How to Throw a Boomerang

Do Boomerangs really come back? In short, with a little practice, they do. In fact, after a few throws you will be catching the boomerang like a pro.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• A Boomerang
• A Large field
• A light breeze

1. 

   Hold the boomerang so that the curved, painted side is toward you, and the flat, unpainted side faces away from you. The painted side is the top and the flat side is the bottom during flight. You can grip the boomerang by so that the curve is pointing in the direction of flight, or is pointing behind you. Choose whichever technique is comfortable for you.

2. 

   Grip the boomerang as shown.

3. 

   Throw your Boomerangs overhand, not sidearm! The boomerang should be nearly vertical when it is released. The layover from vertical should be no more than 5-20°. When released the boomerang should cartwheel forward, end over end, in a nearly vertical plane.

4. It is very important not to use too much layover. If the boomerang is thrown too flat, it will spin like a Frisbee, suddenly climb high into the air, and then dive straight into the ground, possibly breaking the boomerang.

5. 

   Drop some blades of grass into the air to determine the wind direction. Face directly into the wind. Then turn to the right about 45° away from the wind.

6. 

   Keep your eye on a point (such as a tree or rooftop) that is a little higher than the horizon, and throw.

7. 

   Follow these steps:
   
   a. Aim a little above the horizon.
   
   b. Cock your arm back over your shoulder, with your wrist bent backwards. Follow through with a smooth body motion and a strong snap of the wrist. The snap will create spin. Spin is more important than power. Grip the boomerang tightly throughout the throw and the release. The boomerang will pull itself out of your grip.
   
   c. Be sure that the boomerang is released nearly vertical. Do not throw horizontally (sidearm).

8. 

   After you are familiar with the flight pattern of your boomerang, you can attempt catching. The trick in catching is to make a "boomerang sandwich." Hold one hand above and one below, with palms parallel to the boomerang. As the boomerang floats between them, slap your hands together.

Tips & Warnings

• Right-handers must use right-handed boomerangs.
• Left-handers must use left-handed boomerangs.
• In windy conditions (over 5 MPH), boomerangs tend to fly over your head and past you. There are four things that you can do to prevent this. The best approach is to attach flaps to either the curved or flat side of your boomerang, near the elbow. The further they are from the elbow, the more effect the flaps will have. Experiment for the best placement. The heavier the wind, the more flaps you should use.
• Boomerangs may break if thrown incorrectly.
• Never try to catch plummeting boomerangs, or boomerangs that are returning rapidly, or higher than chest level.

[JohnDee]

on 12/15/2007 Boomerangs can be dangerous to others! Make sure you have more than enough open space than you think you need.
Don't throw near trees and buildings - you will almost certainly lose a 'boomer' or two to such obstacles if you are a keen thrower.
The stronger the wind, the softer you should throw.
Things to adjust to get your boomerang to return accurately:
1. Strength of throw - too hard will fly over your head
2. Angle to wind - plus and minus 45 degrees to wind - throw more towards the wind direction to return higher - throw further away from wind direction to make flight circle tighter.
3. Amount of spin or snap - more snap = tighter turn
4. Angle to horizon - lower angle = lower return flight (and vice versa). Many boomerangs work well throwing level to, or slightly below the horizon.
Well designed boomerangs will fly out fast and slow down to hover at the end of their circ