boomerang

1. A flat, curved, usually wooden missile configured so that when hurled it returns to the thrower.
2. A statement or course of action that backfires.

[Dharuk bumarin.]

WORD HISTORY   The words we have borrowed from native languages of Australia, such as billabong, budgerigar, dingo, kangaroo, koala, kookaburra, waddy, and wallaby, generally have the exotic sound of down under, and boomerang is no exception. In a book about the languages of New South Wales published in 1790 is found the native term boo-mer-rit, glossed "the scimitar," because of the curved shape of the boomerang. In 1825 in a passage containing the first recorded instance of the English form boomerang we are told it is "a short crested weapon which the natives of Port Jackson [now part of Sydney] project with accurate aim into a rotary motion." In 1827 another commentator says that this term "may be retained for want of a more descriptive name."

For more information on boomerang, visit Britannica.com.

Background

A boomerang is an aerodynamically shaped object designed to fly efficiently through the air when thrown by hand. The term usually refers to an object made to follow a circular flight path that returns it to the thrower. (Some sources describe all aerodynamic "throwing sticks" as boomerangs, separating them into "returning" and "nonreturning" categories.) Traditional designs are V-shaped, but newer versions may have irregular shapes or more than two arms.

Two design components give the boomerang the capability of circular flight. One is the arrangement of the arms, and the other is the airfoil profile shape that allows the arms into wings. During flight, the boomerang spins rapidly (about 10 revolutions per second). The wing profiles create the same lift effect that makes airplanes fly. In addition, the spinning motion creates gyroscopic precession, which pulls the boomerang into a circular path. A similar effect can be seen with a spinning top: if the top's axis is not quite vertical, the upper portion of the toy travels in a circle around the axis.

For a successful flight, the boomerang must also be thrown correctly. It should be held near the end of one wing with the top (curved) surface facing the thrower's body. The boomerang should be almost vertical, with the thrower holding the lowest arm. Depending on wind conditions and the design of the particular boomerang, the upper portion may be inclined up to 30° outward. After drawing the arm backward, the thrower hurls the boomerang with an overhand motion, much as a pitcher would throw a baseball. At the moment of release, the thrower adds a snap of the wrist, as if cracking a whip. The release angle should be between horizontal and 15° above. If there is any breeze, the boomerang must be thrown between 30° and 90° to the right of the on-coming wind (or to the left for a left-handed thrower; right-and left-handed boomerangs are mirror images of each other).

As the boomerang flies forward, it begins to slowly roll over (counterclockwise for a right-hander), ultimately flying horizontally with its flat side down. When it returns to the thrower, it is caught safely at chest height, trapping it between open hands in a sandwich fashion.

Recreational throwers simply enjoy playing a solitaire game of catch. Those who are interested in competition can choose from a variety of events, including precision (returning as close as possible to the launch point) and endurance (making the most catches in a five-minute period). The inter-national record for distance traveled before returning to the thrower is 780 ft (238 m), in a flight that lasted nearly 22 seconds. The record for maximum time aloft (MTA) is two minutes, 59.94 seconds; the unofficial MTA record, which was witnessed but not thrown in a sanctioned competition, is an astounding 17 minutes, six seconds.

History

Boomerangs developed as a refinement of carved throwing sticks (kylies) that were used as weapons, primarily for hunting. The oldest kylie found to date is one formed from a mammoth tusk. Discovered in Poland in 1987, its age has been carbondated at about 20,300 years. This 2-ft (60-cm) long, 2-lb (0.9 kg), gently curved implement was probably thrown to kill reindeer. A plastic replica of it has been found to travel an average of 90 ft (27 m) when thrown, although throwing it into a head-wind increases its range to an average 123 ft (38 m).

Kylies were used by prehistoric people in all parts of the world. Usually made of wood, they were banana shaped; both faces of each arm were carved into curved, airfoil surfaces. When thrown, they traveled parallel to the ground for distances up to 650 ft (200 m), spinning furiously toward their target. Typically 3 ft (0.9 m) long and weighing 5-10 lb (2.3-4.6 kg), they were effective hunting tools.

There is some evidence that boomerangs were developed in several cultural groups. For example, a boomerang-shaped object found in Germany was made of ash wood. Carbon-dated to an age of 2,400-2,800 years, it is preserved enough to allow archaeologists to reconstruct its entire shape. The replica has been thrown left-handed to produce a complete boomerang trajectory; however, the wing profiles were less than optimal, making it difficult to throw successfully. Evidence suggests that boomerangs may also have been developed in Egypt and India.

In all areas except Australia, hunters devised spears for throwing and bows for shooting arrows, and they stopped using kylies. The Australian aborigines, however, continued to hunt with throwing sticks. Experimenting with designs, the residents of the eastern and southern parts of that continent developed boomerangs, which they used primarily for sport. At major tribal gatherings, they held competitions based on such qualities as the precision of the return and the speed and quality of the flight. Boomerangs were not thrown at animals of prey, although they were sometimes thrown as decoys to lure birds into a net.

