How to Skip a Stone

Any time you go to the beach, the river, or lake, it is only natural that someone starts skipping stones. Here are a few steps to help you skip them with the best of them:

Difficulty:

Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need

• Flat stones

Everybody skips stones!

1. Find the flattest rock possible. Only one side has to be flat, but the flatter and smoother it is the better.

2. Make sure that the stone you choose is not too light. it should be about the weight of a golf ball. If it is too light, the wind will curve it. If it is too heavy it will sink faster.

3. Now find a smooth section of water. Eventually, rivers and oceans will be fine places to skip a stone, but for learning purposes you don't want your rock thwarted by a wave.

4. Form your throwing hand, with your thumb and pointer finger in the shape of the letter 'C'.

5. Place the rock between those two fingers so it is resting on your other fingers below.

6. Make sure you have a firm grip on it. The majority of pressure should be coming from your pointer finger since that is where the stone will roll off.

7. Plant your feet firmly apart (about shoulder length or more) on the land, making sure they are perpendicular to body of water, or, at least, lined up in the direction you want to throw the rock.

8. Now squat down, placing your weight on your back foot.

9. Then, like you are throwing a ball side-armed, lean forward, at the same time, bringing your arm forward across your body and letting go of the rock at the point your hand reaches where you want it to go.

10. Make sure you throw it low, like you are trying to slide it across the water.

11. The rock should skip across with relative ease. If it doesn't, try again. Practice makes perfect. And soon, with added oomph, you will be skipping fifteen, twenty times in a row!