free printable
Axe Throwing Rules Card
A one-page axe throwing rules card: how to play, how to score, and how to set it up. Hit print, fold it, and keep it with your set. Want the full walkthrough? See the Axe Throwing rules.
LAWNLEAGUES.COM
rules card Axe Throwing
Players1 or more, taking turns
AgesSober, supervised adults only for real axes; kids stick to soft or magnetic sets
Setup15-30 min for a safe target and backstop
SpaceA long, clear lane with a solid backstop and no one downrange
What you need
- A throwing hatchet or axe (about a 1.5 lb head and roughly 14 in handle is beginner-friendly)
- A wooden target board made of stacked, end-grain or softwood planks so the blade can stick
- A bullseye painted with scoring rings and clutch dots in the corners
- A solid backstop wall behind the target to stop misses
- A marked throwing line about 12-15 ft from the target
- For kids and casual play: a soft-axe or magnetic axe-throwing set instead of a real blade
Scoring
- The bullseye (center ring) is worth the most, commonly 6 points.
- Each ring outward is worth less: typically 4, then 3, 2, and 1 point as you move toward the edge.
- The small clutch (killshot) dots in the upper corners are a high-value bonus, often worth 7 or 8 points, but you usually must call for them before throwing.
- An axe that does not stick, or sticks outside the rings, scores 0. A standard match is several rounds of throws with the highest total winning.
How to play
- Build a safe lane first. Set the target against a solid backstop with open space around it. Keep all bystanders well behind the throwing line, never downrange or to the sides. Confirm axe throwing is legal where you live before setting up.
- Mark the throwing line. Measure a throwing line about 12 to 15 ft from the face of the target. Everyone throws from behind this line. Step up only when the lane is clear and it is your turn.
- Grip and throw. Hold the axe near the end of the handle with one or two hands, square your shoulders to the target, and bring the axe straight back over your head. Release smoothly toward the bullseye, letting the axe rotate once before it hits.
- Let it stick to count. Only an axe that sticks in the board scores. If it bounces out or falls before you walk up, it counts as a zero for that throw.
- Retrieve safely between rounds. Wait until every thrower in the lane has thrown and the lane is confirmed clear, then walk up together to pull axes and read the scores. Never retrieve while anyone is still throwing.
- Rotate throws. Players take turns, typically throwing the same number of axes per round (often 5 throws per round, repeated over several rounds). Total up the points to find the winner.
Set it up
Stand about 12 to 15 ft from the target face (a common league distance is roughly 12 ft for a one-handed throw). The target board is typically around 4 ft tall by 2 ft wide, with a bullseye of five concentric rings and two small clutch dots in the upper corners. Mount the center of the bullseye at about shoulder-to-eye height with a solid backstop behind it.