The World Axe Throwing Professional League (WATL Pro League) is a qualifying system that helps to recognize the top competitors in the sport of axe throwing for standard hatchet competition.

2023 Summer Pro League is comprised of the top 128 Hatchet competitors from the 2023 Spring League season.

At the end of each league season, the top 24 Pros (by leaderboard position) will be awarded a bid to the 2023 WATC.

To earn their WATC Bid:

• Pro Bid Winners must have thrown at least 50% kill attempts (28) in their qualifying league
• Bids trickle down if there are already bid holders in the top 24 finishers

Please be reminded that Pro Status does not carry forward past the next season and throwers have to re-qualify EVERY SEASON for Pro Status.

For more information on how to qualify for the next season of Pro League, please see our rules linked here.

Congrats to the 2023 Spring Pro League bid winners!

Anthony Ortiz
Benjamin “The Edge” Edgington
Brett Williamson
Coleman Bates
Damon “Iron Giant” Latham
David “Lightning” Lewis
David Corley
David Gann
Glenn “The Reaper” Eddleman
Jeb “Swashbuckler” Bisset
Joe “lil Vapey” Devine
John Bradley
JT Malashevich
Justin Reese
Kyle “Supreme Overlord” Durrant
Michael Barton
Michael Moss
Neil Rust
Pete Belanger
Sean Hout
Shane Funke
Tony Luce
Tyler Lalka
Zach “Zeus” Crawford

2023 Summer Pro League

Aaron Monath
Adam Fortner
Alex “Wrong worm” Everson
Anthony Ortiz
Austin Wilkins
Benjamin The Edge Edgington
Black Metal Axe .
Brandon Ice Cream” Schell
Brandon Johnson
Brett Jariabek
Brett Williamson
Bryan Cox
Bryan Hotz
Casey Briggs
Chase Salwach
Chris Kendig
Christopher Dubois
Colby Dean
Coleman Bates
Colton Askew
Dalton HandleBar Wilson
Damon Iron Giant Latham
Dan Brynildsen
Daniel Abarca
Darin Bartholomew
Dave Alviso
David Carroll
David Cline
David Corley
David Cycon
David Gann
David Lightning Lewis
Drew Moss
Dustin Knight
Dustin Perplebunny Kerr
Dustin Wellman
Dwayne Salmon
Dylan Teets
Eli bearpants Morton
Garret “Papi” Hennigan
Garrett Gneiting
Gary Dragon Dayter
Glenn The Reaper Eddleman
Greg “Connor Gabriel” Lane
Gregg Mason
Gregg Ward
Hayden Brown
Jacob “From the Panhandle” Keszthelyi
James Scargill
James Strasburg
Jamie Hein
Jason The Sniper Yurich
Jeb Bisset
Jeff Cope
Jeff Schick
Jimmy Grindle
Joe “lil Vapey” Devine
Joe Tacco Ritacco
John Bradley
John Doepke
Jonathan Merida
Jonathan Morgan
Jonathan Papa Qualls
Jorge Sanchez
Jose Ruiz
Josh Eggert
Josh Horner
Joshua Russo
JT AxeCop
JT Malashevich
Justin Corey
Justin Reese
Kaden Greene
Kevin Green
Kyle Rickenbaugh
Kyle Speelman
Kyle Supreme Overlord Durrant
Lucas Johnson
Manny Kohl
Mark Tishko
Mat Ball
Matt “Goliath” Cook
Matt “MagicMan” Bradshaw
Matt Kosin
Matthew Allen
Matthew Pelletier
Michael Barton
Michael Moss
Michael Theodorou
Mike Kump
Mike Titus
Neil “Naked Burrito” Rust
Nick Doane
Nick Kolomyja
Noah Vargas
Pete Belanger
Rander Marquez
Reid Welsh
Ricky Williams
Ronnie Patterson
Ryan Gustin
Ryan O’Donnell
Ryan Perrion
Sam Carter
Sean Beamish
Sean Hout
Sean Rameika
Sebastian Arnold
Shane Funke
Shaun Daniels
Stephen Shawn Christopher Bruce Wayne Neal
Stephen Thorgerson
Steven GREENEIE Greene
Thaddius Daddy Shipley
Tim Coyle
Tim Haggard
Tim Valliere
Tom Decker
Tony Luce
Tristan Rooster Sandoval
Tyler Flynn
Tyler Lalka
Tyler Pantle
Vail Cook
Victor Ahluwalia
Vin Crescenzo
Wesley Powell
Will Gelatko
Zach Strobis
Zach Zeus Crawford

The post 2023 Spring Pro League Bids & Summer Pro League appeared first on World Axe Throwing League.

We are pleased to announce the inaugural Fall River 40 at Lizzie’s Axe Throwing in Northglenn, Colorado! The Fall River 40 will take place on the same weekend, September 22-24, at their Northglenn location just north of Denver, Colorado. Keep an eye out for more details directly from Lizzie’s coming soon!

Lizzie’s Axe Throwing had previously expressed interest in hosting a larger tournament, and has already successfully met our criteria by hosting an amazing Tier 3 earlier this year. Lizzie’s checks all the boxes we look for in a Tier 1 host – a venue large enough to support the number of players, knowledgeable support staff, exceptional organization, among many other factors that set them apart. We are excited to bring another top tier tournament to the Mountain region for all of our western throwers. 

Tier 1 – Fall River 40

Lizzie’s Axe Throwing
970 West 104th Avenue
Northglenn, CO 80234

September 22-24, 2023

The post New Tier 1 Coming to Colorado in September appeared first on World Axe Throwing League.

