Where to throw axes around Phoenix right now
For the best mix of price clarity and things to throw, go to BATL Grounds Scottsdale on Thomas Road: axes, knives and archery, with packages from $29.99 per person for an hour. In north Phoenix, The Mighty Axe on High Street near Desert Ridge pairs lanes with a full bar. Out east, Arizona Axe Games in Mesa adds throwing stars.
Heads up: two Valley axe venues that still appear in search results, Urban Axes Phoenix and Class Axe Throwing Tempe, are not open. All seven picks below were verified on October 21, 2026.
Axe throwing is the Valley’s best answer to a 112-degree Saturday: indoors, air-conditioned, competitive and done in an hour or two. It works for a date, a birthday or a team outing where half the group has never met. If you want a different kind of night out, our guides to PopStroke Scottsdale and Fire ’n’ Ice Arena cover two more indoor-and-evening options.
Zero pay-to-rank. Payment never counts. Every business here was scored with the same public method described on our How We Rank page.
The gate: all four or the business is left out
- Operating right now
- A real phone and a real address or service area
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- Reviews that hold up in context
The score, out of 100
Ties go to the business with more years in Arizona.
For this list: every venue was confirmed open on its own website and Google on October 21, 2026. Two venues that Google still lists failed the operating gate and were left out. We do not reproduce Google star ratings.
Phoenix axe throwing venues compared
| Venue | City | Also throw or play | Food and drink |
|---|---|---|---|
| BATL Grounds | Scottsdale (Thomas Rd) | Knives, archery, big axe | Craft beer, wine, cocktails, bites |
| The Mighty Axe | Phoenix (High Street) | Axe games, arcade | Bar; $5 draughts 4–6 p.m. M–F |
| Hotshots Axe Throwing | Tempe (Scottsdale Rd) | Escape room next door | Customers report outside drinks OK |
| Arizona Axe Games | Mesa (Sossaman Rd) | Knives, throwing stars | Beer and wine; bring or order food |
| Recess | Tempe Marketplace | Smart darts, game show | Full kitchen and bar |
| Social Axe Throwing | Gilbert (Val Vista Dr) | Free arcade | Pizza, beer |
| Octane Raceway | Scottsdale (Talking Stick) | Go-karts, arcade, VR | Restaurant and bar |
The 7 best places for axe throwing in Phoenix
1. BATL Grounds Scottsdale
Best for: Groups that want more than axes, and anyone who likes to know the price before showing up.
Why it made the list: The most transparent pricing in the Valley, plus knife throwing, real archery and an archery simulator. Draft beer runs about $7.50 to $8 per 16 ounces. Reviewers name individual coaches and describe first-time throwers getting comfortable with knives by the end of the session.
2. The Mighty Axe
Best for: North Phoenix, Desert Ridge and north Scottsdale date nights and after-work groups.
Why it made the list: You walk in through a real bar before reaching the lanes, so the non-throwers in your group have somewhere to be. Reviewers describe a lesson at the start, multiple games beyond standard targets and the option to upload a photo as a target. Reservations are recommended.
3. Hotshots Axe Throwing
Best for: First-timers, families with older kids and anyone near ASU or south Scottsdale.
Why it made the list: A coach is assigned to your group for the whole session, and an escape room sits next door if you want to make a night of it. Reviews repeatedly mention coaches taking extra time with nervous or younger throwers. Customers describe it as friendly to outside drinks; ask when you book.
4. Arizona Axe Games
Best for: East Valley families and groups out by Superstition Springs and Eastmark.
Why it made the list: Axes, knives and shuriken throwing stars in one booking, and a real plan for younger siblings with plastic axes, arcade and board games. It sells beer, wine and seltzers but no food; order pizza or delivery, or bring your own. Leagues run here too.
5. Recess Games, Food & Bar
Best for: Mixed groups where some people want to eat and watch while others throw.
Why it made the list: A full restaurant and bar at Tempe Marketplace with axe lanes, smart darts and game-show style games. Reviewers name coaches who stay with the group and handle food orders between throws. One reviewer reported showing up to a locked venue during a booked slot, so confirm your reservation the day before.