The oldest boomerang found in Australia dates to about 14,000 years ago. The origin of the word is uncertain, although it may derive from the cry "boom-my-row" ("return, stick") that British colonizers heard Dharuk tribesmen shout when throwing the instruments in 1788. The traditional method for making a boomerang was to select an appropriately curved piece of wood, usually from the section where the tree trunk joins a large root, making an angle of 95-110°. If necessary, the angle between the wings was adjusted by heating the boomerang over a fire and bending it. The aerodynamic profiles were carved from the wood with an axe, smoothed with a flint, and polished with sand. Designs might be carved into the surfaces, either for decoration or to improve the flight characteristics. The wood was sealed with fish oil or paint.

Boomerangs remained a relatively obscure curiosity until about 1970. A workshop about how to make and throw boomerangs was presented by the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, DC. It sparked great enthusiasm for the sport, and the Smithsonian began sponsoring annual tournaments on the National Mall. The first international championship tournament was held in 1981.

Raw Materials

A wide variety of materials can be used to make a boomerang. Wood remains one of the most popular because it produces good results, is relatively inexpensive, and is easy to work. Generally preferred is aircraft-grade Finnish or Baltic birch plywood, which is laminated from very thin layers of wood. A 0.2-in (5-mm) thick sheet will have between five to 10 layers. To protect the wood from moisture, it is usually sealed with a polyurethane coating.

Among the synthetic materials that may be used for boomerangs are polypropylene, acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene (ABS) plastic, fiberglass, carbon fiber, linen-phenolic resin laminates, and Kevlar para-aramid fiber. Toy boomerangs made from urethane foam or cardboard can be used indoors.

Design

Because proper spinning action is crucial to the performance of a boomerang, there are some fundamental concepts that must be followed during the design process. However, those basic elements leave a great deal of room for creativity, and boomerang makers frequently experiment with innovative shapes.

When creating a new pattern, the designer marks a point in the middle of a sheet of sturdy paper. This first guide mark denotes the center of gravity of the boomerang. As the designer continues to sketch the boomerang, he or she must take care to balance the shape around the center of gravity point. The other important consideration is that the centerlines of each wing of the boomerang must point generally toward the center of gravity (i.e., within 10° in either direction). So the second set of guide marks the designer makes on the paper are the centerlines of the wings. Within the limitations set by the guide marks, the designer can then sketch as basic or whimsical design as desired.

After the design is completely drawn, the designer cuts it out from the sheet of paper. By hanging the pattern successively from the end of each wing, the designer can verify that the planned center of gravity has been adequately preserved. This will be true if the centerline of each wing hangs within 30° of vertical.

Serious designers who seek more precise methods can use more sophisticated techniques, including computer-aided design software.

The Manufacturing Process

The following description focuses on making a V-shaped plywood boomerang. Synthetic materials are worked in a similar manner, but some generate dangerous dust or fumes when being cut or sanded. In this case, dust masks and protective clothing are essential.

Forming

• The plywood sheet is checked for flatness. If it is not completely flat, it is oriented so the concave side will correspond to the top surface of the boomerang. This significantly increases the boomerang's strength, and it raises the wingtips slightly for better aerodynamics.
• The pattern is placed on the plywood so that the wood grain runs across from the tip of one arm of the boomerang to the tip of the other arm. The outline of the pattem is traced on the plywood with a pencil.
• A scroll saw, jigsaw, coping saw, band-saw, or fret saw is used to cut the boomerang shape out of the plywood. This basic cutout is called the blank.
• As an alternative to cutting a single-piece blank, two separate wings can be cut, allowing a section of overlap where they will be joined. Using a router, half the thickness of this overlap section is cut away from each wing. The overlapping sections are joined with wood glue and clamped together until the joint hardens.
• An outline is drawn on the top of the blank to show the areas to be shaped for the leading and trailing edges of the wings.
• The profiles of the wings are shaped with a belt sander or by hand with a rasp or a plane. The top of the leading edge of each wing is decreased at a 45° angle, while the rear of the wing is angled down to leave a 0.04-0.08 in (1-2 mm) thick trailing edge. The bottom face of the leading edge is cut back slightly. The tips of the wings are shaped down to the same thickness as the trailing edge. The various layers of the plywood serve as contour lines that help the worker achieve uniform slopes.
• A shallow section may also be cut out from the bottom surface of each wing. For example, this might consist of a 2-in (5-cm) long strip near the wing tip and behind the leading edge.

Finishing

• Using progressively finer (80-250 grit) sandpaper, the surface of the boomerang is smoothed carefully with an orbital sander or by hand.
• After spraying the surface with sanding sealer, fine steel wool is used to further smooth the surface. A coat of paint or wood stain is followed by one or more coats of clear polyurethane finish.

