1. Pre-match rules

1.1 Players use Rock Paper Scissors to choose the order of throwing

• Winner = best 2 of 3;
• Players get 3 practice throws before the first match of the night;
• Players get 1 practice throw before second match of the night.

1.2 Match Start

• After warm up throws are complete but before a match officially begins, players perform a courtesy clinking of axe heads.
• If this does not happen, there is no penalty, it is strictly a courtesy and sign of sportsmanship.

2. Match Format

2.1 Standard Match

• Every regulation match consists of 3 rounds:
• Each round consists of 5 thrown axes per round;
• Player must win 2 of 3 rounds to win the match;
• In regulation competition players always throw all three rounds even if one player has won the first two rounds;
• Tracking of total points over 15 throws in all regulation matches is manditory;
• If a player wins the first round and ties the next 2 rounds this is still considered a match win as they have won the majority of the rounds in the match.
• If players are tied at the end of the three rounds, a Big Axe tie breaker occurs. A tie occurs when all three rounds result in an overall tie; each player has won 1 round, lost 1 round and tied 1 round, all three rounds are tied.

2.2 Big Axe Tie-Breakers

• A Big Axe round is played in sudden death fashion:
• Players use rock, paper, scissors to determine who throws first: winner chooses;
• Players alternate one throw each per big axe round;
• In the beginning, as long as the Big Axe sticks in the target breaking blue paint or sticking within the blue circle, the throw counts as good;
• If one player throws a good throw and the other a bad throw, the good throw wins;
• If both players throw a bad throw then they go again;
• If both players throw a good throw then they go again.
• Play continues in sudden death fashion using device scoring rules until there is a winner;

3. Scoring

3.1 Point Values

• The bullseye or black ring is worth 5 pts;
• The red ring is worth 3 pts;
• The blue ring is worth 1 pt;
• The green dots in the corner, or Clutch(TM*) are worth 7 pts.

3.2 Clutch

• Players must declare that they are going to throw for Clutch before attempting, also referred to as ‘Calling Clutch’ or to ‘Call Clutch’;
• Players can only throw for Clutch on the 5th and final throw of the round;
• An accidental clutch is not valid, even on a 5th throw, no call, no points;
• Once Clutch is called, only that point area is valid and all other point areas are worth zero:
• Meaning that if a player calls for Clutch but hits a bullseye, they receive no points.
• A Clutch call can be taken back after it is called but must be announced to their opponent and scorekeeper:
• If a Clutch call is denounced the target reverts to it’s original values and the Clutch is worth zero.

3.3 The Majority Rule

• All scoring is based on where the majority of the blade lands and stays in the target;
• The area to be counted on an axe sunk into a target is the area that is breaking the surface of the target.