In Standard gameplay, both sides of the axe must be measured to determine the score of the throw if the axe head has landed across two point areas.
5. Device, rule 4. When measuring an axe blade that has landed across two point areas, always use the outer edge of the paint line (the one farther from the center of the target) as the border for measuring point value.
To address discussion and confusion around this rule, we want to clarify the meaning.
The outer diameters of the rings align with the size of the rings as described:
- The black ring diameter is 7” (178 mm)
- The red ring diameter is 17” (432 mm)
- The blue ring diameter is 27” (686 mm)
“5. Device, rule 4” specifies that, because the painted rings’ outer edges are at the ring diameter, the painted lines count as part of the higher point value area of the target. I.e. the paint is inside the higher point value area. Measurements are therefore taken at the outside edge of the painted ring when determining how much of an axe is in one point value area or the other.
“5. Device, rule 4” is not saying that only one side of the axe head should be measured to determine the point value of the throw.
Both sides of the axe head must be measured at the surface of the target. To determine the score of the throw, compare the segment in the lower point value area to the segment in the higher point value area. Whichever segment is larger, the corresponding point area is the measurement result for that side.
If the result on both sides of the axe head agree, that indicates the score. If they differ, then compare the largest segment measurement from one side to the largest segment measurement on the other side. Whichever target area corresponds to the larger segment measurement is the score.
For example, measuring the first side shows that the 3-point segment is larger than the bullseye segment, and the second side shows that the bullseye segment is larger than the 3-point segment. We would compare the 3-point measurement from the first side to the bullseye measurement from the second side. If the bullseye segment is larger, then the result is a bullseye. If the 3-point segment is larger, then the result is 3 points.
This measurement practice has been added to the Standard Scoring Rules & Guidelines page as “5. Device, rule 8.
Additional related amendments:
“3. The Majority Rule, rule 2” has been amended to make the word “sides” plural.
“5. Device, rule 8” was a redundant rewording of “5. Device, rule 3” and has been removed.
“5. Device, rule 9” was intended to be a caption explaining the rules in this section, so it has been moved to the image caption.
Image 1.3-B: An example of a standard set of calipers, used to measure precisely the amount of axe blade within a target area. The dotted line represents the blade of a stuck axe at the surface of the target, with the device measuring from the outside edge of the paint inward. In this example, the majority of the blade is within the bullseye, so 5 points are awarded.