Tuning

• The boomerang is thrown several times to test its flight capabilities. Several types of adjustments may be made to tune the boomerang for better performance. For example, the wing profiles might be adjusted by additional sanding.
• Another tuning technique is to bend the wings, raising their tips about 0.12 in (3 mm) above the plane of the vertex; this is called giving the boomerang a positive dihedral. It may be necessary to heat the boomerang to make it flexible enough for bending and to make the adjustment permanent. This can be done with steam or even in a microwave oven.
• Twisting the wings to raise or lower the leading edges can also affect the boomerang's performance.
• Other tuning techniques include drilling holes through the wings, cutting slots in the leading edges of the wings, or drilling shallow holes into the underside of the wings and inserting lead or brass plugs to add weight.

Quality Control

Throughout the manufacturing process, the quality of the boomerang is periodically checked. Any unevenness in the boomerang such as unequal sides or bumps will take away from the aerodynamic design. Boomerangs are sanctioned by comities such as the World Boomerang Association and the United States Boomerang Association (USBA). These groups set the standards and rules that any boomerang competitions must adhere to such as safety, skill, and timing.

The Future

Boomerang innovations can be developed in two areas: materials and design. As new materials are developed that are strong, durable, and lightweight, boomerang makers will try using them individually or in combination. For example, the boomerang that flew for more than 17 minutes consisted of a two-layer outer shell of carbon fibers and Kevlar; the shell was filled with epoxy resin mixed with phenolic microballoons.

Two recent innovations suggest ways that designs can be modified to improve aerodynamics. One involved making the upper and lower surfaces of the trailing edges of a boomerang's wings slightly concave. Normally, these surfaces are flat or slightly convex. This design was used for the boomerang that set the current world record for distance. In the other example, a boomerang's wing tips were cut at an angle that made them perpendicular to imaginary lines leading to the center of rotation. Usually, the wing tips are perpendicular to the centerline of the wings. This modification was created by the holder of the unofficial MTA record.

Where to Learn More

Books

Mason, Bernard Sterling. Boomerangs: How to Make and Throw Them. Mineola, NY: Dover, 1985.

Periodicals

Drollette, Daniel. "Field Notes: Return to Sender." The Sciences (May/June, 1998): 16-19.

Lane, Marke. "Classic Boomerang." Work-bench (June/July 1996): 36.

Valenti, Michael. "The Return of the Boomerang." Mechanical Engineering (December 1993): 68.

Other

Amateur Boomsmith. http://www.uku.fi/-hniskane/workmain.html (October 27, 2000).

[Article by: Loretta Hall]

An American slang term that refers to an adult who has moved back in with his or her parents (who are part of the baby boomer generation) instead of living independently. The phrase, when applied to an individual, makes reference to the fact that the person lived independently for a period, but subsequently returned home due to the financial costs associated with maintaining a separate household.

Investopedia Says:
While boomer parents may be pleased emotionally to have their boomerangs back in the household, boomerangs can often pose a significant financial burden on their parents. This can result in a reduction in retirement savings for the boomerang's parents, leaving them with the decision to either postpone their own retirement or have their children help out with the household expenses.

Other countries have adopted similar slang to represent this domestic phenomenon. In Italy, the term "mammon", or "mama's boys" is used, while the Japanese refer to them as "parasaito shinguru", or "parasite singles". In the U.K., children boomeranging back home has given rise to the acronym KIPPERS (or kids in parents' pockets eroding retirement savings).

Related Links:
Giving your children a free ride can be costly for both of you. Boomerangs: Why Some Kids Never Leave The Nest
Don't rely on popular wisdom. Get the facts and plan for a comfortable future. Time To Rethink Your Post-Work Needs
Learn how the "sandwich generation" can save for retirement while taking care of their kids and parents. Retirement Savings Tips For 35- To 44-Year-Olds
Thinking about having children? Consider the financial aspect of this decision. Kids Or Cash: The Modern Marriage Dilemma
Break through the stereotypes and find out how to manage your life to meet your needs. Financial Solutions For Young Women
Discover which of these three reward techniques teaches the best lessons about money. Use Allowances To Create Financially Sound Kids

verb

To produce an unexpected and undesired result: backfire. See surprise/expect.

Definition: backfire
Antonyms: work

It all comes back to you, doesn't it? That's the beauty of the boomerang, a hunting tool, weapon of war, and toy invented by resourceful aborigines in Australia. Invented long ago, too; a preserved boomerang recently recovered from Wyrie Swamp in South Australia dates back some 10,000 years, or 9,800 years before anyone spoke English in Australia. Just a simple crescent of wood, but it gets around.

In recent years, the boomerang has gone around the world, starting with the first international competition between Australia and the United States in 1981. Ten years later the World Boomerang Association was founded. There is a United States Boomerang Association and three dozen U.S. clubs. Competition events now include throwing for accuracy, distance, speed, and MTA or "maximum time aloft." A different kind of boomerang is used for each event. The record set by John "Air" Gorski for an MTA throw and catch is a full seventeen minutes. Materials come from around the world, too, the current favorite being aircraft-grade Finnish birch plywood. The 1998 world championships, held near St. Louis, Missouri, involved eighteen teams from a dozen countries on five continents. The next world championship was scheduled for Melbourne, Australia, in 2000.

