Throwing Axes // Homemade Science with Bruce Yeany

While the practice of throwing axes has been around for centuries, there has been a recent explosion in it's popularity as bar leagues and home target throwing have taken off. I remember first trying this as a Boy Scout 50 years ago and have tried it on occasion over the years. In this video I share sone of my own throws, basic science, a few trick shots and a couple modified battle axes I that I build for my own amusement

[@TheRadioAteMyTV]

No wonder his students were so well behaved! : )

[@fabiankonrath2804]

He wasn't just throwing sponges

[@Sctronic209]

Lol

[@eatledzeppelin1661]

2:47 "That wasn't the target i was aiming but i take it" , makes them behave even better

[@haaey1197]

Lmaooo

[@serversurfer6169]

He shows this on the first day … 💜😜👍

[@marksmith-dq4pt]

the final tests made me think: so basically my pizza roller is a throwing axe in disguise :)

[@Saareem]

Haha, my thoughts exactly. 😂

[@henriquemarra6565]

Aren't things a lot of things? I guess so...

[@GabrielsLogic]

Well I've learned many things about axe swinging today. But my favorite thing i learned was that you're really good at axe swinging! Lol

[@MNTwinsGeek]

And he's left handed.

[@ViiKing_]

Yeah, never expected it but I'm not disappointed

[@RCmies]

I'm actually surprised by the quality of your video and the editing. Well done!

[@YeanyScience]

thank you, I appreciate your comment. I actually had a hard time videoing outside with the changing lighting, one moment it's cloudy, then sun comes out, bright sunshine the next. I also had audio troubles with the mike I was using but I did the best I could.

[@AdamCeladin]

Great video Bruce :)

[@garkeinen7034]

Damn you're good at spotting every knife throwing video on YT

[@AdamCeladin]

@@garkeinen7034 I am always on the Watch ,))

[@YeanyScience]

thanks Adam, I was wondering what people really good at throwing ( such as yourself). would think of it.

[@AtlasReburdened]

Well, it's not precisely a parabolic arc. Just the tip of a very narrow Kepler ellipse which highly approximates a parabola, but that's getting into the pedantic.

[@RijuChatterjee]

If you ignore non-conservative effects and take g to be constant then you get a parabola. Are you talking about variations in g?

[@AtlasReburdened]

@@RijuChatterjee I'm simply not ignoring the fact that the Earth has a center of mass.

[@RijuChatterjee]

@@AtlasReburdened Oh, I understand. That has to be a tiiiiny effect though :P I bet nearby mountains affect it more.

[@AtlasReburdened]

@@RijuChatterjee Well yeah, that's why I wasnt shy about staight up declaring it to be a pedantic argument on my part.

[@xdragon2k]

7:19 And this is what I came up with. Anyone else expecting "Let me show you its features"?

[@avnertishby]

I had a huge grin on my face all through the video! My favorite part was when the camera zoomed out and showed the throwing positions for multiple revolutions :D Also loved how you called getting a bounce stick "luck" and then proceeded to throw one as if perfectly planned :D

[@JustMe-f1z]

I throw with the WATL, and this is one of the best videos I've seen. Our throwing techniques center on less movement called "flicking" to maintain consistency in competition. His skills make effective use of many aspects with tools using mathematical and geometric concepts. Please keep the videos coming. I'm studying them like a textbook.

[@johnbaumgartner3749]

Someone get this man a TV show. Bill Nye in Mr. Roger's Neighborhood.

[@tysonion01]

Does PBS know about Bruce Yearney?

[@Gruuvin1]

Tv is so last century. Someone get this guy a KZbin channel!

[@BOLL7708]

This was actually super interesting. I had no idea how important distance was and assumed it was about technique only! I guess using the right distance could count as a technique but eh, not what I expected. Thanks for sharing 😁👍

[@Hdtjdjbszh]

Bruce is so gently spoken that it seems a shock he can throw an axe so well. Just goes to show. Science beats violence.

[@JohnBender1313]

The best men are formidable but will never show it.

[@GabrielsLogic]

@@JohnBender1313 i like this quote

[@suprememasteroftheuniverse]

Completely wrong. It's science used for VIOLENCE what's usual.

