Has great potential – thank goodness they ditched those terrible boards!

Review of Down Range Axe Throwing, Gosport, UK

Down Range axe throwing opened in late 2023 and were still developing some new ideas when we visited, so my review is limited to saying there is potential for more fun in future. However, the basic package was fine. We had an hour with a choice of 3 decent WATL axes (albeit the shortest hatchets). They also offer knives and tomahawks for a bit of variety.

They had made good use of an old shop (just off the Gosport high st), with six lanes out the back, and a separate reception with knife throwing area as you enter. The axe throwing area was just about big enough for three of us to sit/stand behind the thrower. I can imagine it is fairly jammed with all the lanes in operation, although it would suit a group booking the whole venue.

The ceiling height was a touch low. Our instructor did do a demo a two-handed throw encouraging us to “stick our bums out” for “more power”, but I think that also helped keep the axe below the beam! It was fine for one-handed. The instruction was adequate and concise. The instructor was very friendly and did keep an eye on us, offering the odd encouraging word or advice, but didn’t overstay his welcome.

The main negative point was the state of the boards, which I see from their social media have now been replaced with end-grain targets. That should have improved them, because they were pretty terrible on the day we visited. Plank boards are always a bit hit and miss (in my view), but they can be reasonable if taken care of and changed regularly. Our target was very splintered, especially around the bull. It wasn’t impossible to stick, but there were far more drops than I would normally expect.

They had a painted, basic circular target. It was their own design, but similar to the old WATL style with two ‘kill shots’ at top left/right. We spent most of the time going for the kill shots as there was more solid wood there. It was a good challenge to adapt our throwing to the boards, but it would have been more enjoyable if they were better quality.

Boards aside, the axe throwing experience was fine and very reasonably priced. It’s good to see new venues starting up in the UK and it will be interesting to see how this one develops.

Disclaimer: “The Axe Inspector” receives no payment or benefit of any kind from either TheAxeThrower.com or from the venue, for this review. The review is the subjective opinion of one person (albeit as objective as possible) and we encourage throwers to try out the venue to make their own mind up.