Hold the axe in your dominant hand. Keep that elbow tight to your side. The axe head should be somewhere behind your ear, as straight on target as possible. Step forward, as naturally as if you’re walking into a room, and use enough force to drive the axe toward the wood target but not so much that you end up putting a twist on the trajectory. If the handle hits the board, take a step back between the throwing lines. If the head hits the board, take a step up. If the head glances off the target, you flicked your wrist. If the head sinks into the wood with a satisfying thunk, then you know you’ve found your groove. Welcome to axe throwing. It’s addictive, and we have two Axes & Armor Hatchet House locations, one in Fayetteville, one in Spring Lake.
General Manager Matt Smith will also show you how to throw underhand. You can try with your thumb on the base of the handle, but he uses a pinching grip with the thumb and middle finger while keeping the index finger down the spine of the handle. Then naturally step forward and throw underhand, releasing when you’re pointing at one of the advertising boards under the target. You can also try throwing two axes at the same time. You’ll learn all of this in your five-minute safety brief. Someone is always present, though, if you need a review or an analysis of your form because your throws keep clattering to the floor.
Bring your date, bring your approximately 7-year-old-or-older child, bring your family, your friends or reserve space for a team-building session with your employees. Prices range from $23 to $26 for one hour, $28 to $31 for one and a half hours, or $33 to $36 for two hours, depending on which time and day of the week you go. Want to try something different? For $5 you can try two throwing stars, two throwing playing cards or, most challenging, one throwing shovel (think entrenching tool). For $10, you can test your skills with a lumberjack axe. Beer, cocktails, soft drinks and snacks are available, or if you’re planning a larger gathering, you can advance-order soda and pizza…