The name boomerang comes from the Dharuk language, once spoken along the southeast coast of Australia, where Sydney now stands. The first English notation, in 1798, renders it as wom-ur-rang, but by 1827 it was the now-familiar boomerang.

Nowadays you will search in vain for a speaker of Dharuk. Even when Dharuk was spoken, there were few speakers of that language. But it was from the Dharuk that the English learned names for many of the exotic Australian creatures: dingo (1789), wallaby (1798), wombat (1798, not a bat, but a bearlike marsupial), koala (1803), wallaroo (1827); the kurrajong tree (1823); the corroboree (1811, a nighttime festival); and two kinds of weapon, the waddy (1790, a stick that doesn't come back when you throw it), and the boomerang.

A weapon usually associated with Australian Aborigines, although versions of the idea have also been observed in Africa, America, and India. Boomerangs come in various shapes and sizes, but all share certain key characteristics; they are V-shaped, with one flat and one curved side, and operate using a complex mixture of aerodynamic and gyroscopic effects. Boomerangs have recently become popular for sport and recreation, but their original use was to stun small game and to ‘reload’ quickly if you missed. Also used to describe any action which results in the discomfiture of its initiator, such as the Germans introducing poison gas on the western front when the prevailing winds were against them.

— Paul Cornish

This article is about the wooden implement. For other uses, see Boomerang (disambiguation).

This article needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding reliable references. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (September 2008)

A typical wooden returning boomerang

A boomerang is a curved piece of wood used as a weapon and for sport. Boomerangs come in many shapes and sizes depending on their geographic or tribal origins and intended function. The most recognizable type is the returning boomerang, which is a throwing stick that travels in a elliptical path and returns to its point of origin when thrown correctly. Although non-returning boomerangs (throw sticks or kylies) were used as weapons, returning boomerangs have been used primarily for leisure or recreation. Returning boomerangs were also used as decoy birds of prey, thrown above long grass in order to frighten game birds into flight and into waiting nets. Modern returning boomerangs can be almost any size or shape and are made from a variety of materials.

Historical evidence also points to the use of non-returning boomerangs by the ancient Egyptians, Native Americans of California and Arizona, and inhabitants of southern India for killing birds and rabbits.^[1] Indeed, some boomerangs were not thrown at all, but were used in hand-to-hand combat by Indigenous Australians.^[2]

Boomerangs can be variously used as hunting weapons, percussive musical instruments, battle clubs, fire-starters, decoys for hunting waterfowl, and as recreational play toys. The smallest boomerang may be less than 10 cm from tip-to-tip, and the largest over 2 meters in length.^[3] Tribal boomerangs may be inscribed and/or painted with designs meaningful to its maker. Most boomerangs seen today are of the tourist or competition sort, and are almost invariably of the returning type.

Contents 1 Etymology 2 History 3 Modern use 4 Hunting 5 Communication 6 Design 7 Throwing technique 8 Competitions and records 8.1 Competition disciplines 8.2 World records 9 Long distance boomerangs 9.1 General properties 9.2 Flight path 9.3 Interest in the discipline 10 Related terms 11 Use in media 12 See also 13 References 14 External links

Etymology

The origin of the term is uncertain, and many researchers have different theories on how the word entered the English vocabulary. The boomerang was first encountered by western people at Farm Cove (Port Jackson), Australia, in December 1804 where its use as a weapon was witnessed during a tribal skirmish.^[4]

David Collins listed "Wo-mur-rāng" as one of eight aboriginal "Names of clubs" in 1798.^[5] A 1790 anonymous manuscript on aboriginal languages of New South Wales reported "Boo-mer-rit" as "the Scimiter".^[6]

In 1822 it was described in detail and recorded as a "bou-mar-rang", in the language of the Turuwal people (a sub-group of the Dharug) of the George’s River near Port Jackson. The Turnawal used other words for their hunting sticks but used "boomerang" to refer to a returning throw-stick.^[7] They were also mistakenly referred to as a woomerang, in confusion with the spear-thrower woomera.

History

Distribution of boomerangs in Australia

Australian Aboriginal boomerangs

The oldest Australian Aboriginal boomerangs are ten thousand years old, but older hunting sticks have been discovered in Europe, where they seem to have formed part of the stone age arsenal of weapons.^[8] One boomerang that was discovered in a cave in the Carpathian Mountains in Poland was made of mammoth's tusk and is believed, based on AMS dating of objects found with it, to be about 30,000 years old.^[9][10] King Tutankhamun, the famous Pharaoh of ancient Egypt, who died over 3,000 years ago, owned a collection of boomerangs of both the straight flying (hunting) and returning variety.^[8]

No one knows for sure how the returning boomerang was first invented, but some modern boomerang makers speculate that it developed from the flattened throwing stick, still used by the Australian Aborigines and some other tribal people around the world, including the Navajo Indians in America. A hunting boomerang is delicately balanced and much harder to make than a returning one. Probably, the curving flight characteristic of returning boomerangs was first noticed by stone age hunters trying to "tune" their throwing sticks to fly straight.^[8] In 1909 the Ngarrindjeri inventor David Unaipon patented an invention for a rotary wing aircraft based on his study of boomerang aerodynamics.

