Discover down under! Each day a different picture pertaining to Starfire's tour of Australia is featured, along with a brief explanation written by Australia enthusiasts.
2005 July 17
How to throw a boomerang.
Click on the picture for pictures of boomerangs and throwing them.
Throwing Area:
Pick a field with at least 50 meters in all directions around your throwing point. Be sure you return to the center for each new throw!
Elevation:
Release the boomerang at eye-height, aiming approximately 10 degrees above the ground.
Layover:
Most boomerangs require only a little bit of layover (10-30 degrees, between 12:00 and 1:00 for a right-hander facing a clock). Generally, the further a boomerang travels, the more it needs to be laid over. Throwing a boomerang with too much layover can be dangerous to both the thrower and the boomerang, as the boomerang will climb high before crashing back down.
Spin:
Imparting spin to the departing boomerang is crucial. Without spin, a boomerang is just a bent stick. Creating enough spin is a common problem for novice throwers. Don't "let go" of the boomerang; let it rip its way out of your hand. This will help maximize its initial spin. Another way to increase spin is to cock the boomerang back in your hand (see the diagram above - the thrower there has the boomerang well cocked back).
Hardness:
And finally, the one factor all machismo is focused on: how hard you throw. As a general rule: THIS IS NOT AS IMPORTANT AS SPIN.
(From The Boomerang Association of Australia)
Authors & editors:
Bob Bolles
&
Phil Bolles