Official Competition Throwing Axe Regulations

If you want to compete in axe throwing, one of the most important things to do before you purchase a throwing axe is to check your federation’s guidelines. Below we will outline Axe Regulations for axes in The World Axe Throwing League (WATL) Hatchet and Big Axe Leagues. If you aren’t looking to compete, you can skip this section.

Hatchet Regulations

1. The blade (or bit) of the axe can not be longer than 4 inches.
   • This is to be measured from tip to tip in a straight line.
2. Axes may only have one sharp bit. No sharpened bits, spikes, or blades are allowed opposite the intended scoring area of the axe.
3. Handle Max Length can be no more than 19in/48.26cm as measured from the lowest point of the handle to the highest point of the eye on the top of the axe head.
   1. Handles may be made from any material
4. Maximum Weight of a Hatchet
   1. Axe Total = 3 lbs/1.36 kg
5. Broken axe
   1. If the judge determines that a thrower’s axe has broken during a game. The thrower must provide a replacement axe to be verified and approved by the judge. If they do not provide a second non-broken axe within 1 minute they will have the rest of their league game/tournament match throws counted as 0.
      1. The thrower is allowed 1 practice throw with the new axe before continuing the game.
6. Axe Heads must be one solid piece of metal held tightly to the handle.
   1. Axe Heads that have become loose are dangerous and will not be considered for league play.
   2. Axe Heads that have become loose or have an axe head that is easily removed (ie. heads that are clamped or held into the handle by a screw or pin) are not legal for sanctioned events unless otherwise approved by WATL^®.

Big Axe Regulations

1. The total axe weight must be at least 3.00lbs, but no more than 4.25lbs.
2. Big Axe handle length must be a minimum of 23” inches to a maximum of 30” as measured from the lowest point of the handle to the highest point of the eye on top of the axe head.
3. The axe blade cannot be more than 4 5/8″
4. Double bit axes & Fireman axes are permitted as long as they meet the specifications outlined herein
   1. Only the forward-facing blade will count for scoring purposes
   2. If there’s an over-rotation, and both blades stick to the target, then it will be marked as a fault

For more details read the World Axe Throwing League Regulations

1. Best Throwing Axe for Beginners Looking to Compete: The Competition Thrower

If you’re a beginner looking to get into competitive axe throwing, the Competition Thrower from the World Axe Throwing League is an excellent option. This axe is specifically designed for competition use and features a durable steel head and a thin blade profile that makes it easy to stick in the target accurately.

“The best ‘bang for your buck’ axe”

Additionally, the Competition Thrower is extremely affordable, making it a great option for those who are just starting out. This Competition Thrower is certainly one of the best “bang for your buck” axes.

Specifications:

• Head: 1045 Carbon Steel
• Handle: American Hickory
• Blade Finish: White Semi-Gloss Paint
• Handle Finish: Clearcoat Varnish
• Handle Length: 16 in
• Approx. Blade Length: 3.5 in
• Approx. Head Weight: 1.65 lbs
• Approx. Total Weight: 2.35 lbs

THE COMPETITION THROWER

2. The Best Throwing Axe for Casual Throwers: The Kill Shot

For those who want a durable and affordable axe for casual use, the Kill Shot from the World Axe Throwing League is the best throwing axe. This axe features a fibreglass handle that is built to last and a steel head that is designed to withstand repeated use.

“A fibreglass handle that is built to last”

Additionally, like the competition thrower, the Kill Shot is very affordable, making it a great option for those who want a reliable axe without breaking the bank (or breaking a wooden handle) while they learn to throw.

Specifications:

• Head: 1045 Carbon Steel
• Handle: Molded Fiberglass
• Blade Finish: White Semi-Gloss Paint
• Handle Finish: N/A
• Handle Length: 17 in
• Approx. Blade Length: 3.5 in
• Approx. Head Weight: 1.65 lbs
• Approx. Total Weight: 2.25 lbs

The Kill Shot Throwing Axe

3. The Best Throwing Axe for Venues: Spitfire

The Spitfire from the World Axe Throwing League is a top-of-the-line house throwing axe that is designed specifically for use in axe-throwing facilities. This means it is designed to withstand whatever abuse inexperienced throwers can put it through. This axe features a strong molded fibreglass handle making it extremely durable and the perfect option for venues that see a lot of traffic.

Specifications:

• Head: 1045 Carbon Steel
• Handle: Molded Fiberglass
• Blade Finish: Brushed Steel
• Handle Finish: N/A
• Handle Length: 17 in
• Approx. Blade Length: 4 in
• Approx. Head Weight: 1.65 lbs
• Approx. Total Weight: 2.25 lbs

The Spitfire Throwing Axe

4. The Best Throwing Axe for Big Axe Leagues: The Colossus

For those who want to compete in big axe leagues/competitions, The Colossus from the World Axe Throwing League is the best axe for you. The Colossus features a massive 4.525” coverage on the target, this larger scoring area makes it easier to score points in big axe competitions.

“Massive 4.525” coverage on the target”

This axe features a similar head design to one of WATL’s best performing hatchets, The Butcher. Furthermore, The Colossus has an extremely thin blade profile designed specifically for sticking in the target, meaning it can be thrown and stuck in the board with very little force. Overall, this axe is the best possible choice for Big Axe Leagues.

