What wood for split the ball on an ax?

[trent/OH]

I'm hoping you can share experience on what types of wood are preferable for "split the ball on an ax". My thoughts: the wood has to take the blow from the ax without splitting, yet hold the blade firmly. It also needs to either absorb the split (or intact) ball, or not ricochet it back at the shooter.
So a really hard wood like ash or hard maple would hold the ax, but might spit the ball back at me. A soft wood would soak up the ball, but might not hold the blade well.
What have you found to work well?

 

[Juice Jaws]

I have shot the "split the ball" many times and all we ever use was a pine round. Same one we play handles with or throwing the hawk for score. Seat the ax good, put two nails left and right of ax blade to set the clay birds on and you are set.

 

[Cowboy]

Cottonwood is what the fellas use around here.

Respectfully, Cowboy

 

[M. De Land]

I'm hoping you can share experience on what types of wood are preferable for "split the ball on an ax". My thoughts: the wood has to take the blow from the ax without splitting, yet hold the blade firmly. It also needs to either absorb the split (or intact) ball, or not ricochet it back at the shooter.
So a really hard wood like ash or hard maple would hold the ax, but might spit the ball back at me. A soft wood would soak up the ball, but might not hold the blade well.
What have you found to work well?

A cotton wood block approximately 18 inches across and the same deep. It is soft, punky and heavy, perfect for not splitting from the axe seat and stopping lead balls. Here in Alaska we refer to cotton wood trees and "ten ton weeds"!

 

[Wisconsin Relic]

Pardon my ignorance, but just what are you all talking about? Seems like some sort of marksmanship test?

 

[Juice Jaws]

Pardon my ignorance, but just what are you all talking about? Seems like some sort of marksmanship test?

A shooting game, stick a double headed ax into a wood round and clay birds on either side of the ax blade. Then you TRY to shoot the ax blade to slit your ball in half to break the two clay birds. Lots of fun and yes can be done.

 

[bubba.50]

For a variation, I have seen some people use baloons instead of the clay birds.

 

[Wisconsin Relic]

Ah, yes, that makes perfect sense. I have a double bladed axe that I haven’t used in many years. Now I have something I can do with it. Thanks, guys.

 

[Wisconsin Relic]

I’m sure it can be done. When my buddies & I were in our teens, we used to challenge each other with our .22 rifles by shooting through the neck of a beer or pop bottle and shoot the bottom out. Of course, the bottle was laying on its side. So, we had to shoot through the open, small mouth of the bottle. We’d shoot from 25-30 yards, iron sights, and very often do it.

 

[necchi]

Cottonwood as said is good, Ash,,
But basically any green/fresh cut wood will work. Your only gonna have problems with hard wood after it's seasoned/dried.
The hardest part is getting the axe blade to stick and stay stuck. They always seem to drop out after getting hit a few times no matter what wood is used.
That's why green wood is a bit easier, green pine is easy to end-grain stick. But "glancing blows" from near miss (as folks shoot for split-ball) knock the blade back-n-forth and embed the wood next to the blade stick with holes.
That said,, setting up for a "split the ball" shoot isn't a permanent set-up,, someone has to tend it or expect to have tend it as the full shoot progresses.
That's always a pita,, the blade get's stuck the first time,, then the nails to hold the clays along side,, then after 5 shooters the blade drops out. Now someone has to stand there, straddle the block, swing the blade, and re-stick it where it was,, deeper and at the same angle!
It's a fun shoot, but it needs tending.