- Trendy ax-throwing bars are becoming all the rage in major cities around the US, including New York, Philadelphia, and Washington, DC.
- "It's a really good release — it's like cheap therapy," Ginger Flesher-Sonnier, founder of Kick Axe Throwing, told Business Insider.
- I visited a Kick Axe Throwing location in Brooklyn, New York, and saw why urban millennials can't get enough of this cathartic activity.
- Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.
Never since "The Shining" have axes had so much time in the spotlight.
In cities around the nation, ax-throwing bars are opening their doors to stressed-out millennials seeking a night of release and friendly competition.
On a recent evening at Kick Axe Throwing in Brooklyn, New York, groups of eager ax-throwers sipped craft beer and waited for their time in the ring, where they would compete in a series of games like "Knockout" and "21."
Since the venue opened in December 2017, it has attracted a steady stream of city dwellers looking to blow off steam by heaving a metal ax at a fixed wooden target. In recent years, ax-throwing has grown so popular that the World Axe Throwing League was formed in 2017 to organize international competitions that are now broadcast on ESPN. At the same time, retailers like Nordstrom are selling out of artisan axes.
"People in cities are always hungry for experiences," said Ginger Flesher-Sonnier, founder and CEO of The Ginger Companies, which operates Kick Axe. "Everybody's always looking for a unique night out."
I visited Kick Axe Throwing on a recent weekend with two friends, and while I learned ax-throwing is not my true calling, I found it to be a uniquely entertaining way to spend an evening. At times, I'd even describe the experience as freeing.
"It's a really good release," Flesher-Sonnier said. "It's like cheap therapy."
Here's what it was like:
SEE ALSO: We went to an urban ax-throwing class – where you sling a 14-inch ax at a wooden target
Kick Axe Throwing is in Gowanus, an industrial neighborhood in Brooklyn, New York.
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In addition to Brooklyn, Kick Axe Throwing has a venue in Philadelphia and says it will be opening a location in Washington, DC, this February.
Although Kick Axe is located on an unassuming street, it's hard to miss the statue outside.
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Flesher-Sonnier, a retired math teacher, said she started The Ginger Companies — which also operates an escape room brand and activities like "ice-less" curling — because she saw an opportunity to capitalize on demand for team-building experiences.
"I love providing experiences for people," she said. "I started with the escape rooms and tried to make them a lot more upscale and palatable for corporations to come and do their team building."
Once inside, we were asked to check in at the front desk and sign a liability waver. While Flesher-Sonnier said nobody has ever been hurt at Kick Axe, she said "insurance is not cheap."
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Individuals can throw for 1 hour and 15 minutes for $35. (Disclosure: My session at Kick Axe Throwing was comped by the company.)
As we waited, we stopped by the bar, which was stocked with an impressive array of craft beers and cocktails as well as snacks.
![](http://static4.businessinsider.com/image/5e271d6224306a52825d2e78-400-300/as-we-waited-we-stopped-by-the-bar-which-was-stocked-with-an-impressive-array-of-craft-beers-and-cocktails-as-well-as-snacks.jpg)
When asked about safety concerns regarding mixing ax-throwing with alcohol, Flesher-Sonnier said staff members are trained to keep an eye on intoxication levels and instructed to eject people if they've had too much to drink.
"We have control measures in place, and most people are — honestly — extremely understanding," she said. "We've had one incident where somebody got angry that we flagged them, but 99% of the time if we do, even their friends are, like, 'Oh, yeah dude, you're too drunk. Stop throwing.'"
The space is cozy and has a log-cabin vibe.
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There was even a digital fireplace.
![](http://static4.businessinsider.com/image/5e271d6262fa81527b3cb41a-400-300/there-was-even-a-digital-fireplace.jpg)
For those less inclined toward ax throwing, Kick Axe also has board games. I even spotted a Ouija board if you're looking to get spooky.
![](http://static3.businessinsider.com/image/5e271d6424306a5299089b24-400-300/for-those-less-inclined-toward-ax-throwing-kick-axe-also-has-board-games-i-even-spotted-a-ouija-board-if-youre-looking-to-get-spooky.jpg)
And, of course, how else would you attract young throwers without an Instagram-friendly photo booth?
![](http://static3.businessinsider.com/image/5e271d6462fa8152b52830f2-400-300/and-of-course-how-else-would-you-attract-young-throwers-without-an-instagram-friendly-photo-booth.jpg)
My friend Rayza decided to give it a go, but struggled a bit with the accoutrements.
![](http://static6.businessinsider.com/image/5e27215a24306a56fb0a4403-400-300/my-friend-rayza-decided-to-give-it-a-go-but-struggled-a-bit-with-the-accoutrements.jpg)
Once our name was called, we made our way to the targets at the back of the bar.
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Small groups of strangers are paired together to make more efficient use of the boards and to foster a community feel, a manager told me.
![](http://static6.businessinsider.com/image/5e271d6562fa8152ac6fcd96-400-300/small-groups-of-strangers-are-paired-together-to-make-more-efficient-use-of-the-boards-and-to-foster-a-community-feel-a-manager-told-me.jpg)
My friends Rayza, Dana, and I were paired with a small group visiting from Long Island.
Once we reached our target, we met Jessika, who walked us through safety protocols.
