Safety

What do you call a boomerang that doesn't come back? A stick! Our boomerangs however, do come back and it is important that you take some precautions to protect yourself, others and your boomerang from unfortunate mishaps upon its return. 

Remember that ideally you are the target!

• Don't attempt to throw a boomerang in gusty or breezy conditions.
• Don't throw them if there are uncontrolled children present.
• Spectators should stand at least 10 metres behind the thrower preferably on his right. If it looks as if a boomerang may hit someone they should turn their back to it and cover their face with their hands.
• Do not run away from the boomerang as its curved flight path is difficult to judge and you may actually run into it!
• Do not throw too hard, especially when learning.
• Do not throw over obstacles or hard uneven surfaces.
• Do not use too much layover (lean) see fig. 2 - arm action should be like a tennis serve NOT a tennis forehand shot.
• Take your time throwing it. Remember once it has left your hand you have no control over it. 

In spite of these warnings, boomerang throwing is a relatively safe sport. Our boomerangs are light and have rounded leading edges to improve their safety.

Design

Stones Throw Boomerangs

Design

The special aerodynamic design of the boomerang is the key to its ability to return. Different planes on the wing tips each contribute to its flight and returning ability. The side with our name on it is flat, except for one predominant bevel which has been cut into it. The other side of the boomerang is curved, forming airfoils. The arm of the boomerang with the bevel on it we call the lifting arm, whilst the other end which is flat we call the dingle arm.

Your boomerang is of strong construction, however it is not unbreakable. Risk of breakage will be almost nil if you follow the safety tips above. Too much layover is the single most common cause of breakage. If it gets chipped or broken we recommend that you repair it immediately with epoxy resin glue and clamp it so that it lies flat. To keep it in good order and water resistant it is a good idea to polish it with clear shoe polish regularly.

throwing

Select a large open field or beach where there is little or no wind. Our boomerangs fly in a circle 15 to 30 metres in diameter, but allow more space than that. Look out for rocks or hard obstacles which could damage your boomerang. 

Warn any spectators about the safety points mentioned above.  If there is a breeze, determine where it is coming from and aim 45° to the right of it. (fig. 1)

The Throw

Grasp the dingle arm in your hand and hold the flat side of the boomerang against the palm of your right hand. You should hold a comfortable two fingers depth of boomerang.  To gain spin it is important to hold no more that 4 cm in your hand.

You should hold the boomerang at eye level and lean it over 30° (If it were the hand on a clock it would be pointing to one o'clock). This is called layover (fig. 2)

To obtain different effects the layover or lean may be varied from 0 to 30° (12 o'clock to 1 o'clock). A near vertical or zero layover is used to compensate for a breeze and will make the boomerang fly low and tend to land in front of you. 

The most important part of boomerang throwing is to spin the boomerang really fast. Bring the boomerang over the shoulder and sharply draw your arm forward to full extension. 

(The arm action is like a tennis serve or javelin throw). The boomerang should spin out of your hand with its own inertia pivoting over the index finger, (fig. 4) which is kept bent around the tip.  Throw it straight outward, neither up nor down. If you are strong do not throw it too hard.

When thrown correctly the boomerang should circle around to the left and climb steadily, finally slowing to a hover in the vicinity of the thrower. With practise, experience and courage the boomerang can be caught at this stage of its flight. It is best to wear a glove on the left hand when learning. Catching is best achieved by clapping both hands together over the boomerang as one does a frisbee.

left handed

Right handed boomerangs

A right handed boomerang can be thrown with the left hand.

Hold 4 cm of the bevelled end in the left hand with the flat side toward your face.

The boomerang is then brought over the left shoulder and thrown in an arc over the head, like a tennis serve, so that it leaves the hand inclined at an angle of 30° (the one o'clock position) with the flat side leaning to the right.

As in the case of a right handed thrower it should be thrown straight outward and be spinning fast.

Left handed boomerangs

Throwing a left handed boomerang

The left handed boomerang is a mirror image of the right handed boomerang. It flies from left to right and must be thrown at an angle (layover) towards the left (11 o'clock to 12 o'clock).

Its throw and movement are both a mirror image of the right handed boomerang.

Note that the flat face (the face with "Stones Boomerangs" on it) is held against the palm of the left hand.

"Cross Throwing"

If a right handed boomerang is thrown with the left hand, or a left handed boomerang is thrown with the right hand, the boomerang is leant in towards the body and the decorated face of the boomerang is now against the palm of the hand.

common difficulties

a) The boomerang lands to your left ... aim more to your right to compensate for the breeze on your next throw.

b) The boomerang lands on your right . . . aim more to your left.

c) The boomerang crashes without gaining height, or skips along the ground .. . give it more layover (or lean) (fig. 2) d) The boomerang lands in front of you . . . give it more layover (fig. 2) e) The boomerang lands behind you after flying high . . . give it less layover (or lean) (fig. 2)

f) The boomerang swoops up high after throwing . . .
i) Be sure you are not throwing it up. Throw straight out at eye level. Or
ii) Be sure that your layover isn't too great. Or
iii) Be sure that the wind is not too strong.

NB. The correct layover may be difficult for some beginners. The most common problem of zooming high and crashing is caused by too much layover which may be the result of twisting your wrist as you throw giving an unintentional increase in layover. To overcome this, keep the boomerang close to your ear as you throw straight over your shoulder keeping your elbow raised.

h) It flies straight out and does not curve . . . hold the boomerang with the flat face out.

Auf Deutsch

Halten Sie den Bumerang mit festem Griff zwischen Daumen Und Zeigefinger der rechten Hand. Die Flachseite des Bumerangs zeigt dabei zur Handflache, der Zeigefinger wird um das Ende des Bumerangs gelegt.

Werten Sie den Bumerang mit kraftigem Schwung waagrecht los (nicht nach oben). Der Bumerang soll in einem Winkel von 45° nach rechts zur Windrichtung werten. Fliegt der Bumerang zu hoch, haben Sie ihn in einem zu flachen Winkel gehalten. Fliegt er nicht hoch genug, haben Sie ihn zu steil gehalten.

Probieren Sie ein bißchen herum und Sie werden den Dreh sehr schnell heraus haben und erstaunt sein, welch genauen Wurfresultate Sie erzielen können

Linkshänder: Halten Sie den Bumerang in der linken Hand mit dem Daumen gegen die Flachseite und legen Sie den Zeigefinger um die Spitze. Werten Sie den Bumerang mit kraftigem Schwung der linken Schulter, also genau gegenglerch wie bei dem Wurf mit der rechten Hand.

Sicherheitsmassnahmen: Machen Sie Ihre ersten Wurtversuche bei windstillem Wetter auf einer weit- laufigen Wiese, wenn keine anderen Leute in der Nahe sind.

Einer der häufigsten Fehler; Es wird immer fälschlicherweise angenommen, daß der Bumerang flach gehalten werden soll. Wenn Sie ihn zu flach halten, fliegt der Bumerang steil in die Hohe und fallt ebenso steil wieder herunter. Sollte Ihnen dieses Mißgeschick passieren, müssen Sie versuchen, Ihn etwas steiler zu halten.

  All text copyright Stones Throw Boomerangs 2003 - not to be used without written permission