Specifications:

• Head: 1045 Carbon Steel
• Handle: American Hickory
• Blade Finish: Brushed Steel
• Handle Finish: Clearcoat Finish
• Handle Length: 27.5 in
• Approx. Blade Length: 4.525 in
• Approx. Total Weight: 3.2 lbs
• Approx. Head Weight: 2.35 lbs

The Colossus – Big Axe

5. The Best Big Axe for Casual Throwers:
The Patriot

The Patriot from the World Axe Throwing League is a great option for those who want a big axe for casual use or those looking to begin competing in big axe. Big Axe Throwers start from the 17ft mark, and cannot cross the 15ft mark. Because they’re throwing from a further distance, for casual throwers who are just starting out, you do not want an axe with a wood handle if you cannot consistently land the axe on the target. Otherwise, you may break your axe on the first throw. That’s where the Patriot comes in.

“One of the most affordable big axes”

This axe features a highly durable fibreglass handle and a well thought-out design that makes it easy to throw and stick accurately. Additionally, the Patriot is one of the most affordable big axes, making it a great option for those who want a big axe, without the big price.

Specifications:

• Head: 1045 Carbon Steel
• Handle: Molded Fiberglass
• Blade Finish: White Semi-Gloss Paint
• Handle Length: 26 in
• Approx. Blade Length: 3.94 in
• Approx. Head Weight: 2.5 lbs
• Approx. Total Weight: 3.55 lbs

The Patriot: Big Axe

Top 5 Best Throwing Axes for Hatchet Competitions/Leagues

1. The Ace of Spades:

The Ace of Spades, the first throwing axe in WATL’s Royal Lineup, is extremely popular within the axe throwing community. The ace features a patented design with an easy-to-stick curved blade. This professional-grade throwing axe is designed for competition use. It has a weight of 2.35lbs and a handle length of 17”. A 17” handle is suitable for almost all throwers, but also allows for the handle to be cut down if you prefer a shorter handle.

The Ace is also available in a square handle variant. Square handles are praised among some of the best axe throwers in the world as they provide an additional point of reference, allowing for a more easily replicable throw. The axe head is made from high-quality carbon steel, which provides excellent durability and edge retention. This axe was the axe of choice for 2021 World Champion Mike Philabaum.

“Patented design with an easy-to-stick curved blade”

The handle is straight and is crafted from American hickory wood. A straight handle allows for an easy and accurate release, where the axe simply slides out of the hand. The Ace of Spades has an extremely thin blade profile, allowing it to stick in the target much better than any axe you would buy from the hardware store. This tried and tested axe easily one of the best throwing axes for experienced throwers who want a top-performing axe.

Specifications:

• Head: 1045 Carbon Steel
• Handle: American Hickory
• Blade Finish: Brushed Steel
• Handle Finish: Clearcoat Varnish
• Handle Length: 17 in
• Approx. Blade Length: 3.93 in
• Approx. Head Weight: 1.70 lbs
• Approx. Total Weight: 2.35 lbs

The Ace of Spades: Gen 3

2. The King of Diamonds:

The King of Diamonds, one of the most popular axes in WATL’s Royal Lineup, is a premium throwing axe that is designed for professional competition use. This axe quickly became the axe of choice for many of the 2022 World Axe Throwing Championship Competitors. It has a weight of 2.25lbs and a handle length of 17”. The axe head is made from high-quality carbon steel, which provides excellent durability and edge retention.

The King of Diamonds features a unique shape with added weight to the back of the axe head, ensuring the axe is buried deep in the target. The straight handle is crafted from high-quality American hickory wood, a straight handle allows for easy release and consistent throws. Furthermore, this axe is also available with a straight square handle. Square handles are praised among professional axe throwers as they provide an additional point of reference, allowing for throws to be replicated even more consistently.

“The axe of choice for many of the 2022 World Axe Throwing Championship Competitors”

The King of Diamonds has an extremely thin blade profile designed specifically for the sport of axe throwing. This thin blade profile allows the axe to stick in the board with ease. We recommend this axe for experienced throwers who demand the best performance from their equipment.

Specifications:

• Head: 1045 Carbon Steel
• Handle: American Hickory
• Blade Finish: Brushed Steel
• Handle Finish: Clearcoat Varnish
• Handle Length: 17 in
• Approx. Blade Length: 3.93 in
• Approx. Head Weight: 1.70 lbs
• Approx. Total Weight: 2.25 lbs

The King of Diamonds

3. The Queen of Hearts:

The Queen of Hearts is a high-quality throwing axe that is designed for competitive use. It has a weight of 2.20lbs making it a slightly lighter axe than the King of Diamonds, and features the same handle length of 17”, allowing for it to be cut down if necessary. The axe head is made from high-quality carbon steel, this provides excellent durability and edge retention.

The Queen’s straight handle is crafted from hickory wood, which is extremely durable. A straight handle, as mentioned, allows for an easy release and consistent throws. Furthermore, this axe also is available with a square handle design, many professionals prefer a square handle as the flat edges give them another point-of-reference for a more consistent and accurate throw.

“High-performance axe at a reasonable price”

The Queen of Hearts has an extremely thin blade profile designed for axe throwing, this allows it to stick in the board with little force. We recommend this axe for experienced throwers who want a high-performance axe at a reasonable price.

