Skip to main content

Where to Try Axe Throwing, Your New Favorite Sport

We retain many things from our ancient ancestors: wisdom teeth, beer brewing, and apparently the ability to throw an axe.

While we’ve likely been throwing axes at stuff since the first one was made, axe throwing as a sport developed where many great things do: a guy’s backyard in Canada. Since 2006, it’s developed into the National Federation of Axe Throwing Federation (NFAT) to standardize rules and equipment, with leagues, tournaments, and the illustrious Wilson Cup.

la ax throwing
LA AX

Remarkably, axe throwing does not require a Paul Bunyan-like physique or even experience felling trees. Almost anyone can do it, and do it well. You’ll be using a standard axe — a hatchet — measuring in at 13 inches to 17 inches long and weighing only a couple of pounds. Though, you do get to throw the large, traditional axe during a tiebreaker.

Recommended Videos

The wooden target is about 14 feet from the line from where you’ll throw. The perfected design of the axe coupled with good ol’ fashioned physics means you’ll likely get the hang of the throw pretty quickly. Fences, strictly enforced rules, and etiquette are all designed to keep your limbs in their original positions, but you are hurling a giant, sharp blade over your head, across the room, so don’t mess around.

And man, is it fun. In an increasingly digital where our hands are required to do little more than push buttons, which often aren’t even real buttons (thanks, Steve Jobs), it’s ridiculously satisfying when that axe sticks into the wood and when you have to work to wrench it back out.

So, where do you get to engage in some new old-fashioned axe throwing? Below are some of our favorites from around the United States.

LA AX

Southern California

LA AX just opened a 12,500-square-foot North Hollywood location, which can host 325 axe throwers. The space is welcoming and appropriately cool, with a graffiti mural and helmed by a crack team, including Operations Manager Carly, aka Seven, who’s earned the impressive 81-perfect score.

la ax interior
LA AX

So long as you’re 21 or over, you can walk in during the evenings or reserve a spot for your group — anything from a date night to a large corporate event. “Axeperts” are on hand to help you get the hang of the throw, teach games, and arbitrate round robin tournaments. LA AX also offers weekly leagues.

It’s in the process of getting its liquor license, so for now, it’s BYO food, though food trucks often show up. LA AX is primed to corner Los Angeles axe throwing with future locations in Orange County, Santa Monica, West Valley, Culver City, Anaheim, Riverside, and Bakersfield.

Urban Axes

Durham, Philadelphia, Austin, and Baltimore (Coming soon: Boston and Cincinnati)

Urban Axes really lives up to its name, choosing to repurpose old warehouses for its lanes. This growing chain, too, offers the option of group events, leagues, and walk-in hours for those days when you just really need to throw a damn axe.

urban axes
Urban Axes/Facebook

You can bring in your own food, but Urban Axes can also cater private events, though everyone must be 21 or older. The Austin and Philly locations are BYOB (except liquor) and provide fridges to keep your brews cold, but the other sites will have beer and wine for sale. Gift cards are a badass idea for any occasion requiring a present! Imagine a newlywed couple getting the gift of axe throwing instead of a toaster.

Bad Axe Throwing

Canada and the U.S.

Don’t let the punny name fool you — Bad Axe is very good at axe throwing. This is the largest axe throwing club, spreading hatchet happiness from the Canadian base down into the States, from Atlanta to San Diego.

bad axe throwing
Bad Axe Throwing/Facebook

Bad Axe has the same set-up: walk-ins allowed, reservations — especially for large groups — available and encouraged, and the opportunity to join a league.

These guys actually allow kids to throw if supervised by a parent or guardian, though the Chicago location does require visitors 18 or older. Feel free to bring your own food and drinks, and for that matter, your own axe if you feel so inclined (except in Chicago).

