Content

• To step
• Method 1 of 3: Part 1: The beginning
• Method 2 of 3: Part 2: Mastering the throwing
• Method 3 of 3: Part 3: Troubleshooting
• Tips
• Warnings

A boomerang is a curved object with the great ability to return to the thrower after being thrown.It is best known as a hunting weapon for the indigenous inhabitants of Australia, but even in the Netherlands boomerangs from the first century BC have been found in several places. Today the boomerang is mainly used as a sports and recreation object. To throw the boomerang properly, you need a specific technique and a lot of practice. In this article we will tell you about the right technique and you will find some tips about the best weather conditions and practice spots.

To step

Method 1 of 3: Part 1: The beginning

1. Buy a good quality boomerang. The choice of boomerang type has a major influence on whether or not the boomerang returns correctly. Just think - boomerangs are simply made of wood or plastic, so it takes a lot of know-how to transform that material into an object that will return to the thrower. There are many types of boomerangs for sale and not all boomerangs actually return, so do your research before purchasing.
   • The best boomerangs for beginners are the traditional v-shaped boomerangs. A three-wing boomerang made of a light material can also be suitable for beginners. You don't have to throw these boomerangs hard, so a beginner can focus more on technique than on strength. Most beginner boomerangs will fly 10-25 meters before returning.
   • Once you've mastered the throwing technique and your boomerang returns consistently, you can switch to a better boomerang and later to an advanced boomerang. This last category of boomerangs is heavier, they come in many shapes and sizes, and can fly up to 50 meters before turning over.
   • There are left-handed and right-handed boomerangs for sale. Buy the boomerang suitable for your dominant hand. If you are left-handed it is difficult to throw a right-handed boomerang properly.
2. Find a large clearing. You must have enough space to safely practice with your boomerang, at least 50 meters in all directions. Soccer fields or parks with large open grassy areas are the best choices. There should not be too many trees and shrubs and it is also not useful if you can throw your boomerang into the water.
   • Do not practice in crowded areas or where cars are parked. It is difficult to estimate in advance where your boomerang will end up, especially as a beginner. A boomerang that lands unhappily can injure someone or damage someone's property.
   • Always throw from the center of an open area. Then you will be able to throw more consistently and have some room on all sides for when things don't quite go as planned.
3. Take a good look at the weather conditions. Wind is one of the most important factors in returning the boomerang properly. It is best to practice on a nice, calm day, wind force 1 to 3. Some boomerangs will not return with little wind, but usually they will. Do not practice at wind force 5 or higher, as this will disrupt the boomerang's flight and throw the boomerang off course.
   • You can normally just throw a boomerang when it rains, because rain will not disturb the course unless it rains very hard. Make sure you have a water-resistant boomerang, especially when it comes to a wooden boomerang. Furthermore, you will have to dry your hand and the boomerang before every throw, otherwise the boomerang will slip out of your hands.
   • Don't practice with your boomerang when it snows. Snow does not affect the course of a boomerang, but it is very difficult to find a boomerang in the snow. If you do not find the boomerang until the snow has melted, the boomerang will be damaged by the influence of melt water (or brine).

Method 2 of 3: Part 2: Mastering the throwing

1. Start with the right grip. You can throw either side of the boomerang (in the case of a boomerang with two "wings"), as long as you make sure that the painted curved side is facing out, not towards you. Next, there are two handles you can use: the squeeze handle and the cradle handle.
   • The squeeze handle: at the squeeze handle you "squeeze" the boomerang between your thumb and forefinger. You throw the boomerang by bending your wrist back before quickly popping your wrist forward. This will create enough momentum to pull the boomerang out of your hand and create "spin".
   • The cradle handle: This grip is similar to the pinch grip, but the difference is that you place your index finger (or all fingers, except the thumb) along the edge of the boomerang. Grab the boomerang as close to the bottom of the "wing" as possible. When throwing, flip the boomerang over with your index finger as if you were pulling a trigger. With this you create spider.
     