Specifications:

• Head: 1045 Carbon Steel
• Handle: American Hickory
• Blade Finish: Brushed Steel
• Handle Finish: Clearcoat Varnish
• Handle Length: 17 in
• Approx. Blade Length: 3.93 in
• Approx. Head Weight: 1.65 lbs
• Approx. Total Weight: 2.20 lbs

The Queen of Hearts Throwing Axe

4. The Jack of Clubs:

The Jack of Clubs is a versatile and highly praised throwing axe that is perfect for competition use. Its blade is made from durable 1045 carbon steel, and its handle crafted from high-quality American hickory wood. It has a weight 2.25lbs of and a handle length of 17”. A 17” is suitable for most throwers, but also allows for the handle to be cut down to meet individual preferences if you prefer a shorter handle.

“Designed to be used by beginners and advanced throwers”

The Jack of Clubs, like the other members of the Royal Collection, features an extremely thin blade profile, allowing the axe to stick in the target with little force required. This axe is also available with a square handle. The Jack of Clubs is designed to be used by both beginner and advanced throwers, making it a great choice for anyone looking to improve their axe throwing skills.

Specifications:

• Head: 1045 Carbon Steel
• Handle: American Hickory
• Blade Finish: Brushed Steel
• Handle Finish: Clearcoat Varnish
• Handle Length: 17 in
• Approx. Blade Length: 3.93 in
• Approx. Head Weight: 1.70 lbs
• Approx. Total Weight: 2.25 lbs

The Jack of Clubs Throwing Axe

5. The Butcher:

The Butcher is a professional-grade throwing axe that is designed for serious competitors. The Butcher’s unique and patented design allows for an unprecedented amount of coverage on the board at 3.99 inches (with the maximum allowed in leagues being 4 inches). It has a weight 2.25lbs of and a handle length of 17”. As previously mentioned, this 17” Handle allows the axe to be cut down to meet individual preferences whether you prefer a longer or shorter handle.

“Patented design allows for an unprecedented amount of coverage”

The handle is crafted from hickory wood and is straight. A straight handle allows for an easy release and consistent throw. The Butcher is sharpened to a razor edge, allowing it to stick easily in the target with little force required. The axe head is made from high-quality carbon steel, which provides excellent durability and edge retention. This axe is highly recommended for throwers who want to take their skills to the next level.

Specifications:

• Head: 1045 Carbon Steel
• Handle: American Hickory
• Blade Finish: Brushed Steel
• Handle Finish: Clearcoat Varnish
• Handle Length: 17 in
• Approx. Blade Length: 3.99 in
• Approx. Head Weight: 1.72 lbs
• Approx. Total Weight: 2.25 lbs

The Butcher Throwing Axe

The Best Throwing Axe for Duals Leagues: The King of Diamonds

Well, they call it the King for a reason. Not only is this axe phenomenal for hatchet, it also happens to be hands-down the best axe for duals. This is due to not only its top-of-the-line quality, but also its one-of-a-kind-design which we will expand upon below.

The unique shape of the back of the King’s axe head reduces the likelihood of hitting your partner’s axe during a throw.

“Favored by many duals teams during the 2022 WATC“

In the rare case that you do collide, the tapered design of the axe head makes it more likely to glance off your partner’s axe and stick into the board, rather than destroying your axe on the flat back of another axe. This design makes the King of Diamonds the clear winner when it comes to the best axe for duals leagues. The King of Diamonds was favored by many duals teams during the 2022 World Axe Throwing Championship.

The King of Diamonds

In Summary:

Overall, the World Axe Throwing League offers a large range of throwing axes that are suitable for all different skill levels and purposes. Whether you are a beginner looking to get into the sport, or an experienced competitor looking for a high-quality axe that you can rely on, there is an option available that will meet your needs. Remember, the best throwing axe for you will ultimately depend on your individual preferences and what you plan to use it for. 

The post What is the Best Throwing Axe? A Guide to the Best Throwing Axes for YOU appeared first on World Axe Throwing League.

Update May 25, 2023: We are thrilled to announce that WATL is returning to Appleton for the highly anticipated USA Pro-Am Tournament! This thrilling event is set to make its grand debut November 9-12 in the heart of Wisconsin. Axe enthusiasts and fans from around the country can witness the best of the best in the sport as they compete for the coveted title of USA Pro and USA Amateur Champion. Competitors will also battle it out in the multi-faceted skills team competition and unique duals games throughout the weekend. This exhilarating tournament will showcase the incredible skill, precision, competition, and comradery that have made axe throwing a sensation worldwide. The passionate Appleton community is excited to have us back, and we’re just as excited to be there again!

“We are beyond excited to bring the USA Pro-Am Tournament back to Appleton. The energy and support we received from the city and its axe throwing community during the previous tournament was unparalleled. We can’t wait to witness the jaw-dropping throws and fierce rivalries that will undoubtedly take place on the tournament floor. This event is a celebration of the sport and its dedicated athletes, and we invite everyone to join us for an unforgettable experience!” – Mike Morton, WATL Commissioner

Posted April 13, 2023: It’s official; the US Open is retiring (at least for now). Much like our reigning Canadian Open champion (David Cycon), Mark Tishko, Vin Crescenzo, and Brown-Johnson will hold their championship titles indefinitely #yourewelcome. In its place, we are excited to announce a completely new event, the USA Pro-Am Championship, which will join WATL’s televised tournament lineup. 

So why the change?

The US Open and WATC are almost identical in every single way. They do a great job of highlighting ONE (important) aspect of the sport, but they fail to encompass everything the sport is at its core: a sport which is equally as fun, engaging, and community oriented as it is competitive. 

The new USA Pro-Am Championship will focus on highlighting throwers of various skill levels, marking the first step towards a future with multiple divisions of competition and leaning into the more fun and exciting aspects of the sport. 

