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There are a number of axe throwing tips that’l help you throw an axe well. In this article, we’ll look at the basics of how to throw axes and describe what you can do to not only improve your ability to hit the target and get the axe to stick, but also how to hit the bullseye more often.

We’ll also explain exactly what the effects of each technique are and how you can use these to improve your accuracy. Before we start throwing, it is important we make sure we keep safety in mind.

First of all, you need the right type of axe. We recommend this WATL official throwing axe here – its cheap and very durable, great for practicing.

How Far Should I Stand

The distance between the target and the line from which you throw is 15 feet. You can set up your own practice area at home, or out in the woods by setting up a thick wooden target and marking off your starting line 15 feet away. If you practice at an axe throwing facility, there will be a line drawn 15 feet away from the target board.

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One of your feet must be fully behind this line. It does not matter where your other foot is in relation to the line, as long as one is behind it. Your other foot can go forward pretty far (just make sure you keep your balance), or one foot can stand on the line with the other one behind.

Experiment to find out what works best for you. It also does not matter which foot is behind the line – left or right.

Different Ways to Throw an Axe

Although there are many types of throws that can be used to throw an axe, the two basic types most often used are the two handed throw and the one handed throw.

Two Handed Axe Throw

Most people start off with this basic throw:

Take your starting position with one foot behind the line.

With one hand (the one that has been chalked), grip the axe at the bottom of its handle. Fold your other hand over the one holding the axe and grip it.

Line up your shot.

In one smooth motion, step forward while lifting the axe above your head and throwing it. The movement must be fluid and you should follow through, i.e. keep your arms and body moving in the same direction after releasing the axe, while at the same time keeping your eyes on the spot that you’re trying to hit.

Instead of folding the one hand over the other, you might want to place the second hand above the first on the axe handle. This grip works better for some.

When you grip the axe, it might be natural for you to stick out your thumbs and place then parallel to the axe handle. Don’t do this, as it will spoil your aim. Rather fold your thumbs over your fist.

When lifting the axe for a two handed throw, don’t lift it to either side of your head, but rather lift your elbows so that the axe is raised directly above your head, keeping your elbows locked and rotating your shoulders. By doing this, you create an exaggerated semi-circle above your head.

Practice this movement above your head before you throw, making sure you stop the movement where you started it, i.e. at the point of release. Don’t stop the movement further down or higher up than that, as it will spoil your aim. If you do this motion repeatedly, your body will build up muscle memory and will know exactly where your release point is.

One common beginner’s mistake is to flip their wrist at the release point, trying to spin the axe. Don’t flip your wrist, but keep it locked in a straight position. The axe will naturally rotate due to its shape. You will notice everyone from the pros to novices practicing throwing axes at competitions doing it this way.

There are some variations to the two handed throw, with the main one being not stepping forward or moving your feet at all when doing the throw. If you decide to try this, your starting position might be different from the one used when you do step forward.

When first starting out, it’s probably easier to start practicing by using a two handed throw and not stepping forward, but standing still with one foot behind the line.

Start off by doing this to get the feel for the axe, how it slides out of your hand, how it rotates and and at what distance you have to stand. Once you can get the axe to stick to the board repeatedly by throwing from a stationary position with two hands, you can start experimenting with stepping forward and switching to one hand to see what works best for you.

One Handed Axe Throw

The one handed throw is also a basic throw, although it might need a bit more strength in executing. The basic steps for this throw is the same as for the two handed throw, although you will probably have to change your lining up to be slightly on either side of the bullseye.

When you start throwing an axe for the first time, we recommend you first use a two handed throw to get a feel for the motion and how your arm moves.

When you then switch to the single handed throw, focus on using the same motion, i.e. bring your arm and elbow straight up above your head, rather than swinging it out like you would when throwing a baseball.

This will ensure that the axe travels in the direction you want it to, rather than fly off in a random direction.

The one handed throw can also be done from a stationary position, or by taking a step forward while throwing. Some people even take a number of steps forward, but this technique is very difficult to master and is not recommended for beginners.

If you throw with your right hand, your right foot should be forward, while left handed throwers will naturally put their left foot forward. This will balance your torso and enable you to make a steady, controlled throw.

Chalk Up Before Throwing

How to Chalk Your Hands Properly

Chalk is put on your hand so that the axe slides out of your hand easily when you reach the release point. Although you don’t have to put chalk on your hands, but simply let go of the axe when you reach the release point.

Having the axe slide out easily gives you much better control to release the axe exactly where you want to. This is really how to throw axes and will improve your chances of hitting the bullseye every time.

If you don’t use chalk, make sure both your hands and the axe handle is totally dry by wiping them with a cloth before you throw. This will ensure the axe will slide out of your hand smoothly.

The slightest bit of moisture on either your hands or the axe handle will prevent the smooth sliding and will spoil your aim.

If you totally miss the target in the beginning, chances are that you are not releasing the axe at the right time. Focus on letting the axe slide out of your hand naturally, even if you don’t use chalk.

The release is actually achieved by the weight and the momentum of the axe and, if you do it right, you’ll hear a very specific noise as it slides out of your hand. If you hear this noise, you’ll know that you have the release right and you can start looking at adjusting the distance and lining up your shot before you throw.