[@suprememasteroftheuniverse]

The best part is that he's teaching kids how to throw axes at each other more efficiently. Also taught how to make deadlier axes with home available tools.

[@JohnBender1313]

@@suprememasteroftheuniverse like i said, formidable men who will never show it. What you are hoping for is that there are no formidable men, or humans. Which is a bad tactic. There will always be bad people. And what we need is strong people who can counteract the bad people. A balance. Teaching children to throw an axe or fire a gun while teaching them to be strong and compassionate and independent is a good thing. Trying to just excuse the tendencies of children, males, humans, or animals as social constructs is extremely detrimental. Please dont imply power, strength, or the ability to climb hierarchies is something that we should try to discourage. It really hurts us all.

[@jaymercy224]

How the world we could get boys interested in classical mechanics and physics? Hey! Let's start throwing some axes!

[@mattwilliams3456]

This was certainly not the video I expected from you but I’m now an even bigger fan. Have you made any axes with moveable weights in the handle to adjust center of mass?

[@YeanyScience]

Hi Matt, I haven't but that sounds interesting, I'll add that to my ideas list

[@learningscienceisfun]

Love it! 33ft!

[@yusufnasuherturan7488]

have a question. back in the mediaval age, how did the warriers calculate the distance while throwing the axe as you did on the video? pretty sure that they didn’t know physics:)

[@YeanyScience]

after throwing the same axe for a while, you can judge the distance needed without measuring it. Also with practice you can learn to adjust the rate of rotation which changes the distance. The key word there is practice

[@lukemartin7029]

You are like Archimedes. Lol. I like how you studied the weapons and made them more efficient/deadly.

[@OMB-hq6lm]

We didn't have adult supervision with lawn darts.

[@HOCAMHCM]

I dont know about axe throwing. But you are good thrower. I m suprised. Maşallah 😊

[@pl5bnsf]

Thank you, I have always wondered how axe throwing works, seems so chaotic, but you, as usual, showed what's behind it. I was very impressed you made the throw from the second mark. Then to even get to any target at the furthest mark was wow! Good arm!

[@robwall2582]

Only one thumb's up is not sufficient for this video. Thank you for your continued curiosity and research!

[@YeanyScience]

Thank you too!

[@SB_3.1415]

Eye glasses are going to protect you so well when a axe is coming at you XD.

[@EvgenyPakhomov]

They actually can protect your eye from a deflected ax. Also there can simply be wood chips flying in the air when you hit the target or when you pull an ax out of one.

[@YeanyScience]

One more note, several of the commercial axe throwing establishments require you to wear eyeglasses, I am following their lead.

[@OGBennyGoat]

You need to wear protective eyewear for the wood chips that come flying back at you. Axe throwing places have to replace the target wood several times a day because of this.

[@ctakiute]

Man! You are good. Don't know how much video edit is there, but still, very good throws.

[@JohnBender1313]

This is how the renfest makes money on their axe throwing stands. The distance from where the person running the stands throws in front of the barrier is close to your position, but still close enough the seller can hit the target easily. "Proving" it isnt that hard. But your feet are about 2 feet back, making it almost impossible to match. It requires a quicker, and non-natural feeling, throw to hit it from your position.

[@harrystone3527]

Loved this video and may I say that the scenery is absolutely gorgeous, thank you

[@TheOriginalJphyper]

I can't do ax throwing. I'm always afraid I'll put too much spin on it and make it come around and chop my fingers off before it gets far enough away. Intellectually, I know this won't happen, but the fear persists. My notoriously bad aim doesn't help, either.

[@FoOtFoOt542]

Soon as I saw that homemade circular saw blade battle axe, I knew what my weekend is going to be spent doing.

[@Hdtjdjbszh]

throwing axe or pizza cutter?

[@chudez]

pizza cutter ... of death

[@YeanyScience]

I was calling them MTAs but I kind of the idea of pizza cutters better

[@duckydrummer6331]

So that’s why he put the trouble makers in his classroom exactly 11ft from his desk.

