A big thanks to Axe Whooping for the guest post. Axe Whooping has to axe throwing locations in Colorado. One axe throwing venue is in Denver, CO and the other is in Bolder, CO.

The sport of axe throwing has gone a long way from a mere lumberjack pastime to an International game. There are several axe throwing tournaments like The World Axe Throwing League (WATL) that offers various championships like the Winter League, US Arnold Classic, Summer League, World Axe Throwing Championship, etc. Such competitions are a fun way to add an extra challenge to the contest.

Before that, let’s know more about axe throwing.

It’s a sport where the competitor throws an axe at the target, attempting to hit as close as possible. According to the World Axe Throwing League (WATL), there is a designated scoring system.

The target board consists of 4 rings and a bullseye in the center, while the two dots in the outer ring have a high risk and are known as kill shots. Kill shot is attempted during certain times and is worth 8 points.

Generally, there are 10 throws followed by tiebreakers. All the players compete on 1-on-1, and the person with the highest number of points after the game is the winner. The maximum score is 64, and the kill shot is available for scoring on the fifth and tenth throws for a playful experience.

After all this, you need to know the proper way of holding and throwing the axe such that you don’t hurt yourself.

Head down to learn the best way to throw an axe. Axe Whooping offers you the most extensive indoor axe throwing facility in Colorado! We have the best axe throwers globally and would like to share their knowledge with you in this blog. Read ahead.

What is the best way to throw any axe?

Before this, you need to be thorough with 2 important safety measures you should take:

1. Ensure your surroundings and target are clear of people before you hurl your axe into the wood. The main motto is to throw together and retrieve together.

2. Always sharpen your axe to help it stick to the desired target. Never touch the blade with bare hands to avoid stitches.

There’s no right or wrong way to throw, but there are better or worse ways. You need to know the right technique that yields relatively high accuracy with a little bit of practice.

Everyone is different and will have a different technique or throwing style. We provide you some high accuracy tips that apply to one-handed as well as two-handed throws.

There are a few things you need to know before you opt for axe throwing:

• Your footing should be solid, stable, and balanced. A solid stance is crucial whether you’re stepping forward or backward before throwing.
• You should move your entire body towards the center of the target in order to reduce your margin of error. Everything from your head to feet should move towards the target. Learn to correct your balance when you start your throwing motions.
• It’s important to know your distance. Your feet should be close to the 12-foot line as possible before releasing the axe. For better coverage, the axe should have a flat blade or a nearly flat blade.
• Remember this: Your final position at the 12-foot line is advantageous as there’s an 8.3% larger angle for your throw trajectory to hit the bullseye.

The second important thing is the grip on your axe. Yes! It’s all that can negatively impact your scores.

A consistent grip means you make the correct release point. On the other hand, an inconsistent grip can lead to large margins of error and make it challenging to control spin speed.

Even top throwers prefer a lighter grip that’s mostly toward the mid to end of the palm. For fast throwers, a stronger grip is unavoidable. There are several great grips that fulfill a specific goal.

For instance: Accurate, fast throwers try a more fitness throw, and many others use the flick grip.

In case you’re having trouble with vertical inaccuracy and are looking for ways to get the right grip, then read below:

• Full and robust hand wraparound grips mostly depend on your release point.
• The release point relies on the strength of the throw, moisture present in your hands, and the conscious release of your hand.
• A light grip is an ideal way to throw your axe. It takes practice and experimentation to master it.

You need to keep your throw simple and easily repeatable without any extra or complex motions resulting in greater variance in throws.

To achieve an accurate throw, you need to have the right movement that’s correct even under pressure. Many players rock slightly back and forth in line with the target, bringing up your axe to its initial position. This works if you continue with the motion without pausing for the backswing and get accurate throws. This throw is achieved with regular practice.

This way, you can easily produce any number of bullseyes and about 80% on kill shots. It’s the best way to give more power to your throw.

After this, you also need to have a consistent starting point of the axe before you throw. You need to have a perfect throw setup to get the right shot. The throw arc is your axe’s final path once it leaves your hands and reaches the target. Your setup should have the axe in line with the throw arc. The throw arc need not be aligned with your eyes.

In a two-handed throw, you need to throw directly at the center overhead; this is where your throw arc is centered directly between your eyes. The other important aspect in axe throwing is choosing the right axe, handle shape, and handle length. You need to be mindful here to get the desired consistency in your throw. A player should be open to experiment and try out different axes. Make sure you follow this:

• Try using axes with thin handles and flat edges or a round handle with flattened edges on the sides can help you get an easy grip and reduces the possibility of an accidentally rotated grip.
• The handle’s shape and length depending on the hand size and physiology.
• A heavy axe will always have more inertia to sink deeper in the wood. However, an axe that falls inside the weight limits will stick consistently.
• A lighter axe is preferred widely as it’s easy to throw and practice longer. Regular practice is necessary for this sport as it improves your accuracy, especially for one-handed throws.

Disclaimer: Try to adjust to your conditions.

You just can’t start playing a sport only for the sake of playing it. It’s essential to know the board you’re hurling your axes on. You should consider several factors like knowing the wood’s hardness, moisture present in the wood, wood’s cut (angle), the number of knots near the target, and likewise. You need to adjust your game according to the present conditions like:

• For a board that’s too soft, try adjusting your axe’s rotation to strike the blade flat and parallel to the board.
• If the wood is hard, then adjust the rotation more to the tip. Just a small angle adjustment, like 15-30 degrees, will work.
• Adjust your rotation by changing your throw distance from the target. It’s advisable to change your grip or throw by simply changing your distance.

Keeping your blade sharp is more important than anything else. Many people use stones, sanders, or sharpeners to yield an edge that can stick to the wood.

Thinning your axe can lead to a more consistent stick in the wood for almost all throw types – lookup for professional assistance for the best techniques to sharpen your axe.

If you’re making the throw, then there are a few guidelines that will help you. Head down for more.

Key Takeaways:

• Always pick a small point on the intended target. Never move away or move away from your target and directly towards it during the throwing motion.
• Try to relax your arms and shoulders for better consistency and accuracy.
• Hard throws may be accurate, but it’s difficult to progress to greater precision.
• Make sure you bring your axe back and forward in line with the target during throws.
• Take deep breaths before each throw will establish the same breathing for each throw.
• Never judge your own throw or make decisions until you’ve tried it.
• These are a few things that can improve your accuracy during league or tournament matches. Anyway, it’s time you stop reading and start playing the game until you become a pro.