A thrower recently expressed that you won’t find the true heart of this sport on the live streams or current broadcasts; to find that you’d have to keep the cameras rolling once all competition is over. Watch the games people come up with and the camaraderie shared between all throwers in the lanes when the cameras stop. Watch the pros giving advice and sharing tips and tricks while doing pretty much anything BUT traditional throwing.

This is what we want to encapsulate and show to the public. The 2022 Commissioner’s Cup was a step in that direction, but we want to balance the fun and skills of such an event with the competition seen in our other broadcasts. We have developed events that showcase the talents of multiple throwers, while also demonstrating the sportsmanship and fun our sport has to offer.

So what does this newly minted Pro-Am look like? Read more below!

Events and Registrations

9 total events, all of which will have finals aired on ESPN. Registrations will open June 12 and remain open for 3 weeks. You can find the newly released rules for each of the Skills and Duals games under their respective sections.

Pricing

Schedule

Subject to change

Prize Pools

Subject to change – updated 4/19/23 to adjust tie breakers of Amateur/WKTL Standard payouts.

Registrations for all events will open June 12 and remain open for 3 weeks. Invites for the designated Pro and WKTL spots will be sent out around this time.

The post 2023 WATL USA Pro-Am appeared first on World Axe Throwing League.

The talent in this community is exceptional, and is shown with the passion each of these Craftsmen have for not only the sport, but their craft!

Putting your work out for others to vote on is essentially putting your heart and soul out to be judged. WATL recognizes each entry as a reminder that the sport we love, is loved by each of you just as deeply!

Looking for an original design? Use the link below to show your support and purchase an axe or sheath from A Certified Craftsman!

Can we have a drum roll please…

THE WINNERS ARE…

Community Choice – Axe

Mountain Axe Works – Josh Eggert

Community Choice – Sheath

Triple Axe Leather Works – Kris Sivak

Best Axe – Juried

Mountain Axe Works – Josh Eggert

Thank you to all Craftsmen who participated in the 2023 Craftsman Awards. We cannot wait to see your outstanding creations next year!

The post 2023 Craftsman Award Winners appeared first on World Axe Throwing League.

Starting now, league runners will be able to select from a multitude of different divisions as they set up their leagues. Some of these leagues may not have full participation now, but we anticipate the most popular could even be featured matches on the next ESPN broadcast.

For those who have already input their league data, the app team is on standby to help transfer any already created leagues to the new divisional format, and throwers will be able to see individual leaderboards for all of the available divisions.

For now, these changes have only been turned on for hatchet leagues, and the app team has been working incredibly hard to get this ready for a full season ahead of the anticipated release. The big axe, duals, and knives divisions will still only be available starting in Summer, but for those interested in forming divisional leagues in hatchet, talk to you Spring league runners!

The minimum participation for each division is 4 throwers (and venues may run multiple divisions on one league night). Furthermore, divisional marathons will NOT count towards the 2-marathon maximum currently afforded to venues.

We will not have time to add to this list before Spring League, but you can find the whole list of divisions below. Any divisions you want to see added for summer? Get in the comments!

New WATL Divisions

Amateur (under 40 avg)
Semi-Pro (under 55 avg)
Pro (over 55 avg)
Under 13
Over 50
64 Club
Women
Men
Canada
USA
Classic (2018 rules)
Global
Texas
Left Handed
Underhanded
1.5 Spin
2 Spin
Ambidextrous
Certified Judges
Outdoor
Old Bullseyes
All Kill Club
No Kill Club
VR
QATL
Shovel
Blue Balls
No Foot Faults
Spicy Dice
Canadian Flick
Up 6
Won a Canadian Open
Overspray
Sharp End Bud
5 and 10
Flaming Axes
Throw Better
Trash Throwers
Robots in Disguise
Can I Get a Board Change
Lucas Johson’s Duals Partners
Council of Ryans
Jess Renner’s Duals Partners
TABA (Throw Anything But an Axe)
Milk Crate
Better at Big Axe
Nerds
Geeks
Handstand
Didn’t Read the Rules
Washed-Up Has-Beens
ESPN Losers
Dropped on ESPN
PBR
Actual Trash
Blindfolded
Chair Jumpers
Injured with an Axe
Cool Socks
Week 8 Only
Hands in Pocket
5 Time WATC Qualifiers
Banned From WATL
WATL Employees
Venue Owners
Needs Angrywood CP
IATF
Crocs
Everyone Who Fell for This

The post 2023 Spring League Divisions appeared first on World Axe Throwing League.

Gameplay Changes

The game changes outlined below represent the large CHANGES in the game (rules which are changing in 2024). There are some questions which we are still working through that need a bit more testing before making a final decision.

