The Hammering Nail game

Daily Life, Swiss News and General Topics
1
After seeing it mentioned somewhere,

Am I the only one who was shocked, and intrigued by the 'Large block of wood, who can hammer the nail in less turns' game at many pubs.

I know I come from a sheltered drinking country, but nails, and pointy hammers with alcohol just screams disaster.

Looked lame, but fun game nevertheless

2
I've not seen this. Do you have pictures/video? I take it you need to hold the nail with one hand and so risk grave injury when attempting a single strike drive?

3

found this on google video,

Essentially everyone takes a nail (usually availble in a cup or from the bartender) and there's a big tree stump.

Get the nail started so it stands up on it's own.

Using the chisel side of the hammer in the starting position on the stump, you take one swing at the nail.

Next persons turn with their nail.

First one with the nail in, wins

last one to sink the nail buys the drinks, or loses, or has 10 years bad sex or whatever.

4
Cactus bar on the edge of the Langstrasse has this game. It is good fun, but frustratingly difficult, even when sober.

5
This game was actually my introduction to Swiss bars - my third weekend here, at a bar near Valbella... I thought for sure all Swiss were some kind of hillbillies! :-)

6
I know the bar you are talking about. Its quite amusing to watch people attempt it as their level of inebriation increases after a day on the slopes.

7
I first saw it at an apres-ski bar bottom of the slopes in Savognin. A glass igloo.

Considering the level of disorientation that occurs there, I was shocked there hasn't been a nail in hand, or hammer in a skull or hammer through the glass.

Liability is all that came to mind

8
Fortunately the level of litigation that occurs in other countries hasn't reached Switzerland yet.

9
I thought it was a scout thing here. Our UK scouts were a dab hand by the end of their stay at KISC in Kandersteg one year. Perhaps they discovered it in a bar there...

10
Man--scouting must rock in the UK if they get to learn things in the Bar. Real life skills

11
Err... oops. Did I say bar? I meant err... tent.

12
I was also shocked when I saw it. I then thought: swiss people really must know how to behave!

13
Wow... i've yet to see this. Reminds me of making hedgehogs in my fathers shed when we were children! Take a piece of timber and hammer as many nails into it as quickly as possible. You're telling me that this skill could lead to free drinks??

14
Hammer the nail in, in the pub......not peoples heads in after.

15
They do this in our local at Fastnacht nights. Right by the bar.Made me very nervous as all the participants were well p!ssed. Then one guy swings the hammer and KERRPOW!!! the nail , having not been hit squarely shoots off like shrapnel at 1000mph and hits the wall!! This would certainly have killed someone if it had hit them. Thing is they all thought it was funny

I wonder how many injuries are caused by this rather stupid macho game.

Needless to say we left straightaway.

16
These situations are fairly common in Switzerland, what I don't get is why there aren't more 'freak accidents'. After working in industrial health and safety/loss prevetion, my 'near miss' radar goes way off the charts in Switzerland. Whether at on the streets, in a playgrounds, going swimming.

Do the Swiss get issued guardian angels with their pass?

I live by Triemli, and there is very little ambulance activity for a hospital,(having lived by one at home as well)

17
Thats because Triemli isn't the emergency hospital.

18
Thats because their casualty department is kept busy by the steady stream of mountain bikers who arrive at their back door from Uetliberg!

19
It's a fun game for normal, responsible adults.. I play it fairly often in Cactus bar and never seen an accident/problem despite all the drunks. But then there are very few misbehaving idiots there and that makes all the difference.

20
Yup, Cactus Club for me too. Given that you have to use the back side of the hammer head, I don't many people actually hit the nail often, so not much danger. Having said, that I smacked my thumb pretty hard once.