The Great Target Debate. Will Planks or End-Grain Win Out?
This post explore both sides of a debate that creates a lot of consternation – planks or end-grain target?
Target construction often creates a lot of debate in contemporary axe throwing. As ever, this Bury the Hatchet feature doesn’t take sides, but simply present the facts about the two options used – planks or end-grain.
Planks
Planks of soft wood typically 4 foot long by 10 inches wide(1.2m x 25cm), arranged in vertical strips to form a 4x4ft target. Planks are at least 1.5 inches (4cm) deep and screwed on to a supporting back board.
End-grain
Either a whole tree round, or multiple soft wood blocks (4×4 inches or larger) assembled together to form a target. The end of the grain of the wood is presented to the thrower. The rounds/blocks are about 4-6 inches (10-15cm) deep.
In Favour of End-Grain Targets
End-grain targets are used indoors and outdoors for axe throwing.
Tree rounds, more often used for outdoor throwing, last an extremely long time, and most importantly, the round remains perfectly “stick-able” until the end, as it is gradually chipped away by axe strikes. Constructed end-grain targets also last a long time. Some areas of the end-grain board (eg around a bullseye) may wear quicker than other areas (as they are made of separate blocks) and need replacing, but they still last many months with regular use.
As the axe hits the end-grain of the wood, it sticks more easily because the end-grain gives little resistance. It doesn’t matter whether the blade is vertical, horizontal or anything in between (as long as the axe hits at the right point of the rotation with the blade on the wood, of course). A beginner or occasional axe thrower will be able to stick the axe far more often, once they have established a basic throw.
Plank advocates often cite that they need to be harder to stick to be “competition standard”, which is accepting that planks are harder to stick. It doesn’t really make much sense to pick a product that is difficult to do the very thing you want, particularly for beginners and ad hoc throwers.
Wood doesn’t need to be particularly expensive for an end-grain target, as long as it is a soft wood. Tree rounds can sometimes be obtained from forestry professionals for a small amount. They may even be free, as they can be cut from trees with less commercial value, eg Poplar. End-grain blocks are created from cheap sawn soft wood. Some people will cut up standard fence posts to create the blocks, which are mass produced and therefore cheaper still (although, as they are pressure treated they may be more difficult to dispose of after use). Commercial soft wood is cheap and easy to obtain as end-grain blocks.
In contrast, plank targets need to be replaced regularly (within hours for sustained use). Although cheap at outset, the amount of wood used makes it a very expensive way to build a target, and a lot of waste wood is created, which needs to be stored and disposed of.
End-grain targets (rounds) are used as standard for outdoor axe throwing tournaments, including world championships. They are also compliant with the regulations for big indoor tournaments, eg with IATF and WATL.
In Favour of Plank Targets
Planks provide a consistent surface for throwing, particularly for competitions. Planks can be switched easily and quickly once a specific plank is damaged. During a competition, damaged planks can be unscrewed, removed, and replaced with a fresh plank within minutes, ensuring a fair match for all competitors. End-grain targets tend to be more uneven than planks, so it is also difficult to mark a target on them directly.
The largest indoor axe throwing tournaments, IATF and WATL, all use planks as standard. Any thrower who wants to compete at the highest level in these organisations would be at a disadvantage if they didn’t practise on plank targets. End-grain targets are generally easier to stick than planks, which means they don’t suit hard core indoor competitors who want the challenge of planks.
For those who want to create their own target at home, it can be easy and cheap to screw a few locally sourced planks together. It may even be possible to salvage planks for free. Tree rounds can be difficult to obtain unless you have a connection with the forestry industry. End-grain blocks cost far more initially to create a single target than planks (although planks are obviously more expensive in the long term).
The initial lower cost of planks and the ease of replacement make them an attractive option for commercial axe throwing venues. There is a lot of waste wood, but this can be used for firewood (assuming it isn’t treated).