     
2. Throw the boomerang "around the wind". It is very important to throw the boomerang in the right direction, related to the wind direction. You have to throw the boomerang "around the wind" as it were, that means that you throw it to the right of the wind that is coming towards you and then the boomerang will return to the left (vice versa if you are left-handed). You throw the boomerang at an angle of 45 to 90 degrees to the wind.
   • Grab a handful of grass or leaves and throw it in the air to determine the wind direction. If the leaves blow to the right, you have to turn to the left and vice versa.
   • First, stand straight into the wind and then turn about 45 degrees to the right or left, depending on your dominant hand.
   • Some boomerangs do better when thrown at a wide angle to the wind (up to 90 degrees), so experiment with your boomerang to determine the ideal angle.
3. Throw the boomerang vertically, but at a slight angle to the ground. One of the most common mistakes is that people try to throw the boomerang horizontally, like a Frisbee. A boomerang should be thrown vertically, overhand, so a bit like baseball. Hold the boomerang almost perpendicular to the ground, at a slight angle of 5 to 20 degrees to the right (if you are right-handed) or to the left (if you are left-handed).
   • If you keep a large angle to the ground, you should throw the boomerang less hard. The smaller the angle, the harder you have to throw. When the boomerang leaves your hand, the boomerang must rotate vertically on its axis.
   • If you throw a boomerang horizontally, it will not return. The boomerang will fly very high and then come down very hard. You can damage your boomerang with this.
4. Throw the boomerang at the correct height. Another common mistake is aiming the boomerang too high when throwing. This will cause the boomerang to rise too high. It is better to throw the boomerang at eye level at an angle of 10 degrees upwards from the ground. A good trick is to pick a point just above the horizon, such as the top of a tree, and aim straight at it.
5. Work on the footwork. It takes more to throw a boomerang properly than bending the arm - you also need the correct footwork. A right-handed pitcher must turn his right foot outward, lifting the left leg so that the weight is transferred to the right leg. During the throw, the pitcher steps forward on the left leg. Left-handed pitchers do the exact opposite. This will place your weight behind the throw and you will be able to throw the boomerang further.
6. Give the boomerang spider. Making the boomerang spin properly when you throw is a decisive factor in whether or not the boomerang returns. First bend your wrist back and let your wrist pop forward in the throw. You shouldn't just let go of the boomerang - it should be torn from your wrist by the force of the spider.
7. Don't worry about the power of your throw. How hard you throw the boomerang is not important, unless you are purely aimed at distance. Once you have the right technique you can start using more power.
8. Catch the boomerang. The best way to catch a boomerang is to extend both arms, wait for the boomerang to reach the height of your shoulders, and then catch the boomerang between your palms by clapping your hands together. This way of catching is also called the sandwich catch mentioned. If you can't see where your boomerang is, or if the boomerang is coming at you too hard, turn around, crouch on the floor and protect your head with your arms. When the boomerang lands on your back, you know it was a good throw!
   • Don't run from an approaching boomerang. It's almost impossible to predict where the boomerang will land. You better protect your face and prepare for the blow!
   • You can also try to catch the boomerang with one hand by inserting your hand into the hole in the center of a spinning boomerang. But watch out! The boomerang can fire off your hand and hit you in the face, so only try this if the boomerang is far enough above your head or below your shoulders.
   • There are many other catch methods you can try, such as under the leg, behind the back, or catching the boomerang with one hand and one leg. If you are going to try these kinds of tricks, protect your hands with fingerless gloves, especially if you use a heavier boomerang.

Method 3 of 3: Part 3: Troubleshooting

1. If the boomerang doesn't return, there could be two things going on: Your boomerang is of poor quality or your throw is not good. If you think it is your technique, you can focus on the following common mistakes:
   • Throw at a smaller angle to the ground. If the throw is too horizontal, so if the angle is too big, the boomerang will not return. Throw the boomerang almost vertical for best results.
   • Don't throw the boomerang crosswise about the body. You have to throw the boomerang straight forward, if your throwing hand ends at the other shoulder you are doing it wrong.
   • Work on the spider. Often there is not enough spider to return the boomerang. Work hard on flipping your wrist when throwing, because that's where most of it occurs spider. Also try different grips and different positions of your hand to find out what works best for you.
2. If your boomerang does return, but in the wrong place, you have to change direction. If the boomerang lands far in front of you or far behind you, you have the wrong throwing angle in relation to the wind.
   • Turn a little more to the left when the boomerang lands in front of you. So you throw more towards the wind.
   • Turn a little more to the right when the boomerang lands behind you. So you throw a little more away from the wind.
   • Reverse these directions if you are left-handed.
3. If you keep not knowing where your boomerang is while flying, train yourself to keep a closer eye on the boomerang. If you don't pay attention for even one second, you can lose the boomerang and in the worst case scenario you get the boomerang in your face. Or if you thrown badly, you may not be able to find the boomerang again.
   • Train yourself to constantly monitor the boomerang, don't get distracted. Wear sunglasses to keep looking up. This protects your eyes at the same time if the boomerang hits your face.
   • If the boomerang falls because you thrown badly, immediately make a mental note of where the boomerang lands. Immediately look for your boomerang, if you wait too long you will probably never find the boomerang again.
4. Learn how to fix a bent or damaged boomerang. A boomerang can easily bend or be damaged by bad landings or collisions. But with some love and attention you can repair your boomerang yourself, then you keep the boomerang good for much longer.
   • To fix a bent boomerang: place the boomerang in the microwave for 8-10 seconds or hold it over the heat of an electric hob for 8-10 seconds. Then bend the boomerang in the opposite direction and hold it tight until the wood has cooled.
   • To repair dents and scratches: fill holes and scratches with wood rot filler. When it is dry, sand it smooth with fine sandpaper. To keep the moisture out, you can coat it with some polyurethane sealant.

Tips

• If the wind is blowing hard or if the wind is not constant, your throwing results will not be constant either.

Warnings

• Sometimes it seems like a boomerang is floating in one place, when in reality the boomerang is heading straight for you.
• Some boomerangs will be irreparably damaged if you throw them horizontally.
• Be aware of your surroundings so that you do not harm people or things.
• Never try to catch a boomerang approaching you at high speed.
• Wear fingerless gloves and glasses to protect your eyes.