1. Additions to the target
   • 4 bullseyes, centered in the 3 ring
     • All four should be about 1.5-2” from the center board
     • 2 should be at 53.75”-54.5” from the ground (measured to the bottom)
     • 2 should be at 62.75” – 63.5” from the ground ( measured to the bottom)
   • Two lower Killshots placed directly below, and in line with the current Killshots, also centered in the 1 ring.
     • All Kills will have a thick 1.5” outline with a solid ¾” Inner target circle.
2. Gameplay Changes
   • All scoring will revert to ‘touch’ rules. Axes only need to touch the valid scoring area of the target to receive the points for that scoring section.
   • Hitting a bullseye “closes” it for scoring in the same half.
     • Hitting the same bullseye a second time in the same half grants the points of the value in which the bullseye is located.
       • So a thrower can still throw at the center and receive a 5 should they hit a second, center bullseye.
     • All bullseyes reset when throwers switch targets.
   • The inner Killshot is worth 8 points, and the outer kill is worth 6 points. 
   • Hitting either the inner or the outer Killshot closes all Kills at that height.
     • If a thrower hits an outer, top Killshot, their next kill attempt(s) must be for a bottom kill.
     • In the case of a third kill awarded for a drop, a thrower may go for either UNHIT Killshot. 
   • The fault line for competitive play will move to 15’ in the second half of the match.
     • This is NOT a requirement for all league members.
       • Matchups between those playing competitive and non-competitive CAN happen and SHOULD happen)
         • This means league nights are NOT split.
         • This could lead to more competitive games between amateur/pro/semi-pro matchups. 
       • WATC will be played on these rules as well as major, tiered tournaments
       • Seasonal bids/points/however bids are awarded next year will be awarded to those throwing from 15.’
       • The app will designate those who choose to throw at the increased distance, and there will be a separate leaderboard to designate who is/isn’t throwing on the competitive ruleset.
     • Throwers MAY (but are not required) to throw this further distance with additional spins.
       • Rules will be changed to eliminate working about spin restrictions as well as the requirement that the blade face the target.
     • Throwers MAY (but are not required) to switch axes.
   • Sudden Death changes
     • Only Killshots are live during sudden death
     • Throwers may throw at any kill during the first sudden death throw.
       • Throwers must throw at a different kill for each subsequent sudden death throw if necessary.
       • In the event of a tie after all 4 Kills have been attempted, all Kills are open unless hit again.
     • If a player ‘scores’ higher than their opponent during any sudden death throw, sudden death ends, and that thrower is declared the winner.
       • For example: If thrower A hits the 6 ring but player B hits the center, 8 ring, player B will be declared the winner.
     • If throwers remain tied after a sudden death throw, sudden death will continue until either one thrower scores higher than the other or all 4 Kills have been attempted.
       • If both players miss or both players hit the same value of the Killshot (6 or 8), player’s move to an unattempted Killshot.
     • If the game remains tied after all 4 Kills have been attempted, throwers may throw their fifth throw at any Killshot, and the thrower closest to the inner Killshot, as measured by the judge, will be declared the winner.

Anticipated Questions/FAQ

This seems complicated. How will I get newer leaguers to understand this?

While this seems to add a bit of complication to the game we currently play, there really can/should be no difference to your average leaguer. With having the middle still count as a 5 even after closing the bull, the game does not have to change for the vast majority of throwers. This would need to be well communicated by league runners in their explanation of the rules, but, strategically, only those above 60% bulls should risk the outer bullseyes. (While this will decrease scores among newer throwers very slightly- hitting more than 1 bull in a half essentially costs 1 point, it affects top level throwers much more, which was a main goal).

Why not put a 5 ring around the other bullseyes? Seems like it would now be much more risky to go for them.

Yes- it is definitely more risky to go for the outer bulls. Risking the 3 vs playing the safe 5 is a choice throwers can make. The goal is to challenge top throwers WITHOUT hurting newer throwers. Adding a 5 ring would take away all risk for those in the top 100 whose misses will all be within the 5 ring anyway. Essentially, it is only risky then for people who consistently throw 4s (in which case, those throwers should just throw at the center). So no one’s scores really change, and the difficulty would remain the same. It would spread out board damage, but otherwise would not affect the gameplay in any significant way. 

Why only move the fault line back for throws 6-10? Why not have pros throw all throws from the 15’ line? 

We realize that significant time and money have been invested into the technique and axes people throw. A significant change to the fault line would potentially make those axes unusable, which we want to be cognizant of. While the change may require an additional axe (the expense of which would be up to the thrower), we do not want to devalue any investment(s) throwers have already made. Additionally, the change in throwing could present unique strategies not present when throwing from only 1 distance (even if one of that distance is easier). This also helps with the advancement of throwers in creating those “stepping stones” we discussed earlier in the preface (as at least half the game is unchanged from what they are used to).

Won’t this make it much harder for people to advance? 

Yes, but this may not be a bad thing. Competing at a pro level in any sport is quite an accomplishment, and we want to acknowledge that; however, there probably should be more progression than exists now. Currently, we’ve seen new throwers be extremely competitive after a season or two. This is incredible and speaks to the talent of these individuals, BUT, mastering a sport should take a bit more than a league season or two. I have no doubt that we will still see plenty of these talented individuals, but ‘moving up’ should be a bigger accomplishment than it currently is. This also is the first step towards creating separate divisions which we may see grow a bit next year, and, in the future, we could even see both an AM and a PRO world championship.

How does this change grow the sport at the base level? It seems targeted specifically to top throwers.

While most of the changes are targeted at the competition at the top level, we did find this makes leagues with varying skill levels much more interesting. There is not a strong need to make the game more difficult at a beginner level (and we do not wish to do so). By creating a design which ‘scales’ so to speak (it affects each level of thrower more and more as they advance), leagues become much more fun for all levels. We saw several people complain that they did not enjoy playing people they knew were going to beat them. This creates a difficulty level which, while it does not completely even the playing field, does make for a more compelling game regardless of the skill gap of the competitors.

It seems like there have been a lot of changes lately. Aren’t all these changes going to discourage people from continuing in the sport trying to keep up with all the updates/changes? 

