You Don’t Need to Be a Lumberjack to Go Axe Throwing

Calling all aspiring lumberjacks! Encounters with axes are no longer limited to chopping wood outdoors. Urban ax throwing is the latest competitive trend making its way to cities around the country.

Philadelphia was the first city in the United States to debut an ax-throwing venue. Urban Axes is located in Philadelphia’s Kensington neighborhood in a large warehouse. The sport is played similar to darts in that each competitor throws an ax at a wooden target, with different points awarded depending on where the ax sticks on the board.

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Here’s how it works: Tournaments are played with 12 or more people. The event lasts 2.5 hours and must be booked in advance. Safety first: At the beginning of a session a designated coach offers safety instructions and one-on-one throwing practice. Next, the real fun begins with a round robin tournament to gain points. The coach keeps score so you can focus on your game. Top scorers make it to a head-to-head round, followed by a final knockout round for the best in the group. One member of the group is eventually declared the winner.

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If you don’t have a full group, inquire into walk-in sessions, mostly available during the week. Beer, wine and food are permitted outside of the throwing zone, making urban ax throwing the perfect activity for a birthday party, bachelor/bachelorette party or corporate event. Tournament sessions currently cost $35 per person.