Dear Clutchy: I donk critical throws, please help!

Dear Clutchy, I've been throwing for a while now, and do pretty well in my league. But when tournament time comes around (or even when I'm throwing in a regular league and the score is close), it feels like I always miss VICs (Very Important Clutches) or even just get a 3 when a 5 was essential. How can I keep myself from getting so stressed out that I mess up? - Drops in Des Moines

Drops, this is something that affects all throwers at one point or another, and because of that, you'll find dozens of answers to this question from across the axe-o-verse.

But, as always, my answers are the best, because I am a living, breathing score marker. And having axes hucked at my face every single day gives me a perspective that few others can replicate.

Lots of people will tell you getting the yips or the nerves or the wobbledooglers can be resolved by locking in muscle memory and gaining familiarity with being in those situations. And that might be true. But there's another way to combat nerves when throwing, and it comes down to putting that focus...somewhere.

Telling someone to just calm down is like telling someone on fire to just not be on fire anymore.

The obvious answer to being nervous/anxious is to, you know, not be those things. But it's not quite as simple as that, is it? Your body is set up to respond to outside stimuli, and to interpret what you're seeing/hearing/reacting to. Unfortunately, getting all excited about throwing axes doesn't quite register on a primordial level, so our brains track it into "being attacked by a bear" or "running from a mammoth" or whatever. And, buddy, that's not the best option when trying to do a precision activity.

What yer ol' buddy Clutchy has realized is the value of shifting that focus to something else. Granted, this assumes you're already pretty familiar with the repetitive elements of the sport. But if you've already got stepping and throwing down pat, chances are you can allow your mind to focus on at least one other thing.

And that thing is breathing. Sure - remembering to breathe is already a well-established part of the sport. I'd go so far as to say that breathing is also a pretty big part of life, too. But what I'm talking about is an active focus on your breathe. Specifically, like this:

hell yeah, multimedia

• Line up throw

• Take your breathe in

• Start your throw

• Start your breathe out

• Throw the ding dang thing

Now, this seems really basic. But the truth is, lots of people don't consider their breathing when throwing - at least it wasn't something Badger (because, remember, I'm Clutchy, not Badger, right? We all remember that conceit of this column?) was ever told to think about when he started out.

By putting focus on your breathe, you're giving your nervous energy something else to focus on, which helps build up your self regulation. Plus, I guess, there's a chance that controlling your breathing will help kick on your body and mind's ability to self-sooth a bit.

Anyway, the long and short of it is this, Drops: when you find you're losing focus during critical moments in your axe throwing, try to force focus on something that's related to, but not directly, the throw. Do that, and the muscle memory parts of your throwing will come back, and the nerves will start to lessen. At least in theory. Have a question that needs Clutchy's Advice? Use the contact form at the bottom of the page and Clutchy will be more than happy to help!