Modern sports boomerangs

Modern use

Today, boomerangs are mostly used as sporting items. There are different types of throwing contests: accuracy of return; Aussie round; trick catch; maximum time aloft; fast catch; and endurance (see below). The modern sport boomerang (often referred to as a 'boom' or 'rang'), is made of Finnish birch plywood, hardwood, plastic or composite materials and comes in many different shapes and colours. Most sport boomerangs typically weigh less than 100 grams, with MTA boomerangs (boomerangs used for the maximum time aloft event) often under 25 grams.

In 2008, Japanese astronaut Takao Doi verified that boomerangs also function in zero gravity as they do on Earth.^[11][12] He repeated the same experiment that German Astronaut Ulf Meerbold performed aboard Spacelab in 1992 and French Astronaut Jean-François Clervoy later performed aboard MIR in 1997.^[13]

Hunting

It is believed^[who?] that the shape and elliptical flight path of the returning boomerang makes it useful for hunting. Noise generated by the movement of the boomerang through the air, and, by a skilled thrower, lightly clipping leaves of a tree^{[citation needed]} whose branches house birds, would help scare the birds towards the thrower. This was used to frighten flocks or groups of birds into nets that were usually strung up between trees or thrown by hidden hunters.^[14]

Boomerangs (termed "throwsticks") for hunting larger prey, such as kangaroo, were used for small prey as well. These throwsticks fly in a nearly straight path when thrown horizontally and are heavy enough to take down a kangaroo on impact to the legs or knees. For hunting emu, the throwstick is thrown toward the neck, attempting to break it .

Communication

It has been documented^{[citation needed]} that Western Victorian "aboriginals" used the returnable boomerang, in addition to hunting, as a means of communication over long distances^{[citation needed]} . This visual communication is especially useful when winds or distance make impossible other well known methods of communication such as cooee.

Design

Boomerangs for sale at the 2005 Melbourne Show

A boomerang is a rotating wing. Though it is not a requirement that the boomerang be in its traditional shape, it is usually flat. A falling boomerang starts spinning, and most then fall in a spiral. When the boomerang is thrown with high spin, the wings produce lift. Larger boomerangs are used in hunting, thus they drop on the ground after striking the target. Smaller ones are used in sport, and are the only boomerangs that return to the thrower. Because of its rapid spinning, a boomerang flies in a curve rather than a straight line. When thrown correctly, a boomerang returns to its starting point.

Returning boomerangs consist of two or more arms or wings, connected at an angle. Each wing is shaped as an aerofoil, so air travels faster over one side of the wing than the other. This difference in air speed creates suction or lift along what is roughly a plane which intersects the aerofoil at a near right angle along the long axis of the wing.

These wings are set so that the lift created by each wing opposes the lift of the other, but at an angle such that the flight pattern is constantly shifted as the forces of lift, drag, rotational inertia etc. 'attempt' to reach equilibrium. In simple terms, this means that one side of the boomerang is different from the other. If both wings were identical, the boomerang would spin, but fly in a straight line.

Gyroscopic precession is what makes the boomerang return to the thrower when thrown correctly. This is also what makes the boomerang fly straight up into the air when thrown incorrectly. With the exception of long-distance boomerangs, they should not be thrown sidearm or like a Frisbee, but rather thrown with the long axis of the wings rotating in an almost-vertical plane. When throwing a returning boomerang correctly, it is important to follow the correct instructions to achieve a successful return.

Some boomerangs have turbulators—bumps or pits on the top surface that act to increase the lift as boundary layer transition activators (to keep attached turbulent flow instead of laminar separation).

Fast Catch boomerangs usually have three or more symmetrical wings (in the planform view), whereas a Long Distance boomerang is most often shaped similar to a question mark. ^[15] Maximum Time Aloft boomerangs mostly have one wing considerably longer than the other. This feature, along with carefully executed bends and twists in the wings, help to set up an 'auto-rotation' effect to maximise the boomerang's hover-time in descending from the highest point in its flight.

Throwing technique

diagram of the throwing of a left-handed boomerang

A right-handed boomerang is thrown with an counter-clockwise spin causing a counter-clockwise flight (as seen from above). Conversely, a left-handed boomerang is constructed as a mirror image with the aerofoils' leading edges on the left side of the wings, as seen from above, causing it to produce lift when circling clockwise. Although appearing symmetrical from a plan view, the leading edges are on opposite edges of the wings (leading and trailing) so as to present the leading edges of the aerofoil to the wind when spinning.

