Several blocks south of the UC Berkeley campus, a party is taking place inside an inconspicuous Telegraph Avenue storefront. Despite the venue’s proximity to the university, it’s tomahawk axes, not beer pong, that have captured the guests’ attention.

When I first heard about the growing trend of axe parties, I didn’t understand the appeal. Standing in a crowded room surrounded by dueling body sprays? Um, no thanks. Turns out axe parties actually involve throwing sharp objects and channeling your inner Katniss Everdeen.

With my interest piqued, I headed to AxeVentures, one of four Bay Area venues offering urban axe-throwing in a warehouse-type atmosphere. Although the facility appears to be small on the outside, it features high ceilings and chain-link fences that surround seven lanes. Guests of all ages can book sessions up to 90 minutes in length, although those under the age of 18 require parental permission.

On a Sunday afternoon, the venue is full. A group of men have a competition going on at a lane in the back; a family takes up one area; and several couples compete against each other in the front lanes.

Although traditional axe-throwing dates back to the Viking era, the trend of urban axe-throwing is relatively new and first gained popularity in 2014, when the Canadian-based Bad Axe Throwing opened its first facility in Burlington, Ontario. In 2016, Bad Axe Throwing expanded to the U.S. and opened a club in Chicago. Since then, the chain has rapidly grown to 35 locations, including the Bay Area’s first facility, which opened in 2017 in Daly City. Other urban axe-throwing companies, such as AxeVentures, which has four locations, including a Berkeley facility, have also found success hosting axe parties.

Bianca Hampton, manager of Berkeley’s AxeVentures, greets me when I arrive and explains how the facility, which opened in March, has become a popular venue for corporate team events, birthdays, family gatherings, couples’ nights out, bachelor/bachelorette parties, and more. Guests use a tomahawk axe and, similar to how they’d use darts, aim at a circular target. Points are awarded on the basis of where the axe lands in relation to the bull’s-eye.

Some guests take their Zen to the next level by bringing in personalized targets featuring photos of exes, former bosses, politicians, and bleeding zombies.

While it might sound dangerous, Hampton assures me that safety is a priority. Before beginning, guests must sign a waiver and undergo brief lessons on protection and proper throwing techniques. All participants are required to wear closed-toe shoes, and those who aren’t throwing must stand to the side of the throwing lane, which is covered with chain-link fencing. After receiving instructions, guests can proceed to try to hit the wooden bull’s-eye or play games such as cornhole, giant Jenga, or Connect Four.

In addition to her role as manager, Hampton takes on the role of axe coach, offering a 15-minute training session that demonstrates the proper technique for throwing a tomahawk axe. The first rule, she said, is to “respect the axe.” I’ve never thrown an axe before, so Hampton shows me the proper stance and how to grasp the shaft of the axe with two hands and hold it at eye level. She brings the axe back and throws it skillfully. It lands on the target with a satisfying thud.

Then it’s my turn.

I take the axe from Hampton and throw it as instructed. It hits the wood, then falls to the floor. I’m disappointed, but she praises my first effort and reminds me to step forward and remember to follow through with the axe. I take her advice, and on the second throw, I hit the target. It’s not a bull’s-eye hit, but it’s close, and I feel a rush of adrenaline.

Although axe-throwing has been compared to both bowling and darts, it feels different. Something about throwing a tomahawk through the air brings out your primal badass while also eliciting a feeling of accomplishment. Apparently, I’m not the only one who feels this way. Hampton says that while customers appreciate the competitive aspect of axe-throwing, they also like the less tangible features of the sport.

“Guests often tell us they enjoy the stress relief axe-throwing offers,” Hampton says. “And when they finally land a bull’s-eye, they find it very satisfying.”

Some guests take their Zen to the next level by bringing in personalized targets featuring photos of exes, former bosses, politicians, bleeding zombies, and others with whom they have an “axe to grind.”

“We hear a lot of great stories,” Hampton admits.

In addition to the calming effects of throwing an axe, the sport has been proven to be addictive. Hampton says most of AxeVentures’ guests are repeat clients, and celebrities such as Jason Momoa, Jimmy Fallon, Serena Williams, and Jennifer Garner are all fans of the sport and have demonstrated their axe-throwing prowess on social media.

Sam Brooks of Mountain View came to AxeVentures after hearing a friend from Milwaukee rave about the sport. Although Brooks had visited shooting ranges in the past, she found that learning how to properly throw an axe is far more challenging.

“It’s definitely harder than it looks,” Brooks says. “But it gets easier with practice, and it definitely provides camaraderie and reduces tension.”

Hampton acknowledges that it typically takes guests several throws before they get into the groove of axe-throwing, but that no one has ever left the facility unable to throw an axe.

“We’ll have families or friends come in and bring their own food and drinks,” Hampton says. “With seven lanes, we’re a smaller facility, and we offer a more intimate setting for both corporate groups and friends who are seeking a fun outing.”

The growing trend of axe-throwing isn’t limited to facilities such as AxeVentures and Bad Axe. The craze has also spread to bars, restaurants, and other venues. In Walnut Creek, Sauced BBQ and Spirits added three axe-throwing lanes to their existing restaurant in September, and Eli Humel, one of the axe coaches, says guests are intrigued by the opportunity to try a new sport.

“There’s a specific strategy to throwing an axe,” Humel says. “Contrary to sports that require strength and power, axe-throwing is more about form, movement, and control.”

Humel works with guests on how to lock their grip, aim, and release before they enter one of the three lanes to try their newfound skills with friends. Most guests have never thrown an axe before, and Humel says you don’t have to be a pro to do well. But for those who want to turn the hobby into a livelihood, there’s the World Axe Throwing Championships, which will take place December 6–8 in Phoenix, Arizona, and air on ESPN.

While I don’t anticipate ever throwing axes competitively, I definitely plan to book another axe outing with friends. This time, we plan to try our luck with a bleeding-zombie target. After all, you can never be too prepared for an apocalypse, right?

Where to Go

AxeVentures Axe Throwing, 2566 Telegraph Avenue, Suite D, Berkeley — (510) 529–4427. Hours and prices vary. Reserve online.

Bad Axe Throwing, 30 Hill Street, Daly City — (844) 818–0999. Hours are Monday–Thursday, 9 a.m.–5 p.m., and Friday–Sunday, 12–11 p.m. For parties, the cost is $30 person; for walk-ins, $20 a person; for leagues, $120 for an eight-week session.

Limitless Axes & Ales is set to open later this year in Pleasanton in the Valley Plaza shopping center at 1809 Santa Rita Road. The new axe-throwing facility will feature seven lanes and beer, food, and wine service. (For updates, follow Limitless Axes & Ales on Facebook.)

Winchester Mystery House Stables, 525 S. Winchester Blvd., San Jose — (408) 247–2000. Open 9 a.m.–4 p.m. daily.