[@tomteseletec2072]

You're really good with axes. Really like hearing Les Paul play guitar 🎸

[@peters7413]

Mount a knife 90 degree in the grab end of the loose handle saw blade handle. .... 2 time deadly weapon.... blade in the chest and the knife in the eye 😉

[@tomknapp6194]

As an experienced axe thrower, axes are not weapons. They are tools. But, any tool used incorrectly can lead to dangerous results or even death. With that being said, I sometimes walk around my town with one or two axes hanging on my belt. Nothing has been said to me yet. Excellent visuals in the video. The slow motion videos give a great visual on how the axe works. The angled throws are because your elbow is out. Throwing is very robotic. Straight up and and straight down. Bringing the elbow out, makes it come it at an angle. Not a big deal in tree slices (end grain) targets, but huge when throwing into planks. The blade axes are hysterical and a great idea! If I ever have my own place, I will have something like that on display and give you credit.

[@KorbinX]

So this is what you've been up to ^-^ thanks for the awesome videos and hope you and the family are safe and well.v

[@NapKingCole84]

2:22 Bruce is low key flexing on people with his new found skill 5:36 Okay he's not even trying to hide it anymore. 😂😂 Nice video Bruce! Jorg Sprave of the slingshot channel would approve of your modifications haha. It was really interesting to see you break down the throwing 'windows' you have, and that the speed of the throw doesn't make a difference like you think it would, but distance.

[@sethbrayer504]

Ha ha ha! 🙌🏼🤣

[@joemacleod-iredale2888]

I suppose knife throwing (where it rotates) is harder as the range of angles it will stick are far more limited and a quoit will stick at any angle.

[@brandonyoung-kemkes1128]

Oddly enough I went to someone’s house last year and they were like do you wanna throw some axis. I was like sure I was amazed at how precise you have to be in the movies they make it seem like a lethal skill.

[@kermitthorson9719]

i do NOT want to meet someone that can throw . theyd be making you flip all about. i think i saw an anime villian that had this power.....

[@lannyrayconnelljr]

Ain’t no school shooters in Mr Yeany’s classroom.

[@jareknowak8712]

Impressive skills!

[@piotrtw5]

Now I wonder how gyroscopic effect would affect the motion of the axes. It was made a thing in Borderlands game series

[@nitro_dynamite18]

So pizza cutters can be used as weapons in a pinch. Good to know!

[@xtraxs_yt6332]

I just wish I had him this year in my school but he retired

[@kermitthorson9719]

"this week on Bruce's zombie survival guide" or maybe a "Hi my name is Bruce, and this is science" que banjo

[@MarkAnthonyHenderson]

He should patent the "Yeany Axe."

[@LakeNipissing]

There's another side to the awesome, friendly Mr. Yeany ... don't mess with him!!! ;)

[@GunCollector007]

I just did a video throwing a axe for the first time. Very different than yours lol. Good stuff! Thanks

[@RCmies]

What if you change the angular speed by flicking your wrist in a way that it rotates faster? I'm guessing that because it's such a heavy object it is fairly difficult to do and that's why the axe rotates so consistently every time and the rotational energy is given by the whole length of the throw, not just the wrist like throwing a frisbee for example.

[@YeanyScience]

There are those that can do it, I'm not able to with the overhand throw. However, throwing it sideways or underhand it is fairly easy to do so.

[@tzaylor]

Great video! I was just wondering about that. If you were using them for hunting or defense you would have to carry different axes for different distances, kind of takes away some usefulness, unless you can adjust the rotation speed......

[@stephenbeck7222]

tzaylor surely there are more efficient and portable weapons for non-contact defense than a big axe. Bow and arrow to start with.

[@jamesdlin7]

Since the center of mass is away from the throwing hand, applying force will affect the translational and rotational speeds simultaneously. Changing one without the other seems pretty hard.

[@YeanyScience]

there are those that can do it, I find it very hard to do with the overhand throw but easier with the sideways or underhanded throw

[@NicoSmets]

The Yeany axe! I love it. Another possible variation: a contraption where you keep the handle in your hand and the blade goes flying. 360 degrees of sharpness.

[@uelssom]

The center of gravity demonstration is very interesting!

[@ChristianBehnke]

Trust Bruce to slowly ease viewers from “This is a throwing axe” to “Your pizza wheel can be used for deadly sport! Oh, and to demonstrate physics!”

[@totally_not_a_bot]

If you know whst you're doing, you can modify the spin rate with your finger to vary the effective distance. It's called instinctive throwing.

