How To Throw a Boomerang
G’day mate! Are you in for some boomerang action?
The boomerang is considered the first man-made flying machine, a direct ancestor of the airplane, blimp, helicopter and glider. Isn’t it amazing how a simple piece of wood can make such effective use of physics to become one of the most amazing toys in history?
Many people say that it’s easy to use a boomerang. The hard part is in making it come back to its point of origin. If you want to impress your friends and learn how to properly throw and catch a boomerang, just practice a little patience and follow these tips and you will be throwing and catching your boomering like an expert in no time.
Pick your boomerang wisely.
First and foremost, make sure that you are using a true returning boomerang. There are many cheap versions available on the market today so be careful in purchasing one since you may unknowingly buy a boomerang that will malfunction, or may be dangerous to use. Once you have an authentic returning boomerang, you can more or less proceed to do the throwing.
Location, location, location.
A large grassy area that is clear of people, trees, bushes, lamp posts, cars, and other large structures such as buildings is perfect for boomerang throwing. A park cleared of people or a large baseball or soccer field usually work well. Make sure that you have at least 60 yards of throwing space in all directions.
An out-of-control bommerang can be dangerous and can cause serious injury especially to children or unsuspecting people in the vicinity. A boomerang usually travels in a curved path and can be unpredictable. Yelling “heads up” or “look out” may not be able to give a casual bystander enough time to avoid the path of an on-coming boomerang.
Take note of the wind.
boomerang lessonsUsually, an inexperienced person will try to experiment with a boomerang in an open lot near his house or nearby park where there are many hazards like trees and pedestrians. The wind velocity and direction may also not be perfect for boomerang throwing. When these happen, don’t expect much success.
Try to find an open field where there are no visible structures in sight. You should aim to throw “around” the wind. A person who is right-handed must throw to the right of the wind with the boomerang returning to his left side. Meanwhile, a left-handed thrower must throw to the left of the wind and get a return to his right side.
Inspect your boomerang. Not all boomerangs work the same way in terms of throwing angles. Some work with 45-50° to the right of the wind. Some basic types will need to be thrown further off at 90° or more, so anywhere between 45 and 90 degrees off the wind will be appropriate.
Hold it right there.
For boomerangs with more than 90 degrees between the wings, hold the lead wing. If it’s less than 90 degrees, hold the trailing wind.
Make sure that you are facing the side that is curved or else, your new toy won’t generate lift. Use a pinch grip by clasping the wing of the boomerang between your forefinger and thumb. You can also try the cradle grip that involves wrapping your forefinger at the wing’s front edge.
Tilt properly.
To be able to throw successfully, you should take note of the layout. It is the tilting angle that you should aim for before launching your boomerang to the air. Start with the boomerang about 10 degrees away from vertical and angled almost perpendicularly on the ground. Also remember that the boomerang should be tilted and aimed away from your head. Forget about the techniques you usually employ while playing with a freesbee since it will surely not come back as you would want it to be.
Aim at something high.
Make sure you throw above your height and find a target such as above some trees to yield sucessful results. Use your body weight to throw properly. The spin is more crucial than the force you use in throwing the boomerang. Use your wrist and snap it in the targeted area. Don’t twist it to get the right spin.
Catch it.
Be aware of the direction of the boomerang and if it is charging towrds you, catch it at the chest area or between your palms. If the boomerang is moving too fast, don’t attempt to catch it. Let it go. It is recommended that you use weight lifting gloves to add protection to your hands.
Don’t stop learning.
Even the so-called masters of this craft can attest that they still learn something new every now and then. Just be patient and practice hard enough and feel and relish this magical and wonderful experience.