Practice Axe Target | Great For Backyard Axe And Knife Throwing
Join the HOTTEST growing sport - Axe Throwing!
I have built many targets specifically for axe throwing. These targets duplicate the National Axe Throwing Federation specifications. But I have added some changes that make the target more universal for practicing at home.
The NATF target is used in competitions and axe throwing leagues. It has a target face with concentric rings for keeping score. A variety of challenging games can also be played by axe throwing league participants and backyard throwers.
Axe throwing targets must be incredibly rigid yet allow for the penetration of a well-thrown axe (or hatchet, also known as the “standard axe”.) The best axe targets are constructed of kiln dried 2 by 10 construction lumber. This lumber is readily available and relatively inexpensive. By assembling the target of 2 x 10 planks, as the sections are destroyed by multiple cuts and splits, the planks can be reversed or exchanged from center to the sides to extend the target life.
Regulation NATF Target
A “regulation” NATF target consists of three planks side by side. The target face is a series of concentric rings with the center 7-inch diameter circle worth 5 points, the second 17-inch circle worth 3 points and the outer 27-inch circle worth 1 point. Some axe throwing venues now use targets that are five planks wide to make hitting the target even easier. A five-plank target has space for five rings, and are then assigned 5, 4, 3, 2, or 1 points moving out from the center bullseye.
The three or five-plank competition targets are mounted to a back board of solid wood or plywood. The regulation throwing lane is 10-feet wide and the entire back wall is usually covered in planks to deflect missed throws. The “Practice Axe Target” is intended for more universal use. The targets can be wall-mounted. But the targets are self-supporting and can be hung from ropes or chains, attached to a post or supported by another type of frame or even saw horses.
To save weight and be more portable, the “Practice Axe Target” has a face that is 35.5-inches high versus the regulation 48-inches. This shorter height eliminates the round “clutch” targets at the upper corners of the competition target. (These small round circles are used sometimes as tie-breakers in competitions.) The three-plank target is 28.5 inches wide – since each 2 x 10 is actually only 9.5 inches wide. The target has the same target face with three circles.
35-inch tall Practice Axe Target
The Practice Axe Target is designed for several mounting options. I have added a full second target surface to the back side. Where a wall-mounted target only needs a perimeter fame, the Practice Axe Target has a full duplicate target surface on the back side with another three 2 x 10 planks. The two sides are screwed together over a layer of plywood sandwiched between. The inner plywood layer is marked with vertical lines to position replacement planks. Horizontal planks are positioned at the bottom of the target to help align the upright target planks.
Double-Sided Practice Axe Target
The obvious advantage of this design is that you have a double-faced target. A target face has been drawn on both sides so the target can be instantly reversed. If you just replace only the center planks after throwing bullseyes, you will need to wear out FOUR faces of the double-sided Practice Axe Target before buying another 2 x 10. In addition, each plank can be flipped and re-positioned from center to the sides. If you use both sides of all six planks you may not need to replace any planks for years!
Enjoy hundreds of hours, even months of throwing with the Practice Axe Target. Just suspend or mount your target. Step back 15-feet, turn and throw your axes. Your cost is only $100.00.
For the best simulation of a NATF competition range, the bottom edge of the Practice Axe Target should be positioned 43.5-inches above the ground. This will place the exact center of the bullseye at 63-inches which is the regulation height for competition. If mounting to a wall, first position a 28-inch long 2 x 4 leveled horizontally with the upper edge at 43.5-inches from the ground. Then you can rest the Practice Axe Target on this ledger while securing it to the wall with angle brackets or wood cleats.
One last tip: spray water on the target with a bottle sprayer or a hose to soften the wood for even better sticks. And, YES – the Practice Axe Target is ALSO great for knife throwing!