[@YeanyScience]

I haven't been able to do that with the overhand throw, but found it is fairly easy throwing sideways or underhanded

[@tigerpisces5506]

What model and make are these axes?

[@YouCrossedMyPath]

I would never have guessed Bruce is such a talented axe thrower!

[@TheAnachronist]

Put a fletching on the turny ax handle, and the handle should tend to point away from the target, allowing you to hit the target at any distance you can throw.

[@DrowGM]

We call that a dart

[@fizyka.nietylkodlaorlow]

I find it rather surprising that distance is the dominant factor and not how fast you throw an axe. My expectation was that both factors are important. It goes in the right direction, i.e., the faster you throw, the straiter the trajectory is, and thus the shorter the distance it travels but still, I find it amusing. It would be interesting to make some simulations to see how precisely the initial speed matters.

[@YeanyScience]

For those starting out distance is the dominant factor but since making the video I have practiced adjusting the spin rate which can then change the distance

[@hunterboat]

Science in axe throwing. Who knew? Bruce, first class as always. Thank you!

[@suprememasteroftheuniverse]

Every army ever.

[@nishantpatil1847]

Beautiful.. all the illustrations of rigid body, center of mass are now appeling to me.... the beauty of the subject is relisable... simple to appreciate.... please do continue making these concept videos.....

[@brandonyoung-kemkes1128]

You’re so good at that Bruce! Nice bbq trick.

[@LiLi-or2gm]

Bruce, you should collab with Tech Ingredients. You both share an amazing ability to describe amazing science stuff!

[@gannibootis]

Mr. Yeany, I have always been under the impression that you produce the videos to make learning science entertaining. No it is clear that you are simply showing off. ......I am very impressed.

[@Lobo_knife]

What a wonderfully entertaining and instructional video. Great job with all your throws and I love your invention

[@SievertSchreiber]

Thanks for the info! Btw: Laughing Squid brought me here 😀

[@OGBennyGoat]

This so cool! Thank you for the mini physics lesson.

[@SavingSally]

Great video. For the life of me, I just can't imagine who the 5 dislike were from...

[@JansthcirlU]

Is there a way to compare the impact force or pressure of traditional axes to those of the Yeany axes? If someone were to use either in real combat, which version would sink deeper into an enemy?

[@YeanyScience]

You might consider the effort needed to pull the axe out of the target but part of the problem of measuring that would be ensuring the initial force added to throw the different axes is the same. Of any of the axes I have, the modified axe that doesn't turn is the easiest to throw, requiring less force than any others due to it having less mass to it. Personally I hate to think about what damage that jagged edge would cause if used as a weapon.

[@JansthcirlU]

I see, that makes a lot of sense. And don't worry, this is purely hypothetical!

[@bletch7284]

Great, informative video. As a fellow south paw I appreciate seeing another lefty throw.

[@tysonion01]

I have a new found appreciation for the physics behind axe throwing. - & probably a new hobby. 😁

[@tammycheeva]

Thank you teacher. Can you do some clips about throwing an American football?

[@odobloch205]

very good lecture - exeptionally good educational video! Thank you!

[@slothman6696]

Broski, I love this. now throw an axe backwards, or...well...i shouldn't give it all away

[@noelalexisshaw-nas-noz5142]

You Sure Do have a Lot of Occult Symbolgy and Props within Your Content? Knowledge was NOT meant to be Kept Hidden From the Many by the Few...those that Decieve will regardless of what they were TOLD...Will Face Our Real Creator and their Wrath...not the False God of Religion but the Creator of All that is and All that will be. Love your work, it Teaches a Great Deal of Truth when read between the lines, Viewed in 3d as a working Model of Energy Paths/Flows Around a Cylindrical/Spherical Formation by the Power of 4 🤔😊🤫 Much Love and Peace 🤜🏼❤🤛🏿

[@solamon77]

Welcome to Axe Lobing 101 with Professor Yeany! :-D

[@HeathDawsonFirefoxBushcraft]

I'm straight out the door to buy circular saw blades

[@milesholland6826]

Awesome visualization and tutorial of axe throwing science 🧪

[@thedevilinthecircuit1414]

The hidden message: "If you give your English teacher a hard time, you'll be visiting the principal's office. Mess with your physics teacher and...well...let's just say physics has different principles."

