One cannot deny the allure of axe throwing. Since it started as a backyard activity in 2006, its popularity has extended beyond North America. Now, you can see axe throwing clubs across the United States, Canada, and Europe. There are even leagues that organize competitions and venues with an axe throwing range. Undeniably axe throwing is all the rage right now.
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However, to excel in axe throwing, you need constant practice. Hurling an axe is a skill. Unlike throwing a ball, you don’t have control of the axe when you launch it. It requires lots of training and practice. You must master the correct velocity, release, and angle when to release the axe.
As author Jerry Gilbert in his Advanced Throwing Weapon study, reveals: “There is no one correct way to throw.” You can learn to throw in any way you like if you work on it. Although there is no right or wrong way, there will be a better or worse way. There are different levels of the throw. Some throws demand a great deal of time and work to master. There are also highly accurate throws, even with a moderate amount of practice. No two throws will be equal.
This is where axe throwing ranges will come in. They will provide an avenue for practicing axe throwing and improving your skills. This article will guide you on what you need to work on to perfect your axe throwing skill.
Stance
For the stance, it should be solid, stable, and balanced. Your head, feet, and axe should be positioned directly towards the center of the target. An unsure stance means you could be correcting your balance once you begin your throwing motion. This will decrease your ability to move ideally towards your target.
Knowing your throwing distance will also help you have a good throwing stance. Ideally, you should be releasing the axe with your feet as close to the 12-foot line. Having a final position at the 12-foot line will give you a clear advantage. There is a larger angle for your throw trajectory to result in a bullseye if your feet are close to the 12-feet line instead of being 13 feet away.
Grip
How you handle the axe will make a difference in your throw. An inconsistent grip will potentially lead to an incorrect release point. This could result in a large margin of error. Aside from that, it could make it difficult for you to control the speed of your spin, causing it to tilt left to right and wobble.
Most throwers use a light grip towards their palm’s middle to the end. Having a stronger hold is usually unavoidable if you are a fast thrower. However, if you are aiming for accuracy, practice a finessed throw. You can watch some videos of excellent grips, although it will take a lot of practice and explanation from more experienced throwers to understand.
Keep your throw simple.
You should always aim for a simple and easily repeatable throw. Different or complex motions will result in a considerable variance in throws. Your throw may be accurate, but if it involves too many complex movements, you may need to make corrections on your throw under pressure.
Find a consistent starting point.
The throw arc should be incorporated into your throw setup. The ideal scenario is for your axe to align with your throw arc. The throw arc doesn’t need to be lined up with your eyes. For the two-handed throw, it should be directly centered overhead. If you are unwilling to change the starting position of your axe, you can still mitigate the side motion by slowing down the backswing and/or briefly pausing at the back end of the throw.
Choose your axe, handle shape and length.
- Try different axes and change them at any time!
- Slim handles with flat edges or round handles with slightly flat side edges make it easy to grip similarly and reduce the chance of accidentally turning the handle. However, the shape and length of the handle depending on the hand’s size and physiological condition.
- A heavy ax has greater inertia and can sink more profoundly, but any ax within weight limits will stay in sequence.
- You will notice that when you use a lighter ax it is much easier to throw and practice longer. Practice is vital to improving accuracy. Consider using a more lightweight ax, especially when throwing with one hand.
Adjust your conditions
- Understand the board with which you are committed. It all comes down to the fact that it is difficult not to drop the ax. Factors associated with this include the humidity of the wood, the hardness of the wood, the degree of cut of the wood (including the texture angle), the knots near the target point, and whether the wood has already been thrown on.
- If the board is very soft and sticky, it is ideal for adjusting the rotation angle so that the sheet is flat and parallel to the board.
- If you know that the wood is hard, based on any of these factors, to minimize the probability of falling, you may need to adjust the angle of the ax to the nearest point. This does not always mean that a significant angle adjustment is required. When the ax hits the board, even if the angle is 15-30 degrees, this will cause the point to strike first and jam, covering an additional area of the board with the rest of the blade.
- An ideal way to adjust the rotation angle is to change the projection distance from the target. Changing the grip or throwing can change too many variables, and the distance will only vary by one.
All these factors can be improved by practicing in axe throwing bars or venues in your area. Their number is growing, so it is unlikely that you won’t miss them. In fact, there might already be one near you.
