Competitive axe throwing is a hobby that can give you the edge of archery and gun shooting with spending a quarter on equipment and gear. This deceivingly simple sport is more fun than you can imagine, and part of it comes from how easy it is to set up, even in your backyard.
What you’ll need for an at-home axe throwing range
Similar to playing cards, axe throwing takes a minute to learn but will take you a lifetime of fun to master. In this article, we will share a four-step guide to help you make a personal axe throwing range:
1. Buying the right axe
A typical camp hatchet is effective and cheap enough to buy from your local hardware store. For beginners, it’s easier to practice with an axe between 3 to 5 pounds in weight. Heavier axes are more forgiving when it comes to sticking on a wooden board. Once you’ve improved your technique, you can move towards a lighter axe that ranging around 1.5 to 1.75 pounds in weight.
Consider one-piece steel axes as they’re a more durable option. Unlike wooden-handled axes, steel axes aren’t as prone to breaking apart. A 14-16 inch handle steel axe is an excellent choice to stock up for your backyard axe throwing range.
2. Preparing your axe throwing area
Whether it is a gun or archery range, you’ll need to implement proper safety precautions to ensure a safe environment for you and your surroundings. Clear your lawn of obstacles that can cause your hatchet to bounce off unpredictably if you miss the mark. If you want to set up an indoor throwing range, you should make sure that the room you’ll set it up in has a ceiling height of at least 12 feet from the ground.
Professional axe throwers often recommend that you put in the extra effort to build a backstop, complete with sidewalks that are 6 feet apart, to contain the axe after it’s thrown in the air. Set a distance of 12 feet from the target to your throwing line. From your throwing line, create a 3-foot deep throwing box where people can position themselves to throw their axes.
3. Building your axe throwing target
Axe ranges make use of wooden boards for the axe throwing target. A standard target is a 24-inch diameter wooden block that has a bulls-eye in the middle and five rings spreading outward. The target also includes two small circles at the upper-left and upper-right corner of the circle that are counted as ‘kill shots.’
You can build a target from plywood or other types of softwood. If you want you to match your indoor experience with a professional axe throwing range, you should order a circular tree stump that you can hang or mount in place.
4. Setting up your axe throwing match
In competing with your friends, you’ll have to take turns in building up your score. There’s a total of ten throws per match, with the person gaining the highest aggregate score becoming the winner.
The scoring rubric for axe throwing rules is slightly similar to archery and darts with a spin. Scoring is set as ten points for a kill shot, six points for the bull’s eye, four points for hitting the second ring, three points for hitting the third ting, two points for hitting the fourth ring, and one point for the fifth ring. In the case of a tie, a sudden death round will decide on who can get the higher throw after one throw per player.
Conclusion
Once you’ve set up your backyard axe throwing range, you’ll have plenty of time to enjoy axe throwing by perfecting your skill and technique. The fun in this sport is being able to invite a few friends to play a friendly or competitive match against each other.
If you want to flex your axe throwing muscles by testing out this sport in a tried and tested indoor environment, head on over to our branches in Vancouver, BC today!
