For country-music fans and wannabe songwriters all over the world, a trip to Nashville is the ultimate pilgrimage. Since the 1920s the city has been attracting musicians, who have taken the country genre from the ‘hillbilly music’ of the early 20th century to the slick ‘Nashville sound’ of the 1960s to the punk-tinged alt-country of the 1990s. Nashville’s many musical attractions range from the Country Music Hall of Fame to the revered Grand Ole Opry to Jack White’s niche record label. It also has a lively university community and a blistering hot restaurant scene.

On top of that, Nashville has now surpassed Las Vegas as the most popular Bachelor/Bachelorette party destination in North America. If you need a break from bachelorette party shenanigans, you can step outside for natural distractions aplenty. An ever-growing network of pedestrian and bike-friendly greenways links Nashville’s city parks, which unfurl over rolling hills and lush riparian landscapes. B-Cycle bike-rental stations are conveniently placed at greenway trailheads. Nature and outdoor centers inside the larger parks offer kid-friendly activities and nature walks. In total, the city park system sprawls across more than 12,000 acres in 108 parks. Kayaking and canoeing trips on the gentle Harpeth River are well-suited to families. Simply put: Nashville is the place to be.

Thinking about axe throwing as part of your Nashville experience? Look no further. BATL (the Backyard Axe Throwing League) is not only the premier axe throwing destination in North America, we’re also the pioneers of the sport. Bringing the sport of urban axe throwing to the masses since 2006, we’re the foremost authority on the thrilling pastime that’s taken the world by storm. Wondering who we are and just how we started? Learn a little bit more about BATL, the Backyard Axe Throwing League.

When we at BATL pioneered the sport of urban axe throwing back in 2006 in a downtown Toronto backyard, we had no idea how far it would reach – but we knew it was something that just about anyone would enjoy. We were right. From our humble beginnings, the Backyard Axe Throwing League quickly outgrew its own backyard, and went on to open 10 locations across Canada over the course of a few years.

In 2017, BATL stepped across the border to open our very first location in the United States. We partnered with Throw Nashville to bring BATL’s brand of urban axe throwing to Music City, and that would mark the beginning of our US growth.

Opened in 2017, BATL Nashville quickly began turning heads in the state of Tennessee. It didn’t take long for us to become part of our community, and have gone on to offer so much more than axe throwing. For one, BATL Nashville has played host to numerous groups of veterans, offering axe throwing as a form of therapy. Nashville’s Fox17 News got wind of what we were doing and shed some light on it in a recent article:

“Therapy comes in various forms, according to Jonathan League, the general manager of BATL, The Backyard Axe Throwing League. BATL has grown in the past decade from Canada to several locations nationwide. League, a veteran as well, partnered with the founder to open a location in Music City. While League built his first target, he says a friend…”Was completely changed. He didn’t need drugs or a long talk. He just needed to throw an ax.”

If you’re wondering how a trip to BATL can be incorporated into your next outing in Nashville, don’t worry – we’ve got you covered. BATL offers many ways to get involved with the urban sport of axe throwing, which means finding the right option is as easy as hitting a bullseye. We offer:

League Play: It’s no secret that the foundations of BATL start with our axe throwing leagues. Thousands strong we show the power of being good to each other, using the axe as a tool to build community inspired by our backyard roots. Our axe throwing leagues run for 8 weeks, completely under the guidance of our resident axe gurus. Each season consists of round-robin style tournament play, where you’ll throw 28 games against other people in the league, culminating in a top 16 double elimination playoff on week 8. Our leagues are suitable for people of all skill levels, with staff on hand at all times ready to give you tips and tricks to make sure that you’re hitting the bullseye. League play falls under the International Axe Throwing Federation (IATF) umbrella, the world’s foremost governing body of the sport of axe throwing (of which BATL is a founding member). Being part of the NATF also gives you access to the most advanced statistic tracking in the sport of urban axe throwing.

BATL Casual: If you’re looking for a casual way to get involved with the sport of axe throwing, all BATL venues offer public walk-in sessions (no reservations required) every weekend. It’s the perfect way to test the water when it comes to axe throwing, with little commitment. Our expert coaches are on hand to guide you the whole way, so whether you’re new to the sport or looking to hone in on your skill BATL has you covered. BATL Casual is offered on Friday: 7PM – 9PM*, Saturday: 12PM – 2PM, and Sunday: 2PM – 4PM. *We also offer BATL Casual from 5PM – 11PM Friday (Nashville Only).

Private Axe Throwing Event Bookings: BATL offers private event bookings that last 1.5 hours for groups of 6 and up. You’ll get the same thing that BATL has become famous for the best one on one instruction from our skilled and friendly staff members, followed by a round-robin style tournament, single-elimination playoff, and big axe practice – all orchestrated by our staff, leaving you with nothing to do but throw axes and enjoy the company of your guests. These parties are perfectly suited to any adult gatherings (bachelor/bachelorette parties, corporate team building, adult birthdays, etc) and many BATL locations offer complete bar and food services, which means even less planning for you.

So whether you live in the Nashville area, or plan on visiting Music City with some friends, stop by BATL Nashville (located at 1302 Gallatin Avenue) and experience the best axe throwing that Tenessee has to offer!