Battle Axe Throw Down

Even though I have lived in Toronto for just over 9 years now, this city never ceases to amaze me. Recently, a couple of my friends decided to organize an axe throwing tournament for their joint birthday celebration.  Yes, that is correct - axe throwing tournament.  But, where can you do this you ask?  Downtown Toronto, of course!

Backyard Axe Throwing League Entrance

Location
The Backyard Axe Throwing League (B.A.T.L.) has two locations in Toronto – 213 Sterling Road (Junction Area near Bloor & Lansdowne) and 33 Villiers Street (off Cherry Street about 3 blocks North of Polson Pier.)  B.A.T.L. has been around for a few years, but the Villiers Street site was just opened in December 2013 and is where we had our tournament.

Map location of Toronto's Battle Axe Throwing League

Venue
The Villiers Street site has 4 areas with 4 throwing lanes each in a remodeled industry complex.  For safety reasons, steel netting surrounds all the throwing lanes to protect innocent bystanders from serious injury caused by wild throws or ricochets.  The venue does not have a liquor license to serve alcohol, but they do allow a B.Y.O.B. (Bring Your Own Booze) policy.  No hard liquor or glasses – cans of beer or coolers are acceptable.

Taking some warm up throws

Costs
Each participant must pay $40 CDN to take part in B.A.T.L.  Private events must at least have a minimum of 12 people and can last about 3 hours.  Not a bad price when you think about it!

Equipment
The only equipment that is required for axe throwing are closed toe shoes, a small hatchet axe, and a longer battle-axe for tie breakers.

Battle of the Sexes at B.A.T.L. Toronto

Tournament Rules
Over the course of the 3 hours, your group will take part in a round robin playoff tournament to decide rankings for the playoffs.  Each match is a “Best of 3” series and each player gets five throws each.

At the end of the throwing lane is a wooden target that you are trying to aim at and scoring is easy to calculate:

• 7 points for either of the green circles at the top right & top left corners
• 5 points for a Bull's Eye
• 3 points for any landings between the Bull's Eye & inner blue rings
• 1 point for any landings between the inner blue ring and outer red ring

If an axe lands on a line and it is difficult to decide where on the target you have scored, the ref can bring out a measuring tape device to calculate by the millimetre where you are closest.

Bull's Eye gets you 5 points

The axe must also stay on the board to count.  There were a few times where I had the axe land on the board only to fall off after 3 – 4 seconds.  You get no points for that.

At the end of four throws, whomever is leading in point must throw first.  Only on the fifth throw can players attempt a clutch shot - an attempt to land the axe on either of the green dots for 7 points.  You must say "clutch" so your opponent and the referee know you are attempting to land the axe on either green dot - similar to calling your shot on the 8 ball in a game of billiards.

Wes admiring his winning throw

If there is a tie after five throws, then each player must take turns throwing battle axes at the targets. If there is a tie after five throws, then each player must take turns throwing battle axes at the targets. Ideally, you are aiming to hit the target to get points, but due to the size and difficulty in throwing these larger axes, it usually comes down to whoever is able to hit the wooden board first.

During the round robin stage, each player will have three rounds regardless if someone loses the first two.  This is to help keep track of scores for when a tie breaker is needed to decide see rankings for the playoffs.  Playoffs are a "Best of 3" series of matches with single elimination.

Axe throwing makes us intense!

While I ended up winning my first match, I lost my next three and was knocked out in the first round of the playoffs.  Despite my poor performance, good times were had by all and my friend, Wes, ended up winning the tournament.  For more information on how to book a group event at B.A.T.L. or how you can join their weeknight leagues, please fee free to contact them on their website here.