Most sport boomerangs are in the range of about 2.5 to 4 ounces. The range on most is between 25 and 40 yards/metres. To throw, use treeless, large open spaces that are twice as large as the range of the boomerang. A right- or left-handed boomerang can be thrown with either hand, but the flight direction will depend upon the boomerang, not the thrower. Throwing a boomerang with the wrong hand requires a throwing motion that many throwers may find awkward.

For right-handed boomerangs, first establish the wind and launch direction by first facing into the wind, slowly turning your head left to right. When your temples feel equally cool on both sides of your head then you will be facing directly into the wind. Now, for the launch direction, turn between thirty to seventy degrees clockwise to your right, depending on wind speed (turn further for stronger winds).

Stand sideways with feet-apart, left foot forward, so as to point in the direction of flight. Hold the right (or left) wing tip, flat side down, using the thumb on top and one to three fingers below. Tilt the boomerang upright at a ten to thirty degree angle from vertical. Cock the boomerang back so that the central bend touches your forearm to allow adequate spin. Aim, by pointing with your left arm, at, or just above, the horizon.

Sharply step forward with the left foot, following through with your right arm and leg as you launch the boomerang in a similar way to throwing a spear or ball. Launch crisply using a whip-like flick with your index finger, at the end of the throw, so as to cause counter-clockwise spin (seen from above). The strength of throw and spin must be varied according to the speed of the wind — the stronger the wind, the less power is required to provide lift enough to make the return journey. In other words, the stronger the wind, the softer you throw.

The boomerang initially should curve around to the left, climb gently, level out in mid-flight, arc around and descend slowly, and then finish by popping up slightly, hovering, then stalling near the thrower. Ideally, it should hover momentarily, to allow the catcher to clamp their hands shut decisively and firmly on the horizontal boomerang from above and below, sandwiching the centre between the catcher's hands. In other words, avoid painful wing strikes to the hand by not sticking fingers directly into the edge of the fast-spinning wing rotor.

Boomerangs shouldn't be thrown level like a flying disc, as it will turn upwards abruptly in the direction of the top of its aerofoils, so if that direction happens to be up rather than to the side it may soar up so high and quickly down again so that the subsequent landing may cause damage to the boomerang and/or whatever it might land on!

Always stay safe by ensuring that your throwing space is empty of people and other obstructions to avoid injury and damage.

Wind speed and direction are very important for a successful throw. A right-handed boomerang is thrown with the wind on one's left cheek. The angle to the wind depends on the boomerang, but starting with a 45 degree angle is recommended. Depending on where the boomerang lands, this angle can be modified so that a closer return is achieved. For example, if the boomerang lands too far on the left, turn to throw more to the right of the wind the next time. If the return goes over one's head, then throw softer. If it falls short, then throw harder. As for the wind speed, a light wind of three to five miles an hour is ideal. If the wind is strong enough to fly a kite, then that's usually too strong for boomerangs.

Throwers can modify various actions to achieve a closer return according to the conditions; the throw angle to the wind, the tilt, the power, the spin, and the inclination can be adjusted to vary the return point so the catch point can be perfected. Facing into the wind, then turning the head slightly to either side to check for the cooling effect, allows one to assess the wind direction, and thus the throwing direction, more accurately. For consistency, return to the same throw point and then use a background target object on the horizon to throw in the same direction relative to the wind each time.

Competitions and records

In international competition, a world cup is held every second year, with teams from Germany and the United States dominating international competition. The individual World Champion title was won in 2000, 2002 and 2004 by Swiss thrower Manuel Schütz. In 2006, Fridolin Frost from Germany won the title, with Manuel Schütz finishing third.

Competition disciplines

Modern boomerang tournaments usually involve some or all of the events listed below ^[16] In all disciplines the boomerang must travel at least 20 meters from the thrower. Throwing takes place individually. The thrower stands at the centre of concentric rings marked on an open field.

• Aussie Round: considered by many to be the ultimate test of boomeranging skills. The boomerang should ideally cross the 50 meter circle and come right back to the centre. Each thrower has five attempts. Points are awarded for distance, accuracy and the catch.
• Accuracy: points are awarded according to how close the boomerang lands to the centre of the rings. The thrower must not touch the boomerang after it has been thrown. Each thrower has five attempts. In major competitions there are two accuracy disciplines: Accuracy 100 and Accuracy 50
• Endurance: points are awarded for the number of catches achieved in 5 minutes.
• Fast Catch: the time taken to throw and catch the boomerang five times. The winner has the fastest timed catches.
• Trick Catch/Doubling: points are awarded for trick catches behind the back, between the feet, etc. In Doubling the thrower has to throw two boomerangs at the same time and catch them in sequence in a special way.
• Consecutive Catch: points are awarded for the number of catches achieved before the boomerang is dropped. The event is not timed.
• MTA 100 (Maximal Time Aloft, field size: 100 metres): points are awarded for the length of time spent by the boomerang in the air. The field is normally a circle measuring 100 metres. An alternative to this discipline, without the 100 metre restriction is called MTA unlimited.
• Long Distance: the boomerang is thrown from the middle point of a 40 metre baseline. The furthest distance travelled by the boomerang away from the baseline is measured. On returning the boomerang must cross the baseline again but does not have to be caught. A special section is dedicated to LD below.
• Juggling: as with Consecutive Catch, only with two boomerangs. At any given time one boomerang must be in the air.

