Axe Throwing Styles

For axes, there cannot be given one single advice as with knives. There are several fundamentally different options.

(1) Light axes

For light axes you may apply a modified knife throwing style as described in the previous chapter (see last picture there). Mind not to hardship your wrist.

(2) Heavy axes

For heavy axes you need two hands, if you do not want to damage your wrist.

Traditional axe throwing in Sweden. This classical picture comes from the Swedish axe maker Gränsfors Bruks. Go www.gransfors.com to learn more about their style, devices, targets, rules and security. With each ordered axe you receive the "Book of Axes" for free.

(3) Shuffle Wheel Style

But throwing heavy axes with only one hand is not possible. Or is it?

We found: it is easily possible! It is a logical chain of statements, which naturally leads to our newly developed "Shuffle Wheel Style".

(3.1) All before described styles contain a reversal of the movement of the device in the delivery position (ready stance).

(3.2) A reversal of movement of a greater mass is no easy or fast thing. If you do it anyway, you will damage your wrist.

(3.3) A way is sought to bring the device into the trajectory without reversal of movement or any other abrupt maneuvers.

(3.4) The natural way to achieve this, is to use a circular movement.

(Dummy for planned picture) Shuffle wheel style.

(3.5) You hold the axe relaxed hanging down. Then you swing it back and up with the stretched arm. It comes automatically to the top of the circle and goes through the delivery position from behind. When it does so, it has already speed in the right direction forward. No break, no turn.

(3.6) At the delivery position the device is released. Then it flies forward away. Voila!

(3.7) The whole movement works entirely without lever and without twist. The only driving force is the centrifugal force. This results only in a stretching force in the wrist, which is comfortable to endure.

What is the trick? What did we conceal?

(3.8) The shoulder joint is no ball-bearing! You cannot do the movement geometrically ideal, as described above. You have to dodge a little bit sidewards and have a little twist with the device. But you can come pretty close to the circular principle.

(3.9) The movement is not entirely free of lever and twist forces. You need them for steering. But not at all for driving!

(3.10) Usually the delivery position is a resting point, it enables a last concentration on aiming. Because there is no rest at this point anymore, you lost the delivery position for aiming purpose! The aiming must happen far before, in the hanging down starting position. This is the true difficulty with this method. By this fact, the learning of this method is harder and longer. But if the style is mastered, it gives maximum power with least strain.

This is the shuffle wheel style. Why is it named so? Well, it works exactly like one!

Have fun while experimenting.

Always watch the security!