Standard axe throwing sessions at Axeperience run 60 minutes. That’s enough time to learn the technique, play through a full series of games, and have a final tournament that crowns a group winner — without losing energy or running out of momentum. Below is a complete breakdown of what happens in those 60 minutes, plus answers to the common follow-up questions: can you extend, what counts as throwing time, and how to plan the rest of your day around the session.
The Standard 60-Minute Session — Minute by Minute
Sessions are designed to maximise the actual throwing time within the 60-minute slot. Here’s how the time typically breaks down:
Minutes 0-10: Safety Briefing and Setup
Your instructor takes the group through the safety procedures, lane rules, and demonstrates the throwing technique. Everyone gets familiar with the axe, the target, and the standing position. This is short and intentionally brisk — too long here and you lose the energy of the group.
Minutes 10-20: Practice Throws
Everyone gets multiple practice throws under the instructor’s coaching. This is where individual technique gets refined and the nervous throwers (there’s always a few) get past their first apprehensions. By the end of this phase, almost everyone in the group has hit the target at least once.
Minutes 20-40: Games and Skill-Building
The middle of the session moves through a series of games — Around the World, 21, Cricket, and similar formats. These add variety, build skill, and create the moments people end up talking about afterwards (the trick shot, the close miss, the unexpected bullseye).
If you haven’t been before, our guide on what to wear axe throwing covers the practical kit considerations that maximise comfort across a 60-minute session.
Minutes 40-55: Tournament
The last block is structured as a tournament — single elimination, head-to-head matchups, building toward a final round. By this point everyone in the group has warmed up and is throwing competitively. The energy of this phase is what people remember most.
Minutes 55-60: Crowning the Winner
The final two throwers face off. The group surrounds the lane. Whoever wins the final round gets the unofficial title (and at the VIP packages, a physical trophy). This last five minutes is the emotional peak of the session.
Total Active Throwing Time
In a standard 60-minute session, each individual gets roughly 15-25 actual throws across all phases. That number varies depending on group size — smaller groups (4-6 people) get more throws per person; larger groups (12+) get fewer but spend more time watching others, which has its own appeal.
For broader context on the sport itself, the Wikipedia article on competitive axe throwing covers its origins as a lumberjack pastime through to its current World Axe Throwing League circuit.
Can You Extend a Session?
Yes, in most cases. Lane availability permitting, you can book a 90-minute or 120-minute session at the time of booking. Extended sessions are particularly popular for:
- Larger groups (15+) where 60 minutes leaves people wanting more throws per person
- Corporate team building events combined with food and drinks
- Birthday parties looking to extend the session with bar snacks and prosecco
- Groups wanting a more relaxed, less rushed pace through the games
Extended sessions are bookable through our booking page when you select your date. Pricing scales with the time slot — typically £45-£55pp for 90 minutes.
How Does Session Length Compare to Other Activities?
Worth knowing if you’re picking between options for an evening or afternoon:
Axe throwing: 60 minutes (active, structured, tournament finish)
Escape rooms: 60 minutes (intense, problem-solving focused, pass/fail outcome)
Bowling: 90-120 minutes (relaxed pace, longer hangout time)
Cocktail making: 90 minutes (collaborative, takeaway product)
Karaoke booth: 60-120 minutes (variable energy, depends on group)
For a deeper look at how axe throwing compares to other group activities, our axe throwing vs escape rooms comparison covers what each format actually delivers in terms of group dynamics.
Planning Your Day Around the Session
The 60-minute window is intentionally compact — it leaves room for the rest of your evening or afternoon. Here’s how groups typically structure the surrounding time:
Stag Dos and Hen Parties
Most stag and hen groups arrive 15-20 minutes before their session for the safety briefing prep, throw for 60 minutes, then move on to dinner or drinks at a venue 5-10 minutes away. The total “axe throwing slot” of the day is typically 90 minutes door-to-door.
Detailed planning guidance for both stag and hen events lives on our stag do page and our hen do page, with full timeline recommendations.
Birthday Parties
Birthday groups typically book a 6 PM or 7 PM session followed by an 8 PM dinner reservation nearby. The energy of the session carries straight into dinner conversation.
Our birthday parties page has a detailed breakdown of how to plan the evening around your axe throwing slot.
Corporate Groups
Corporate teams usually book afternoon sessions (3 PM or 4 PM) followed by drinks at the venue’s bar or a pre-booked restaurant. Some groups extend to 90 minutes if they have larger numbers.
For context on how seriously the sport has been taken in recent years, BBC’s coverage of axe throwing’s rise as a competitive sport covers the leagues and championships that now exist worldwide.
Frequently Asked Questions — Session Length
Is 60 minutes long enough for a group of 10+ people?
Yes. Sessions are paced specifically for groups, and our instructors manage rotation so everyone gets meaningful throwing time. Larger groups (15+) sometimes prefer extending to 90 minutes for a more relaxed pace.
Can we shorten a session if we’re tight on time?
60 minutes is the minimum we offer — anything shorter compromises the safety briefing or skips the tournament finish, which is the bit everyone remembers. We don’t recommend rushing it.
How early should we arrive before our session?
10-15 minutes early is enough. Get your bearings, use the toilets, settle in. Beyond that, the session itself is structured to use every minute well.
Can different group members arrive at different times?
Latecomers can join up to 15 minutes into the session if they’ve missed the safety briefing — beyond that, they can watch from the lane but won’t be cleared to throw. Best to plan a meeting point 30 minutes before the session start.
Book Your Session
60-minute sessions from £30pp off-peak. Extensions to 90 or 120 minutes available subject to lane availability. Live booking, London and Birmingham — book your session at axeperience.co.uk/booking/.