While we have been posting quite a bit, the fundamental game, the way it is played, has not changed since 2020, and, even then, the only truly impactful changes have been the addition of open Killshots. The other updates we have put out have merely been for clarity as we work through correcting some inconsistencies and closing some loopholes present in the rules as written. 

We fully acknowledge that this is a BIG gameplay change, but, in designing this, we are not trying to make gameplay for 2024, instead trying to make gameplay that lasts for 2029 and beyond so that we AREN’T making significant changes every year. While this will undoubtedly seem like overkill to those who currently participate in the rules as they are now, in a few years, more than half our population probably won’t even know the difference. 

How will the added bulls/smaller Kills impact board usage for owners?

We anticipate this will lead to far fewer board changes needed during the course of the tournament/league night (especially when paired with a touch only scoring rule). However, this will likely lead to MORE changes at the beginning of an event since the edges of the center board and 2-3 boards tend to get chewed up by regular customers.  

Why 6/8 for the Killshot values instead of 7/8 or 5/8?

(open to other thoughts/ideas here as well). Two main reasons for this are:

-It matches the consistency of bull scoring. If the outer kill is the same size as the bullseye, it makes sense that the point value is still the same.

-The biggest issue with the proposed format (Though it will likely be a rare scenario) is if each player has 1 miss, but player A misses and hits a 3 while B hits a 5. This allows for player A to potentially get those 2 points back on a better kill attempt. A 1 point game could be much more rare given the circumstances and scenarios which can play out on the new board, and there is already a choice to throw a safe 5 if you want to go for the tie (so making the other kill worth 5 is not a significant advantage).

This is, however, one of the scenarios we will be specifically looking at in running test tournaments. 

What happens if neither player will throw first? It seems like there would be an advantage to throwing second. 

This is another question which requires some scenario testing and feedback. My initial thought is to have the player ahead throw first in the case of a stalemate, which does give an advantage to the player behind (which I am normally not a fan of). However, I think that, if a kill is called, that player would have to throw first (giving the advantage back to the player ahead on the last few throws of the game. 

How are judges/players going to possibly remember what bullseyes have been hit? It was like a whole 40 seconds ago!

We will be working with the app team to make sure this is as seamless and easy as possible on the judges/throwers. The current thought is to have something similar to the image below in which the bullseyes would grey out once hit. We would still need a way to distinguish between the 6/8 for the Killshot, but this could be a separate scoring screen once the Killshot (or called Killshot) is selected. 

Have more questions not been answered here? Feel free to comment on the Facebook discussion post and our team will do our best to answer.

The post 2024 Gameplay Proposal appeared first on World Axe Throwing League.

Congratulations to everyone listed – the skill level continues to grow – and earning your place as a Pro, or earning your Bid, continues to get tougher and tougher!

2023 Winter Pro League Bid Winners

2023 Spring Pro League

The World Axe Throwing Professional League (WATL Pro League) is a qualifying system that helps to recognize the top competitors in the sport of axe throwing for standard hatchet competition.

2023 Spring Pro League is comprised of the top 128 qualifying competitors* from the 2023 Winter League standard hatchet competitors.

Each season, the top 24 WATC Pros (by leaderboard position) will be awarded a bid to WATC VII, held in 2024.

To earn a WATC bid:

Pro Bid Winners must have thrown at least 50% kill attempts (28) in their qualifying league. Bids trickle down if there are already bid holders to the top 24 finishers.

*See Section T: Pro League of the Official Rules for more information.

The post 2023 Winter Pro League Bids & Spring Pro League appeared first on World Axe Throwing League.

After testing multiple potential models and applying them to the bid earners from WATC 2022, we strongly believe that we have a seeding method that properly places throwers in the most appropriate spot according to their skill level.

The final model decided upon is detailed below, along with explanations and reasonings for the process, and decisions by which this was determined.

(Visual person?- Check out the full breakdown for all disciplines here: WATC (2023) Seeding Order)

Hatchet

We started with Hatchet, as it was the most complex discipline to nail down.

*In all likelihood these will be Pro League bid winners, thus only 80 in that tier. In the case of a Pro League bid being declined, that will trickle down to a Qualifiers spot, resulting in less than 80 Pro League bids ultimately.

Seeding WITHIN each grouping will be done by cumulative 2023 Official League Average, using the top 3 seasons that earned the thrower their circuit points. e.g. Sarah throws a 52.23 average in Winter, 51.4 average in spring, 54.73 average in summer and 53.99 average in fall. Sarah’s seeding average should she make worlds will be (54.73+53.99+52.23) / 3 = 53.65.

The exceptions are:

• Seeds 2-17 will be seeded in order of their circuit points earned
• Qualifier bids will be seeded by their score
• Amateur bid seeding is TBD and will be determined when the method of earning has been decided

If there is a tie in the cumulative official season average, ties will be broken by yearly hit percentage calculated as (bulls hit+kills hit+5’s hit)/(number of games*10) using the thrower’s top 3 official seasons as described above.

General Discussion

• Circuit points should ultimately mean something, and those who have earned the most throughout the year should feel like fighting for those top 16 spots remains a good goal (even if one already has a bid or enough CP for one).

• It made sense to have bid order play into the way worlds is seeded. Trying to get the Pro League bid should carry more weight than those who earned CP from just league average (but did not make Pro League).

• Seeding the Non-Region locked CP bid earners and Region locked CP bid earners by their CP was considered. However, in such a model, we found there were clear ‘pay to play’ advantages gained by those individuals with the ability/access to go to tournaments.

