Have you noticed how business team-building events are getting more creative? Organizing a pool party at the local pub won’t cut it anymore. Companies are looking for more innovative team-building opportunities.
Why? Well, standard team-building activities are boring and their results have proven that they don’t bring the team closer together. Have you ever sat through a corporate team-building event that involved trust falls, awkward icebreakers, and endless PowerPoint slides? No wonder companies are desperately seeking something more exciting.
What about axe throwing? Well, you might think that this is too extreme, but it is a big trend at the moment for a reason. It involves you, your coworkers, a wall of wooden targets, and a handful of axes.
It might sound too extreme, but this is the best thing that your company needs.
Let’s find out why axe throwing is a popular team-building activity at the moment.
Axe Throwing Feels Wild But Structured
You might think, “Wow, axes? Is it a bit extreme?” Yes, there are axes involved, but there is a target on the wall, and no, it is not just stressed-out teams that throw axes at one another.
Axes-throwing venues are professional operations, so it’s not like your life is in danger. Yes, there is risk, but that risk excites people more. Most events start with a short training season, safety briefing, and one-on-one coaching.
Then, once everyone is comfortable, the games begin. You can organize point-based matches, friendly tournaments, or team challenges.
This is an event that balances excitement and safety, which is why it is so popular at the moment.
But the best thing about axe-throwing team-building events is that nobody knows how to do it. It is rare to see people skilled at throwing axes, which means that you won’t embarrass yourself when you completely miss the target or the axe bounces off the target.
It Breaks Down Social Barriers Fast
Let’s be honest, most coworkers are polite acquaintances who smile at each other in elevators or trade GIFs in Slack, but we need something that can break that routine and bring people closer together. Something different than project deadlines and passive-aggressive emails.
Surprisingly, throwing axes does the trick. Something is lining up next to your boss, or a coworker that you don’t like really much, with a lethal weapon like an axe. They are scared. All jokes aside, it is a fun activity where nobody knows what to do or what to expect, so be prepared for some laughs.
And it’s inclusive. You don’t need to be athletic, outdoorsy, or even particularly coordinated. You just need to give it a shot. That creates an energy that’s more genuine than forced “team bonding” games ever could.
It Offers a Reset
We live in an always-on work culture. Even team lunches and off-site meetings often come with side conversations about metrics, performance, or Q4 goals. Axe throwing is refreshingly different.
It requires focus and movement. You step up, plant your feet, breathe, and throw. It’s a full-body activity that pulls you out of email mode and into something much more physical. The repetition becomes meditative. And when that axe lands with a satisfying thunk, there’s a little rush of adrenaline that makes you forget, just for a moment, about your inbox.
It’s not just fun, it’s therapeutic.
Yes, getting your team into a casino and playing a blackjack game can also be fun and break boundaries, especially for those who enjoy a mental challenge. Blackjack isn’t purely about luck; it’s a fast-paced, strategic game that engages the brain. It encourages quick thinking, probability assessment, and sometimes, a healthy bit of team banter around the table. Players must weigh risks, read cues, and make decisions under pressure — skills not unlike those used in business.
But despite its appeal, blackjack tends to be a familiar comfort zone. Most coworkers who enjoy casino games are likely already playing blackjack together after hours or during trips, so it may not offer the same sense of novelty or excitement. Plus, unlike axe throwing, blackjack keeps you seated and mentally wired in; it doesn’t give that full-body break many people crave after a long workday.
So while both activities are engaging in their own way, axe throwing offers a more unexpected, energizing reset that breaks routine, not just from work, but from the usual ways we try to unwind.
It Creates Real, Memorable Moments
Let’s say you go mini-golfing or have dinner at a chain restaurant for your company event. You’ll have a nice time, sure. But in six months, will anyone be talking about it?
Now imagine your coworker, who’s usually quiet and analytical, nails a bullseye on their third try and goes full Viking victory pose. That’s a memory. That’s a photo for the office Slack channel. That’s something people talk about at the next all-hands meeting with genuine excitement.
It’s not just about bonding. It’s about building a shared experience that lives longer than the leftovers in the breakroom fridge.
It Fits Every Kind of Company Culture
Whether your company leans startup-casual or corporate-conservative, axe throwing can work. Many venues offer private bookings, event customization, and even food and drink packages that allow you to shape the vibe.
Startups use it as a way to reward small teams for big wins. Larger firms use it to shake up cross-department communication and reduce silos. Remote-first companies book axe throwing nights during quarterly meetups or retreats to give employees face-to-face interaction that’s actually fun (and not just a glorified meeting in a hotel lobby).
There’s no dress code, no awkward speeches, and no boring buffet food unless you want it.
It’s Surprisingly Affordable and Easy to Organize
You’d think renting out an axe-throwing venue for 20+ people would be expensive and complicated. But many cities now have multiple facilities competing for bookings, so the pricing is often competitive, and packages are straightforward. Some even include catering, trophies, team shirts, or mobile lanes that come to your office or retreat location.
No permits, no hauling gear, no complex logistics. Just a reservation and a little courage.
So, what are you waiting for? Book your axe-throwing team building appointment now.
