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Boomerangs were used for hunting.
3 X 18” Returning Boomerangs
(45cm Unpainted)
It is the Flight on one wing tip that makes it come back....
Left…All returning boomerangs have a
“flight” carved into one end of its flat side only - on the tip of the boomerang - on the flat side - it has been carved back into the boomerang.
Without this flight carved on one side to offset its flight - it would just keep on going in a straight line.
Identifying marks so the owners can tell them all apart in a hunt for example...That way our ancestor hunter gatherers could distinguish their boomerang from others in flight..and decide who hit the duck..first..;)
Because boomerangs can fly such long distances, especially if the wind catches them, they can be hard to find when they land and may be lost without these bright markings to make them stand out from the bush.
How to hold and throw a Boomerang
The way to hold and throw a boomerang
- For right and left handers, hold the flat side against the palm of your throwing hand with the bend to the front...
- The flat side is against the palm of your hand and facing to the outside, the curved aerodynamically shaped side is facing to the inside...
- For right handers the flight should be against the palm, for left handers the opposite flat side is in your hand.
This (above) is the correct way to hold and launch a boomerang. The sculpted (usually painted) side is towards the thrower, the flat side is facing away from the thrower.
A returning boomerang is always thrown at the angle shown and facing into any light breeze.
The way to hold and throw a boomerang
Throw the boomerang out towards the horizon not up into the sky...
Throw the boomerang out towards the horizon not up into the sky...
Throw the boomerang out towards the horizon not up into the sky...
Throw the boomerang out towards the horizon not up into the sky. The boomerang will fly upwards by itself.
Having a boomerang return to the thrower and catching it is great fun
When you become very familiar with its flight you can attempt to catch it.
Usually by clapping your hands together above and below the boomerang trapping it in mid flight when it gets very close. Sometimes with a good throw it returns well, other times, maybe a bit of wind, maybe pilot error... you have to chase/re position yourself to get in the right place to make the catch.
A Left handed thrower
Throw the boomerang out towards the horizon not up into the sky...
Throw the boomerang out towards the horizon not up into the sky...
You are very lucky.... Left handers do amazing throws,
and the boomerang curves to the right...!..?
on it's journey back.
You should throw a bit more sideways and usually directly into the wind.
Aim a bit higher, medium tree top height... into the breeze, the boomerang held at between 2 and 3 "o"clock. Have a couple of practices with no bystanders, roofs or trees around.....and beware.....lefties throw good.
The returning boomerang can slip straight through and hit YOU....so be careful
The returning boomerang can slip straight through and hit YOU....so be careful
The returning boomerang can slip straight through and hit YOU....so be careful
The boomerang comes back by design not accident so your throw must be perfectly weighted for the conditions ...which comes with practice, an afternoon or 3....
Give it a nice controlled flick of the wrist at the end of the throw to get it spinning...
Not too much sideways angle, tilted away from your body.
just about 1 :0 clock, 2:00 most... not 3:00... Smooth throw to just above the horizon into a light breeze...
the boomerang should spin quite fast and should swish away about 30 or so metres then takes a casual swing to the left and start flying back towards you...an easy catch...
At first it takes a bit of fortitude to stand and wait for the boomerang to come back right at you..!..!..?
The boomerang comes back by design
The returning boomerang can slip straight through and hit YOU....so be careful
The returning boomerang can slip straight through and hit YOU....so be careful
Have many light practice throws with follow through so, at the end of your throw..... and the flick of the wrist .... your fingers end up pointing to about the 2 o clock point just above the horizon....and it will become predictable, to the degree that you could ...conceivably...step in and catch that whirling wooden blade when it arrives back and comes close to you......hopefully by then most of it's energy is expended and it is can be caught by holding your hands, one above as best you can judge ...the centre of that whirling disk, and other hand below, mirroring the position...
Then CLAP together and stop the boomerang between the palms of your hands...
It becomes very easy..but don't try this straight up. Learn to duck...!!