By giving the top spots to circuit point earners aren’t we enforcing the ‘Pay to Play model?’ Won’t those who do more just get higher seeds because of this?

In looking at data from the last 2 years, the only way people obtained spots in the top 16 of CP was by placing in the top 3 of a major/tiered tournament. This model made circuit points matter (as someone who was able to win a tournament at every tier SHOULD be seeded near the top regardless of average), while not solely basing the whole model on CP (which does benefit those with availability the further down you go). 

Why would we not use the same model we use for the rest of the tournaments?

The truth is WATC is NOT like the other tournaments. It is the culmination of the tournament circuit and league play, and all that combined should matter to some degree when deciding how participants are placed within the bracket. 

We are still a new enough sport where the local league alone can qualify you for the championship, which does make us different from most other sports; however, in looking at several models, overall yearly performance (as represented by CP earned not only in league but tournaments), is a metric we do not think should be ignored. While, in many cases, those performances line up with a league leaderboard, this is not always the case as evidenced by a few individuals even using data from last year.

How does this apply to Big Axe and Duals?

Big Axe and Duals will follow the same model, using each qualifying ‘band’ (Non-Region Locked CP, Region Locked CP, and Qualifiers) and seeding by average within that band. The top 16 circuit point earners in Big Axe and the top 8 of Duals will round out the top 16/8 respectively (seeded by their CP earned).

While Duals and Big Axe have the same size field, in evaluating the data from 2022 we found that only giving the top 8 priority seeds in Duals better reflected the goals outlined above (of teams placing at major tournaments in order to be included in this tier).

In Duals, due to the large number of teams that do not throw in every season, a team could easily be in the top 16 just from league seasons and jump ahead of others at the same level from pure participation at a tournament, but arguably the tournament team is overall a better performer.
You can see the complete breakdown of all the seeding blocks in this Google sheet: WATC (2023) Seeding Order

Qualifiers

In the course of evaluating the seeding changes for WATC, we re-examined the criteria for qualifying to throw Qualifiers. The goal has always been to give a “last chance” to throwers that have the skills, but not necessarily the access, to qualify for WATC. In the past we have seen some throwers take advantage of this with no concerted effort to actually participate in WATL, so we are tightening up the requirements to enable throwers to participate in Open Qualifiers.

REMINDER – Qualifiers will happen AFTER all other WATC bids have been issued (est. Jan 2024). Therefore by default, only throwers that have not qualified for Worlds through any of the other methods can throw in them.

Hatchet – the thrower must have thrown in at least ONE Official Sanctioned WATL Hatchet league in the 2023 Season.

Big Axe – the thrower must have thrown in at least ONE Official Sanctioned WATL Big Axe league in the 2023 Season.

Duals – because many Duals teams are separated by distance, and cannot always throw leagues together, to throw Qualifiers a Duals team must EITHER:

a) Have thrown in at least ONE Official Sanctioned WATL Duals league as a team in the 2023 Season.

OR

b) Have thrown together as a team at 1 Sanctioned WATL Tournament (earning at least 1 CP from that), AND both throwers have individually thrown in at least ONE Official Sanctioned WATL Hatchet league in the 2023 Season.

If any throwers or teams that choose to throw in Qualifiers do NOT meet the criteria for the discipline, they will be disqualified.

*note –  “Official Sanctioned” is defined as a league that meets all the requirements to be sanctioned, and the player is listed on the Official WATL Leaderboard for either Winter/Spring/Summer/Fall as a result of participating.

Final Thoughts

These changes apply specifically only to how the next WATC (2023) will be seeded, and the rules for throwing Qualifiers for that event. We did evaluate the need to change how trickle-down bids were assigned, in light of these changes, but there was no compelling evidence to make adjustments to that.

If you have any questions or require additional clarification on any of these rules, please email watl@worldaxethrowingleague.com.

The post Update to WATC (2023) Seeding and Qualifiers appeared first on World Axe Throwing League.

In the interest of growing the sport and sponsorship opportunities, WATL has compiled some incredible data and created a sponsor deck for use by anyone seeking individual, team, or venue sponsorships.

Additionally, WATL is introducing a program to incentivize individuals in referring their friends, family, and corporate contacts as potential sponsors of the World Axe Throwing League. Many larger, potential sponsors may not be interested in a smaller, individual-level sponsorship; however, should a sponsor inquiry lead to interest from a company such as this, a thrower who makes the connection with WATL would be entitled to a percentage of that contract (essentially still giving them the sponsorship they were seeking initially).

WATL has a lot of value to offer brands looking for national exposure through our relationships with ESPN (as the holder of the exclusive rights to all axe throwing on ESPN), our social media and website reach, and an engaged and active community both online and at in-person events.

Just a few of the opportunities for brands include; commercial inventory, embedded marketing, product placements/takeovers, collaborative programs that benefit our members, social media marketing, and so much more. WATL can help brands tap directly into their target demographic by creating bespoke programs at reasonable rates.

• Step 1: Download the WATL Sponsor Deck

• Step 2: Distribute it to anyone you have a relationship with, that is interested in getting massive exposure for below-industry rates!

• Step 3: When they scramble to be the first into your inbox, send us their contact information via the referral form

• Step 4: When they sign an agreement with WATL, you will receive a check for 15% of the total first-year value of any sponsor’s agreement you referred us to that is over $10,000 USD in value.

The post World Axe Throwing League Sponsor Referral Program appeared first on World Axe Throwing League.