6. Social Axe Throwing
Best for: Gilbert and Agritopia-area birthdays and family nights.
Why it made the list: Owner-run, with pizza, beer and free arcade games. Reviewers describe the owner personally coaching first-timers and keeping the games light. Its website is thin on details, so call ahead for pricing and lane availability.
7. Octane Raceway
Best for: Company outings and teen groups that want axe throwing as one stop in a bigger night.
Why it made the list: Axe throwing sits alongside indoor karting, arcade games and VR at Talking Stick, so mixed-age groups can split up and regroup. It works best as part of a package rather than a dedicated axe night.
Urban Axes still has a downtown Phoenix Google listing with reviews, but the company’s own Phoenix page says the location is not open and has no opening date. Class Axe Throwing’s Tempe page reads “permanently closed,” though its mobile axe trailer can still be rented for events. Check any venue’s own website before you drive.
Book a weeknight between June and September. Summer weekends fill with birthday parties and visiting families because everything indoors is packed, while a Tuesday at 6 p.m. often means a quieter lane and more coaching time. The Mighty Axe also runs a weekday happy hour.
Planning a group or team outing
- Book ahead for 8 or more. Lanes typically hold a small group each; larger parties need several lanes held together.
- Ask for a host or coach. Hotshots assigns one by default; others include coaching in packages.
- Plan food. Recess and Octane have kitchens on site, and reviewers say The Mighty Axe can bring in food from a pizza partner nearby; Arizona Axe Games is bring-your-own or delivery.
- Pick the area by where people live. Tempe for central and East Valley groups, Scottsdale for the north and east, Mesa and Gilbert for the far East Valley.
Making a day of it? Our guides to things to do in Tempe, Scottsdale, Mesa and Gilbert cover where to eat before and after, and our things to do in Phoenix guide covers the rest of the Valley.
Phoenix axe throwing FAQ
How much does axe throwing cost in Phoenix?
BATL Grounds Scottsdale publishes the clearest prices in the Valley: $29.99 per person for one hour, from $36.99 for 90 minutes, $47.99 for two hours with three activities, and $57.99 for a two-hour VIP package with a drink. Other venues price by lane or by person per hour and post rates on their booking pages.
How old do you have to be to throw axes in Phoenix?
The Mighty Axe and Arizona Axe Games both set the minimum at 10 for real axes. Arizona Axe Games lets younger kids throw plastic axes at separate targets. Policies differ, so check before booking a family outing.
Can you drink while axe throwing in Phoenix?
At most venues, yes. BATL, The Mighty Axe, Recess and Arizona Axe Games all sell beer. Hotshots Axe Throwing in Tempe is described by customers as friendly to outside drinks; confirm the current policy when you book.
What should you wear to axe throwing?
Closed-toe shoes, which venues commonly require, and clothes you can move your arms in. One Gilbert customer who showed up in sandals was handed a pair of loaner shoes, but do not count on that. Leave loose jewelry at home.
Do Phoenix axe throwing places take walk-ins?
Some do. BATL Grounds Scottsdale and Arizona Axe Games both post separate walk-in hours, subject to lane availability. Friday and Saturday nights fill up, so reserve for groups of four or more.
Is there axe throwing in downtown Phoenix?
Not right now. Urban Axes still shows a downtown Phoenix listing on Google, but its own website says the Phoenix location is not open and has no date. The closest options to central Phoenix are Hotshots and Recess in Tempe and BATL on Thomas Road in Scottsdale.
Own an entertainment venue in Arizona?
Valley groups search for axe throwing, karting and game bars every weekend, and they want to know what is actually open. AZ Charged is a hand-verified Arizona directory with zero pay-to-rank. Get reviewed and get listed.
Sources: Venue websites retrieved October 21, 2026, including BATL Grounds Scottsdale pricing, Arizona Axe Games, The Mighty Axe locations, Recess, Urban Axes Phoenix and Class Axe Throwing Tempe; Google Business Profiles for addresses, October 21, 2026. Prices and policies are set by each venue and can change.
Featured photo (illustrative, not taken at a venue on this list): Michael Pereckas, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
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