Axe Throwing

Axe throwing is one of the most rewarding skills to acquire.  Its history dates back to medieval times.  It is relitively easy to learn and can be done right in your backyard.  As in any sport one can take it all the way up to a competitive level. Axe throwing establishments are popping up everywhere.  

Safety First: Before you begin, always prioritize safety. Ensure you are in a designated axe throwing area with proper backstops and safety measures. Keep a safe distance from others, and never throw an axe without checking your surroundings.

Choosing the right axe is important.  Always try to select an axe that is designed specifically for throwing. These axes usually have a single sharpened blade and are well-balanced for optimal throwing performance. The shape of the blade can be important down the road.  Generally, there are straight blades and rounded blades.  Unlike throwing knives, these blades need to be kept pretty sharp.  This is why safety is so important. 

I would suggest following some basic World Axe Throwing League rules right from the beginning so you are not learning with standards that will have to be adjusted if you decide to get more serious and move towards the competitive world.  Here are the bare basics:

• The maximum weight of the axe is 3 lbs.

• The maximum length is 19 inches

• The blade of the axe can not be more than 4 inches

• The handle can be made of any material

• The distance from the target needs to be 12 feet.  One can start farther away, but must not cross the 12 foot line. Many start the throw a few feet back from the 12 foot mark and take a step just shy of that mark.

• The Axe has to make one full rotation and stick to the target.  If it falls out, like in darts, it does not count for points.

All the other rules can be saved for later. If the thrower wants to learn the finer details of all the rules, seek out the World Axe throwing League website.

The Grip: There are several kinds of grips that can be utilized. It can be thrown one handed or two handed.  I feel the one handed grip offers a faster learning track, but feel free to experiment.  Grip the axe firmly with your dominant hand at the bottom of the handle kind of like you would hold a hammer. Your grip should be secure but not overly tight. Keep your non-throwing hand extended towards the target for stability and balance.

Stance and Body Position: Stand with your feet fairly close together and maybe your non-dominate foot being slightly ahead of your dominate side foot. Keep your body balanced and square to the target. Align your throwing shoulder with the center of the target for better accuracy.  Lining up your nose to the center will cause your throws to always go to the dominant hand side of the target.  Then you will have to start compensating your throw to hit center.

There are an infinite amount of starting positions out there.  This is the one that I employ and have felt most comfortable doing, so feel free to experiment.  I start with my throwing arm extended towards the target and elbow slightly bent.  This puts the axe Parallel to the target.  In otherwords the handle should be pointing to the ground and the blade edge facing the target. I visualise the axe having to make one complete rotation from that starting point.  My wrist stays fairly quiet through the throw.  If I focus to keep the wrists quiet throughout the shot, I find it much easier to control the rotation. Novice throwers tend to be too wristy and this causes the axe to rotate too much.  The axe needs to make one SLOW rotation. Being too wristy causes a fast rotation and ultimately will not have successful results. I also try to maintain my elbow angle.  I see a lot of novices try to creat power utilizing the elbow joint, going from straight to bent and back to straight again.  This also creates too much spin/rotation. If one has wrists and elbows significantly involved in their throws, it creats too many variables and the results will not never be consistant.

The Backswing: Begin the throw by raising the axe from the shoulder joint only.  It doesn't have to go back too far.  I also like to focus on opening up my ribs as my back goes into extension. My weight gets transferred onto my back foot.  It is important to keep everything square.  Any kind of twisting of the spine or taking the axe out of the throwing slot will cause havoc to the flight path.  Keep the motion smooth and controlled.  As you axe goes back your non-throwing hand moves forward towards the target. 

The Forward Swing: Three things have to come to a harmonous blend. Take the step with your non dominant foot towards the target, transfer your weight onto that foot, close your ribs down and lean towards the target.  This will automatically bring the axe forward as the shoulder reverses it course.  As your throwing arm starts to move forward, your non-throwing arm moves back. Do not rush this process.  It is the weight transfer that generates the force needed for the throw. It is a very harmonious blend of coordination.  This is where novices start getting too much wrist and elbows while forcing the arm to come down too quickly.  As the axe reaches about eye level, it is going to want to pull out of your hand.  Don't feel like you need to open your hand.  Just relax your hand and allow the axe handle to pull out.  Your hand is a friction point.  Too much or not enough friction will impact your throw in a negative way.  Feel the friction and soon you will be able to regulate how much is too much and how much is not enough. Allow the handle to escape your hand with just the right amount of friction, while keeping your eyes fixed towards the center of the target.  

Release and Follow-Through: As you allow the axe to pull out of your hand, keep your eyes fixed at your aim point and allow the hand to naturally move towards your waistline height in a smooth follow through.  At this point your back foot can actually be off the ground as you are poised and perfectly balanced on that non-dominate leg, with your throwing arm extended, non-throwing arm back.  They trade places almost like a swimming stroke.

Evaluate and Adjust: Pay attention to how and where the axe lands on the target. A perfect stick will be with the axe handle about at a 45 degree angle down. If the handle is leaning into the target, or worse, the handle hits the target before the axe head, it means there was an under rotation.  In other words, the axe did not have a chance to fully rotate.  The simple way to make the adjustment is to make sure your release foot is a little further back.  In other words you were too close to the target upon release of the axe.  This under rotation is easier to fix than an over rotation. An over rotation will strike the target on the top of the axe head, where the handle is either parallel or almost parallel to the ground, where it is pointing back at you when the axe head hits.  This could be a distance problem, where the thrower is too far away.  It could also be that the thrower is getting too many joints involved, ie. being too wristy or too much elbow movement or both. This person will have to learn which adjustment to make. Consistent practice and fine-tuning are crucial to improving your accuracy.

Stay Patient and Persistent: Axe throwing requires practice and patience. It may take time to develop your technique and improve your accuracy consistently. Keep practicing and refining your skills.

Respect and Follow Rules: Always adhere to the rules and guidelines set by the axe throwing facility or experts. Respect the sport and its safety protocols.Remember, becoming a skilled axe thrower takes time and dedication. Always prioritize safety, seek guidance from experienced instructors if possible, and enjoy the process of honing your axe throwing skills.