There are many other boomerang disciplines, many played just for fun, but most of these are not considered official competition events.

World records

(May 2008)

Discipline	Result	Name	Year	Tournament
Accuracy 100	99 points	Alex Opri (D)	2007	Viareggio (ITA)
Accuracy 50	68 points	Thomas Stehrenberger (CH)	2001	Lausanne (CH)
Aussie Round	99 points	Fridolin Frost (D)	2007	Viareggio (ITA)
Endurance	81 catches	Manuel Schütz (CH)	2005	Milano (I)
Fast Catch	14.60 s	Adam Ruhf (USA)	1996	Emmaus (USA)
Trick Catch/Doubling	390 points	Manuel Schütz (CH)	2004	Milano (I)
Consecutive Catch	1297 catches	Manuel Schütz (CH)	2005	Aalen (D)
MTA 100	104.87 s	Eric Darnell (USA)	1997	Portland (USA)
MTA unlimited	229.82 s	Betsylew Miale-Gix (USA)	2008	Tucson (USA)
Long Distance	238 m	Manuel Schütz (CH)	1999	Kloten (CH)

Non-discipline record: Smallest Boomerang: Sadir Kattan of Australia in 1997 with 48 mm [1.8 in] long and 45 mm [1.77 in] wide. This tiny boomerang flew the required 20 metres, returning to the accuracy circles on 22 March 1997 at the Australian National Championships.^[17]

Long distance boomerangs

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Long distance boomerang throwers aim to have the boomerang go the furthest possible while returning close to the throwing point. In competition the boomerang must intersect an imaginary surface defined as an infinite vertical extrude of a 40 m large line centred on the thrower. Outside of competitions the definition is not so strict and the thrower is happy whenever he does not have to travel 50 m after the throw to recover the boomerang.

General properties

Long distance boomerangs are optimised to have minimal drag while still having enough lift to fly and return. For this reason they have a very narrow throwing window which discourages many beginners from continuing with this discipline. For the same reason, the quality of manufactured long distance boomerangs is often non-deterministic.

Today's long distance boomerangs have almost all an S or ? shape and have all a profile on both sides (the profile on the bottom side is sometimes called an undercut). This is to minimise drag and lower the lift. Lift must be low because the boomerang is thrown with almost total layover (flat). Long distance boomerangs are most frequently made of composite material, mainly glass fiber epoxy composites.

Flight path

The projection of the flight path of long distance boomerang on the ground resembles a water drop. For older types of long distance boomerangs (all types of so called big hooks), the first and last third of the flight path are very low while the middle third is a fast climbing followed by a fast descent. Nowadays boomerangs are made in a way that their whole flight path is almost planar with a constant climbing during the first half of the trajectory and then a rather constant descent during the second half.

From theoretical point of view, long distance boomerangs are interesting also for the following reason: for achieving a different behaviour during different flight phases, the ratio of the rotation frequency to the forward velocity has a U shaped function, i.e. its derivate crosses 0. Practically it means that the boomerang being at the furthest point has a very low forward velocity. The kinetic energy of the forward component is then stored in the potential energy. This is not true for other types of boomerangs where the loss of kinetic energy is non-reversible (the MTAs also store kinetic energy in potential energy during the first half of the flight but then the potential energy is lost directly by the drag).

Interest in the discipline

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Long distance boomerang throwing had been considered as the ultimate level of competition in the 20th century, but with new century, changes in materials and techniques allowed throws of 100 m to become common, and interest in this category declined. The following explain the evolution:

• Throwing technique: The throwing technique is slightly different from other events, and less natural, as the boomerang must be thrown almost horizontal, but aimed high, yet with maximal power.
• Deceiving exercising: Because of the extra effort required to optimize flight distance, long distance boomerangs are more difficult to make or acquire. On the other hand, they are easy to lose because at 100 m, good vision is needed to follow the flight. Further, sometimes the boomerang does not make the expected turn, and can continue away from the thrower. Not all fields are large, flat and empty enough to allow exercising, making recovery even more difficult.
• Put apart in tournaments: The large area needed, safety reasons and other difficulties usually require the event to be scheduled late in the tournament, often to a Monday, which limits participation.

On the other hand, the long distance throwers, being very few compared to other disciplines, benefit from a family-like spirit present at LD events.

Related terms

Kylie is one of the Aboriginal words for the hunting stick used in warfare and for hunting animals.^[18] Instead of following curved flight paths, kylies fly in straight lines from the throwers. They are typically much larger than boomerangs, and can travel very long distances; due to their size and hook shapes, they can cripple or kill an animal or human opponent. The word is perhaps an English corruption of a word meaning boomerang taken from one of the Western Desert languages, for example, the Warlpiri word karli.

