Case Studies

Dueling Axes – Powered by RKd

About Dueling Axes and RKd Software

Dueling Axes started in Columbus, OH as an urban axe throwing lounge in a young industry, which was fairly unknown when it first emerged. Dueling Axes’ mission is to provide a one-of-a-kind experience and atmosphere for axe throwing. Conveniently located in the downtown Columbus area, New Albany/Gahanna, and now the newly opened Las Vegas. Dueling Axes provides a lounge atmosphere where friends can eat, drink, and throw axes with a variety of gameplay options.

Client

Dueling Axes

Website

https://www.theduelingaxes.com/

The Challenge: No Software Fit for a Growing Axe Throwing Business

When Dueling Axes launched in Columbus, OH, axe throwing was still a niche, fast-emerging concept. The business quickly expanded to multiple locations, including Las Vegas, but their digital tools couldn’t keep up.

Existing solutions were cobbled together from unrelated industries like bowling alley booking systems
There was no unified system for scheduling, payments, waiver management, or event coordination
Day-to-day operations relied on manual workarounds, which limited their ability to scale
They needed a platform that could automate bookings, securely store signed waivers, track gameplay, and support marketing initiatives like leagues and tournaments

To grow the business and the industry, Dueling Axes needed software purpose-built for their unique operational model.

The Solution: A Custom Software Platform Built for the Axe Throwing Experience

Switchbox partnered with Dueling Axes to develop a fully integrated platform using Ruby on Rails and React, built from the ground up with the specific needs of axe throwing venues in mind.

The platform included:

Online reservations with deposit handling and dynamic lane availability
Secure digital waiver capture and storage for legal compliance
Score tracking and gameplay logic for tournaments and leagues
POS integration, custom reporting, and backend admin tools
Multi-tenant branding features, enabling white-label use across different venues
Seamless frontend integration with the company’s marketing website for a consistent user experience

What started as a custom solution for one business quickly became a robust platform ready to serve others in the space.

The Outcome: From In-House Fix to Industry-Leading SaaS Platform

The result was not just a digital upgrade, it was the birth of a new product: RKd, now a full SaaS platform used by over 40 axe throwing venues nationwide.

Key outcomes:

Dueling Axes streamlined operations, expanded to new locations, and opened a flagship venue in Las Vegas
The owners were able to step away from day-to-day operations and focus on strategic growth
RKd became the go-to software solution in a growing industry, positioning itself as the digital backbone for axe throwing businesses
Legal teams now benefit from secure, trackable waiver storage—solving one of the industry’s most critical compliance challenges

This project didn’t just meet the needs of Dueling Axes, it helped define a tech standard for the axe throwing industry at large.

The Technology & Services That Went Into Creating Powered by RKd

SaaS

Ruby on Rails

React