[@theranger2185]

WATL brought me here. Now i understand the mechanics of my throwing axe and can adjust accordingly.

[@Mrcorbjn]

What a beast

[@icebluscorpion]

Me:**sees the modification... ** Admit it Bruce 😏you are also a fan of the video game Borderlands 😁. I also like the Psycho with his Buzzaxe named Krieg i bought the DLC as soon it came out 😍. I played that game many times and seeing a real life Buzzaxe makes me happy 😏

[@geddon436]

Achievement unlocked: Dual Weld Axe +double damage But seriously, Mr. Yeany, I wish you were my mentor when I was you younger. Great idea of using saw blade.

[@thonchuang8455]

Very well explained. Thank you so much sir. More videos please. 😊

[@BenRyherd]

I would think you'd have to be extra careful throwing underhand to not chop yourself in the leg....

[@mkaatr]

This video reminded me of "The Last of the Mohicans"

[@odogkar]

Are young amerindians still practicing tomahawk throwing, or this is book history now???

[@00coyote80]

God that hits with authority! What's the force upon impact for an average throw? F=MxA but... wow!

[@tomknapp6194]

As someone that has been teaching axe throwing for the last 5+ years, technique is 100% critical. Throwing too hard just makes you look like you have anger issues. If you go to a venue and the coach has a suggestion for you..... LISTEN! They are trying to help you succeed. If the coach tells you to get insanely close, that is where you need to be to make this work. The physics of the throw is that in the first 25' (8m) there is only one place in which it will work for each thrower and their technique. You cannot be successful at a distance and then just back up 3 feet and make it work from there. That's how a ball works. Axes are not balls. It doesn't work that way.

[@serversurfer6169]

The best/worst thing about the Yeany Axe is getting whacked in the face immediately after you’ve been axed in the chest! 😂 Also, those underhand throws’ll deal death pretty casually… 😟

[@gammaspidey4466]

Ok first of all, Mr. Yeany is clearly a bad a**! I was invited to go axe throwing with some friends recently. I had fun, but left with no intentions of going again unless invited. After watching this video thru (twice now) not only do I want to go again asap, I want to set up some targets in my back yard as well. Amazing what a little analyzing can do to perk interest! Thanks for making this video Mr. Yeany!

[@b1uezer]

Adding you to the list of people I want with me during the zombie apocalypse.

[@b.sebastienellison8524]

I am very interested to see you do the same physic’s in struction with a throwing knife with no spin 1/2 spin and full spin . I learned alot from your hatchet video . Thank you for a great instructional video Sébastien PT

[@sameer26121980]

If we can dynamically alter the center of mass before throwing, I guess the throwing distance can be adjusted. Just a thought.

[@kimoscatfishandcarpfishing9247]

Sweet. I love throwing my tomahawk. Fun video.

[@ixinor]

He would wreck in a zombie apocalypse with an infinite supply of axes.

[@anthony9thompson]

Of course you could just throw the saw blade on it own. 360 degree available blade

[@jay.001]

Nice job thanks for the explanations. Do you have a video on how you made the “saw blade axe”? I would like to make one myself. Cheers!

[@vdudley6319]

This guy is gonna be just fine during the zombie apocalypse

[@thedevilinthecircuit1414]

Did you notice the slight wobble during flight? The axe oscillates a little to the right along the axis of the handle as it travels forward, then when it's 180 degrees inverted it oscillates back to the left by the same amount and is back to its 'straight ahead' (release) position then it's fully upright again. It's the Dzhanibekov Effect!

[@vaquirino]

No matter how you trow, in The right distance you Will shot The right place? There how trow in The wrong distance and goes right?

[@wildaxetv9211]

A great variation of a throwing axe is our Double Bit axe the Wild Axe Dragon. Double bit is double the chance and double the fun.

[@nomadicwolf6132]

Wow… why isn't this man at the head of American education? That's a physics class I would have actually cared about.

[@TEHZorgy]

I didn't expect to be practicing axe throwing with my pizza cutter this afternoon

[@Forka137]

4:00 "if you can throw it slowly, you can throw it quickly" it actually works this time :)