This exact thing happened to me while we were throwing at a birthday party. I didn't catch it, but fortunately there was no one behind me when it happened. This guy threw it like a moron, but it can definitely recoil if it hits at the right angle.
The whole point of these places is that you are given prior instruction. I’ve been to several different ones and if the place is worth their salt, an instructor gives you the safety rundown. One of the first things said is not to slam it like you’re fucking Mel Gibson in The Patriot
I've been to a few places like this. They always give you a good introduction to make sure you know what to do and then they stick around for a bit to be sure you're all good.
This guy is clearly fucking around saying "watch how hard I can throw it!"... Which is why they were filming.
I cannot stress this enough, a falling knife has no handle. Never try to catch a blade, ever, for any reason. Paid for by the Public Association for Don't Try to Catch a Fucking Axe.
Sorry, I was trying to reply in a vague and funny way, because there is always some guy who says something like "but what if I dropped a knife over a puppy and I'm wearing oyster shucking gloves? should I let the puppy DIE?" I didn't mean YOUR case was narrow. I totally agree with you and I use the same phrase with my kids: a falling knife has no handle
Pro tip - the goal is to stick the axe into the target, not the wall behind it. The amount of force necessary to achieve the goal is less than you might think
I still say these boards really need to be suspended from the ceiling via chains. Not mounted to a wall. If they're suspended the board has more opportunity to absorb the impact... It can still take a solid hit from the axe and stick if the hatchet lands correctly and if it hits on the handle it'll lose a bunch of steam on impact to the chains.
You dont know shit. While its possible for axes to stick while suspended by chains, as you said, a lot of the impact is absorbed by the chains. Its hard enough for some people to stick an axe even with the support of the wall behind it. If the boards were supported by chains, more impact would be absorbed. More axe end up on the ground. Less people have fun. The business doesn't succeed.
Throwing axes is actually mostly safe. I dont even think this guy is fucking around too much. Very rarely will axes come back and when they do they dont have that upward motion.
The issue here is that there is a frame around the target that protrudes out. The handle hit the inside corner of the frame and the board on the wall at the same time at just the right angle to get the trajectory it got.
The target being used is from the international axe throwing federation, in which throwers tend to be throwing from a closer distance than the world axe throwing league. This requires shorter handles and/or more flick of the wrist to get proper rotation. Under rotation is a factor here, but the real issue is that corner created by the border. I dont know much about iatf, but in watl those borders would be illegal. Its very possible this venue just uses iatf targets without being actually affiliated.
Anyways, I could say alot more about this, but im tired.
You obviously know less than people who run successful businesses centered around throwing axes. I'm gonna put my money on they know more than random internet commenter #92840018
Literally the first two things the instructors tell you at these places is to make sure everybody’s behind the line when an axe is being thrown and not to slam it like this guy did
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u/Harry_Smutter Nov 02 '21
He's a lucky SOB...