Kick Axe

Brooklyn, New York (Coming soon: D.C. and Philadelphia)

This Brooklyn location is certainly the most posh option on the list. It looks like a rich person’s idea of a mountain hunting lodge, complete with comfy seating, animal heads on the walls, chandeliers, and just the right amount of plaid. Flannel shirts, faux tattoo sleeves, and beards are also provided for your ideal photo opportunity.

By now you should know the drill: walk-ins okay, in which you might get paired with strangers, though it certainly beats Tinder for your “how’d you meet”story. Reservations are available for groups, though they’re very strict about getting the entire party there on-time. Kids 8 years and up are allowed to throw if the “Ax-pert” deems them strong enough, but an adult must keep an eye on kiddies at all times, what with the flying metal blades and all.

Kick Axe sells beer, wine, soda, and ridiculously crunchy thin-crust pizza from Table 87; the chain also has catering packages for private events.

Class Axe

Around the U.S.

All right Tempe, Chicago, Nashville, Jacksonville, Denver, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Houston, Dallas, and San Antonio: grab your axes! Or, just use the ones they provide.

Oops! We couldn't load this video player

Class Axe requires people to be 15 and older to throw, and like the rest of the ones on this list, offers up leagues. You can bring your own food and drinks, including beer and wine — hard liquor is not allowed and, to everyone’s relief, drunk people will be asked to leave — but catering is not an option.

To your axes!

Topics
Elizabeth Dahl
Elizabeth Dahl is a southern girl in the heart of Los Angeles who lived far too long before learning what an incredible food…
This patio heater is $194 off — don’t let the cold keep you inside
The EDX 48,000 BTU Propane Patio Heater set up outdoors.

Even if you've set up your outdoor space with the best patio furniture, you won't be able to enjoy it if it's too cold. That's why you're going to need something like the EDX 48,000 BTU Propane Patio Heater, which is on sale from Walmart with a huge $194 discount on its sticker price of $300. You'll only have to pay $106, which is a very affordable price for this essential device. You need to hurry though, as we're not sure how much time is remaining on this offer.

Why you should buy the EDX 48,000 BTU Propane Patio Heater
If you've always wanted to transform your patio into an urban oasis or a winter wonderland, one of the most important considerations is how to make outdoor temperatures more manageable. You can do that with the EDX 48,000 BTU Propane Patio Heater, which features a double-layer heating grid made of stainless steel that provides additional durability over single-layer burners. Once you turn it on, the 48,000 BTUs of heating power kicks in, heating its surrounding space with an 18-foot diameter in as fast as one minute. You'll also be able to easily move the EDX 48,000 BTU Propane Patio Heater with its bottom wheels, which will be helpful if there are multiple areas that need to be heated in your outdoor space.

Read more
Scarlett Johansson has wanted to be in a ‘Jurassic Park’ movie for years
Jurassic World Rebirth appears to be a dream come true for the Avengers actress
Scarlett Johansson and Jonathan Bailey in Jurassic World Rebirth

Scarlett Johansson is one of the stars of Jurassic World Rebirth, and to hear her tell it, she's been waiting for this moment for years. In a recent interview with Vanity Fair, Johansson spent years sending rumors of new Jurassic Park movies to her agents because she was simply that desperate to join the franchise.

“I was really crazy about the [original] film, and I slept in a Jurassic Park pup tent in my bedroom I shared with my sister for a year,” Johansson said about her enduring love for the franchise. “Anytime the trades would report a new ‘Jurassic’ movie, I would forward to my agents like, ‘Hey, I’m available.’”

Read more
‘Severance’ star Britt Lower is impressed that fans got ahead of the show
The series has encouraged fans to theorize and pick up clues and easter eggs
Britt Lower in Severance Season 2

Warning: This post contains spoilers for season 2, episode 4 of Severance. 

The second season of Severance has been full of twists and turns, and the show's fourth episode dropped a doozy on is. Helly has been Helena this whole time. There had been speculation that this was the case since the second season premiered, and episode 4 confirmed it.

Read more