Not all hand chalk are the same. The one I’ve seen the most success with is Primo Chalk. Check the current price on Amazon here.

How Do I Line Up My Shot?

To line up your shot, the very top of the blunt side of your axe should line up with where you want your axe to go. After a number of throws, you might find that your axe goes higher or lower than where you lined it up.

Adjust your lining up accordingly, e.g. if your axe consistently goes higher than where you aimed, start aiming lower than the bullseye, and vice versa. It is also important to keep your eye on the exact spot on the target where you want your axe to go throughout the throw.

djust your lining up accordingly, e.g. if your axe consistently goes higher than where you aimed, start aiming lower than the bullseye, and vice versa. It is also important to keep your eye on the exact spot on the target where you want your axe to go throughout the throw.

If you release the axe too early, it will not spin enough, while it will spin too much if it is released too late. As the amount of spinning is also dependent on how far away from the target you stand, this is also something you can adjust.

Best Way To Throw an Axe

There is not one technique or throwing style that’s better than the others. Your body mechanics and sporting abilities and history will determine what works best for you and gives you the best results. Experiment with and try out all the different techniques and styles described in this article, even if you’ve found one that seems to work.

Your body will naturally gravitate to the one style that works best for you. If you don’t try them all however (two handed standing still, one handed standing still, two handed stepping forward and one handed stepping forward)

Adjusting Your Throw

As your axe is spinning after you throw it, it will often not hit the board with the sharp edge and stick. Depending on how your axe hits the board, you can adjust your throw.

If your axe hits the board with the top of the axe , you need to step forward about 6 inches . This will cause the axe to hit the board sooner with the edge rather than the top.

, you need to . This will cause the axe to hit the board sooner with the edge rather than the top. If your axe handle hits the board at about the same time as the head and it bounces off, you need to step backward about 6 inches. This will cause the axe to rotate a bit more before hitting the board.

Moving forward or back about 6 inches is a rough guideline. You’ll need to experiment and practice with different positions to find the spot that works perfectly for you.

If taking steps forward or backward as described above does not have the desired effect, try gripping your axe slightly higher or lower. Gripping it higher will have the same effect as stepping forward, while holding it in a lower position will do the same as stepping backward.

Check out this article to get more familiar with how to score an axe throwing game.

Axe Doesn’t Want to Stick

Beginners commonly have problems when they have to throw at a new board, as an axe will stick much easier to an older, chewed up board than what it does to a new board. To overcome this problem, there are 2 things you can do:

Wet a new board properly. Most axe throwing venue have spraying bottles than can be used to wet the board. Make sure the new board is drenched before you throw – it will make it a lot easier for the axe to stick. Move slightly back from your normal starting position to add more rotation to you axe. If your axe normally hits the board with the full blade, stepping back will add some rotation so your axe hits the board with the upper sharp tip. This makes it much more likely that your axe will penetrate and stick.

Keep your axe sharp! Check out our top 5 Axe Accessories to maintain and keep your axe sticking in the target.

TIP: When taking part in competitions and especially leagues like the World Axe Throwing League, watch your competition before actually competing against them.

If you notice that their axes tend to hit the target with the full blade rather than the tip, see if you can arrange for a new board to be put up when you start your match against them.

This will give you an edge as it’s likely that they’ll have problems getting their axes to stick. This will of course only be effective if you have perfected your technique of getting your axe to stick to new boards.

Practice really does help the most out of any advice when it comes to hitting the bullseye. Consistent throwing, especially with your own DIY Axe Throwing Target will give you the muscle memory to continuously land those shots.

Different Size Axe Techniques

When you throw axes in competitions or leagues, there will be a time that you have to throw a big axe, e.g. one with a long handle. This is sure to happen if you reach the playoff stages of the competition and not knowing how to throw a big axe could lose you the competition.

NATF rules require all match ties to be broken with a big axe competition. Both throwers use a larger axe than normal (25″+) to hit anywhere within the blue paint or on it. Once both throwers hit 3 times they move to points and the first person to win a round in points, wins the match.

Although the overall technique for throwing big axes is the same as for any sized axes, there are two things that are different:

The longer the axe handle, the further back you have to stand. You have to use a lot more strength, or take a more powerful step forward when you throw a big axe.

When throwing a big axe, you have to stand further from the target as a big axe takes longer to rotate. This increased distance also means that you need more power to get the axe to stick.

Once way of getting this extra power in your throw is to synchronize your release with your step forward and release the axe on the exact same moment as your forward stepping foot hits the ground.

As mentioned, this skill will only be required once you hit the big time and reach playoffs at league competitions, so first focus on getting the basics right with smaller axes and hitting the bullseye every time before moving on to practicing with big axes.

Getting The Best Throwing Results

Like with any sport, a combination of technique and practice will determine just how good you get. If going to a facility to practice regularly becomes too costly, set up your own practice area at home.

Apart from trying the different axe throwing technique we’ve described here, experiment with different types and sizes of axes.

Always make sure the axe blade is as sharp as possible to ensure that it will stick to the target. You might also want to research grinding your axe head to get the perfect balance and weight for you.

Above all, practice, practice, practice and get your axe throwing game names right + participate in as many competitions as you can to hone your skills.