Use in media

The Magic Boomerang, an Australian children's drama series in the 1960s, where time stood still for the duration of its flight, whenever the boomerang was thrown by the child who owned it.

See also

• Batarang
• Throwing Stick

References

1. ^ "Boomerang". Encyclopædia Britannica. Encyclopædia Britannica Online. http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/73646/boomerang. Retrieved 2009-01-25. 
2. ^ Battle Boomerangs
3. ^ Ted Bailey. "Worlds Largest Boomerang". www.flight-toys.com. http://www.flight-toys.com/boomerang/boomnews/worldslargestboom.html. Retrieved 2008-10-17. 
4. ^ "...the white spectators were justly astonished at the dexterity and incredible force with which a bent, edged waddy resembling slighty a turkish scymitar, was thrown by Bungary, a native distinguished by his remarkable courtesy. The weapon, thrown at 20 or 30 yards distance, twirled round in the air with astonishing velocity, and alighting on the right arm of one of his opponents, actually rebounded to a distance not less than 70 or 80 yards, leaving a horrible contusion behind, and exciting universal admiration. http://newspapers.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article/626558
5. ^ An Account of the English Colony in New South Wales, Collins, David, 1798, Appendix XII — Language, p.554 http://www.gutenberg.org/etext/12565
6. ^ http://www.hrelp.org/dawes/img/Boo-mer-rit.gif
7. ^ http://www.boomerang.org.au/articles/article-what-is-a-boomerang.html
8. ^ ^{a b c} "Boomerang History". www.rangs.co.uk. http://www.rangs.co.uk/boomhistory.htm. Retrieved 2008-10-17. 
9. ^ Oblazowa Cave Finds
10. ^ Palaeolithic Throwing Object - Throwing experiments with the palaeolithic throwing object from the Oblazowa in the Polish Carpathians
11. ^ Boomerang works in space, says astronaut
12. ^ Does a Boomerang Work in Space?
13. ^ Boomerangs in Space
14. ^ Lloyd, John; Mitchinson, John (2006). The Book of General Ignorance. Mackays of Chatham. p. 244. ISBN 978-0-571-23368-7. 
15. ^ 'baggressive.com'
16. ^ Based on original text from German wiki.[1]
17. ^ www.boomerang.org.au - Offline
18. ^ "What is a boomerang and where does it come from?". http://www.bumerang-sport.de/story/history.htm. 

External links

• History of boomerangs and a funny video on how to throw them.
• History of Boomerangs
• Unspinning the Boomerang, The Maths and Physics of a Boomerang
• Boomerang aerodynamics an online dissertation
• Explanation of the origin of the word 'Boomerang'
• How to Throw Boomerangs, a beginner's to advanced guide to throwing boomerangs.
•  "Boomerang". Encyclopædia Britannica (11th ed.). 1911. 

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Dansk (Danish)
n. - boomerang
v. intr. - virke som boomerang, give bagslag, falde tilbage på en selv

Nederlands (Dutch)
boemerang

Français (French)
n. - boomerang
v. intr. - faire boomerang

Deutsch (German)
n. - Bumerang
v. - schiefgehen und dem Urheber Schaden zufügen

Ελληνική (Greek)
n. - μπούμερανγκ, αυτεπίστροφο, (μτφ.) επιθετική ενέργεια που αποβαίνει σε βάρος του επιτιθέμενου
v. - κινούμαι σαν μπούμερανγκ, (για επιθετική ενέργεια) αποβαίνω σε βάρος του επιτιθέμενου

Italiano (Italian)
boomerang

Português (Portuguese)
n. - bumerangue (m)
v. - dar resultado contrário (plano)

Русский (Russian)
бумеранг

Español (Spanish)
n. - bumerán
v. intr. - volver al punto de partida

Svenska (Swedish)
n. - bumerang
v. - slå tillbaka, ha motsatt effekt

中文（简体）(Chinese (Simplified))
回飞棒, 飞去来器, 仍回原处, 自作自受

中文（繁體）(Chinese (Traditional))
n. - 回飛棒, 飛去來器
v. intr. - 仍回原處, 自作自受

한국어 (Korean)
n. - 부메랑, 음모, 판자
v. intr. - 되돌아오다, 자업자득이 되다

日本語 (Japanese)
n. - ブーメラン, やぶへび
v. - やぶへびになる

العربيه (Arabic)
‏(الاسم) قوس, خشبي يرتد الى راميه (فعل) يرتد على صاحبه‏

עברית (Hebrew)
n. - ‮מקל קשתי המשמש לפגיעה בחיית-ציד וחוזר לזורקו במקרה של אי-פגיעה, בומרנג, תוכנית או טיעון החוזרים ומופעלים על ממציאם‬
v. intr. - ‮פעל כבומרנג‬

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