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Tomahawk throw

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Flint50

45 Cal.
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Can someone tell me the "official" distance for the 'hawk throw? Thanks
 
With your back to the block, take seven normal steps away from the block. Heal a line in the dirt or drop a marker, turn, and throw from that point. You may need to adjust in or back a half step.

A good stick is when the handle is straight down and all the blade is equal in the block.

Hope this helps... There is no official distance to my knowledge, only a person's own throwing mark... If you ever enter a competition and they have a set distance, chances are that whoever is holding it doesn't know much about hawk throwing...

At some point you should be able to walk up to "your" line, and stop where you "know" your mark is without having to pace it off...

Have fun. Hawk throwing is very addictive!!! :thumbsup:
 
Thanks Ohio Joe. Yea, I'm already addicted. And I can even get it to stick. (sometimes) :redthumb:
 
Ohio Joe is right most hawk throwing competions require the hawk to make one revolution.

YMH&OS, :redthumb:
Chuck
 
Flint50,
I personally haven't seen any rondy or event have a set distance. Until last year our club put in a minimum range of 10 feet. What was happening was we had some people who were cutting their handles off to only about 7 or 8 inches long. In essence choking up on the handle, you will still get the complete revolution, but in a very short distance. I have done this with my hawk just by choking up on the handle and can stick it in the space of 6 feet. A minimum range isn't necessarily a bad idea.

smokeydays
 
Flint50,

Smokeydays is correct. We're in the same club and it was noted that a participant to one of our major events had cut his hawk handle down significantly yet retained the required one revolution. It was much easier for him to stick it in the high scoring parts of the block because he was so dog gone close. We were able to implement a minimum distance rule because the NMLRA rules also state that the distance can be determined by the person in charge. Basically a minimum distance, not a specific, required distance for all throwers.

One hates to get into making extra rules but there are times someone takes advantage of a loophole.

I'm seeing more events that do not allow one to pace off their distance. You have to "eye ball" it and know it is just about right.

TexiKan
---------------------
A man cannot build a reputation on what he is going to do!
 
Smokeydays, TexiKan,

I have not ran into this situation of people cutting down their hawk handles as yet... I guess some folks feel they just need an advantage, so I can see where a minimum distance would have to be set in this case...

It's to darn bad that such a pure sport as Hawk Throwing, has to become cluttered with rules to protect it from those who look for every little advantage to win that they can come up with. :shake:

During competition, it is in my opinion correct to not let a person pace off their distance from the block. They should know this by now before they enter...

Good points you both make! :thumbsup:
 
Howdy,
If my memory serves me right, I think at Friendship they use 12 feet as a mimimum distance and the bottom of the block needs to be at least 32 inches off the ground.
My usual is 5 regular steps from the block. This gives me 15 feet +- and with a step when I throw towards the block, I am still outside the minimum distance. Right now, I am trying to throw without the step to do away with slipping, etc. you will sometimes get. I just toe my moc right up to the 12 foot mark and throw. I use 7 1/2 steps for turn and a half throws and around 9 steps for 2 revolutions. For turn and a half, turn the hawk so the cutting edge is pointed behind you and when the hawk sticks the handle will be pointed up instead of down as in 1 or 2 revolutions. For 2 revolutions you will hold the hawk as you would for a single revolution.
You need to be able to adjust your hand, and/or flip your wrist to change the speed of the revolution of the hawk so you can adapt to different distances. Try throwing with your thumb in different places like on the side or on top. The addition of turn and one half and two revolutions will also help with the longer throwing distances.

Hope to help and not confuse. :m2c:
 
Ohio Joe,

this last year at one of our rondys, our club president introduced a new station on the "hawk walk". He called it the outhouse throw. the trick was to sit on a tree stump and throw your hawk at a block that was no more than arms length away. Only one person figured out how to do it. You simply remove the handle and through the hawk head, making one complete revolution. personally I didn't want to make that throw, too close to the target block for my comfort.

Smokeydays
 
I hear you, Smokeydays... Some throws are too close for comfort, and safety,,, sometimes even when we're at our normal distance, we all know that hawk sometimes needs dodging as it comes back towards our feet!

Outhouses are meant for reading in anyway... :rolleyes: :shake: :haha:
 
when i practice with my hawks i never step off the distance .i try to rely on my eye and my hawk.
i have found that you can adjust your grip and throwing speed to compensate for distance. i'm not 100% yet but getting there,i also use the same method for knive and axes
 
I've been to events where you not only have to turn one revolution but TWO!
Aplaying card is pinned to the block and everyone throws the 1 rev. - points are added up (usually 5 throws)
then the "agg" contiues by making throws of 2 revolutions. It's amazing how double your normal distance looks like you are standing a mile away!

I've even seen tie-breaks where you throw with the sharpe edge facing you or left handed (if you are right handed).

Handle splitting is one of our most enjoyable pastimes. Object is to cut up the competetitors handle so badly , he doesn't have anyway to make another throw. He is then out of the game. This goes on until only one person is left-THE WINNER! This is really alot of fun....especially if you have a few handles to sell or trade after the match is over! ::
 
Forgot to add,although most places do not have a distance requirement, there is normally a maximum cutting edge established. Most places I've been say 4" max.
 
The tomahawk hustlers at our club are always trying to get a game of "handles" started at our monthly shoots.Some day I hope to get some hop hornbeam for a handle and see how it stand ups to the hits.
 
Paul,
You go ahead and do what you want to your hawk handle, Remember we don't have rules on the size of the hawk, just the 4" bit. So when Bart brings in that 2 and half foot hawk-of-doom for a game of handles. You can have all the little bitty toohtpicks that are left of your handle.
Smokeydays
 
The tomahawk hustlers at our club are always trying to get a game of "handles" started at our monthly shoots.

Is this where you try and split the other tomakawk's handle with your throw?
 
No Steve,I ain't playing handles with Bart no matter what kind of handle I have.Handles were going for $4 at the KMA convetion,no point wasting that kind of money...
 
Wait a minute...once you throw your hawk...you dont' have it no more!

Rat
 
Aw, come on, Paul........I'd give you a new handle just to watch you play handles with Bart and his Hawk of Doom!! :thumbsup:

TexiKan
---------------------
A man cannot build a reputation on what he is going to do!
 
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