yo i think i know why, is it ur first few times smoking? cause back when it was like my first 5 times I got bad sore throat. After a while u get used to the harshness of the smoke though and u won't worry about it cause the sore throat iwll not exist anymore. I sort of use my tongue as a guarder of my throat and let the smoke hit the tongue first. Helps prevent any flames from scorching ur throat,a nd seems to be more enjoyable. Plus I must be doing the inhale thing perfectly cause i am always the first to detect it and feel it the strongest.