endeavor.

This introduces and interesting balance: depending on muscle memory while keeping the mind engaged in what you're doing without getting bored/distracted by it. And maybe it's just me, but finding that balance is REALLY hard. I'll be halfway through the second round of a standard match and discover my foot position is off, or I'm not stepping like I normally do - things I should easily identify but there I was, imagining myself as a person of the Westfold as it fell.

The issue, I think, is how to keep your brain engaged - just enough - to stay alert and aware of what you're doing. Not too much, of course, because then you're overthinking about your throw, and that's a no-no as well.

Badger, where the hell is the advice here, bud?

Oh, right.

So here's my Tuesday tip: create yourself a mental checklist to run through while you're throwing.

This mental checklist, a melist, if you will, helps engage your mind and body. Here's kind of what mine sounds like, as I say it in my brain while throwing:

• Foot

• Axe

• Step

• Throw

Keep in mind - the phrasing here isn't really the important part of the checklist. Everything there is, more or less, a keyword reminder of what it looks like when I throw as perfectly as I can. The first phrase is just a reminder to check where my little feeties are, the second a reminder to not lean into my throw too much, the next to stop me from throwing too early, and the last to...well...throw at the right point in my movement.

Holy hell I only just noticed my checklist could be made into the acronym F.A.S.T.

Oh shit. Oh geez.

Slow is steady, and steady is F.A.S.T. Oh man. Oh geez.

Find your checklist, and use it when you notice your mind/body relationship isn't in sync.

Do I say this checklist to myself for every throw? No, no I do not. But when I notice that I'm getting...well maybe not distracted, but perhaps mentally disengaged, I go back to these words to keep my throw sharp and consistent.

So give that a try, would you please? See if it helps you build up your consistency and mental acuity.