![](http://static3.businessinsider.com/image/5e27214062fa8156d316e815-400-300/once-we-reached-our-target-we-met-jessika-who-walked-us-through-safety-protocols.jpg)
"We do focus heavily on training our people," Flesher-Sonnier said. "We look more for quick learners, people who are actors or have worked in customer service before so that they're very engaging and active with our guests."
These rules are also posted on the wall.
![](http://static1.businessinsider.com/image/5e271d6224306a5299089b22-400-300/these-rules-are-also-posted-on-the-wall.jpg)
While the axes certainly have heft, they were much lighter and duller than I expected. Flesher-Sonnier said Kick Axe uses "camp hatchets" for safety purposes.
![](http://static4.businessinsider.com/image/5e271d65b6d52d51e51af516-400-300/while-the-axes-certainly-have-heft-they-were-much-lighter-and-duller-than-i-expected-flesher-sonnier-said-kick-axe-uses-camp-hatchets-for-safety-purposes.jpg)
Still, Jessika said you definitely don't want to get hit by one of these bad boys. Throwers are instructed to stand behind the red line at all times, and to wait until the other person is done throwing to collectively pick up their axes.
![](http://static4.businessinsider.com/image/5e271d6324306a52825d2e79-400-300/still-jessika-said-you-definitely-dont-want-to-get-hit-by-one-of-these-bad-boys-throwers-are-instructed-to-stand-behind-the-red-line-at-all-times-and-to-wait-until-the-other-person-is-done-throwing-to-collectively-pick-up-their-axes.jpg)
Scoring works similarly to darts and archery. A bullseye is worth five points, and each concentric circle radiating outward from the center is worth four, three, two, and one point, respectively.
![](http://static6.businessinsider.com/image/5e271d64b6d52d51e51af514-400-300/scoring-works-similarly-to-darts-and-archery-a-bullseye-is-worth-five-points-and-each-concentric-circle-radiating-outward-from-the-center-is-worth-four-three-two-and-one-point-respectively.jpg)
The small dots are worth seven points and can be had only if the thrower calls out for a "ringer" and successfully hits it.
![](http://static4.businessinsider.com/image/5e271d63b6d52d51bf5fdf07-400-300/the-small-dots-are-worth-seven-points-and-can-be-had-only-if-the-thrower-calls-out-for-a-ringer-and-successfully-hits-it.jpg)
The first 15 minutes were dedicated to learning proper form and how to throw.
![](http://static1.businessinsider.com/image/5e271d6324306a528e485898-400-300/the-first-15-minutes-were-dedicated-to-learning-proper-form-and-how-to-throw.jpg)
Rayza was a natural.
![](http://static6.businessinsider.com/image/5e271d6524306a529f618154-400-300/rayza-was-a-natural.jpg)
I was less so.
![](http://static6.businessinsider.com/image/5e271d6562fa8152b0216ee4-400-300/i-was-less-so.jpg)
I needed some hands-on assistance, which Jessika was happy to oblige.
![](http://static3.businessinsider.com/image/5e271d6524306a52a35014c3-400-300/i-needed-some-hands-on-assistance-which-jessika-was-happy-to-oblige.jpg)
Getting the thrust right was tricky.
![](http://static5.businessinsider.com/image/5e271d63b6d52d51ee2161a2-400-300/getting-the-thrust-right-was-tricky.jpg)
Action shot.
![](http://static4.businessinsider.com/image/5e271d6362fa8152b0216ee2-400-300/action-shot.jpg)
Once everybody felt more or less comfortable behind the ax, it was time for the games to begin.
![](http://static1.businessinsider.com/image/5e271d65b6d52d51ec104ed6-400-300/once-everybody-felt-more-or-less-comfortable-behind-the-ax-it-was-time-for-the-games-to-begin.jpg)
We divided into teams and started our first game, in which the first to 50 points wins.
![](http://static6.businessinsider.com/image/5e271d65b6d52d51bf5fdf09-400-300/we-divided-into-teams-and-started-our-first-game-in-which-the-first-to-50-points-wins.jpg)
Afterward, we played "21" and "Knockout."
The tension was high among our Long Island competitors.
![](http://static1.businessinsider.com/image/5e2721b362fa8157307d7498-400-300/the-tension-was-high-among-our-long-island-competitors.jpg)
I'm proud to report I got exactly one bullseye during the 1 hour and 15 minute.
![](http://static4.businessinsider.com/image/5e271e11b6d52d52d100d7f5-400-300/im-proud-to-report-i-got-exactly-one-bullseye-during-the-1-hour-and-15-minute.jpg)
Not to brag, but our team won all three games.
![](http://static2.businessinsider.com/image/5e271ef062fa8154627155fa-400-300/not-to-brag-but-our-team-won-all-three-games.jpg)
While my friends and I aren't likely to become regular urban ax-throwers, we were glad to say we had the experience.
![](http://static3.businessinsider.com/image/5e271d6324306a5299089b23-400-300/while-my-friends-and-i-arent-likely-to-become-regular-urban-ax-throwers-we-were-glad-to-say-we-had-the-experience.jpg)
We left victorious, making room for the next round to grab their axes.
![](http://static2.businessinsider.com/image/5e271d64b6d52d51e51af515-400-300/we-left-victorious-making-room-for-the-next-round-to-grab-their-axes.jpg)