I decided to buy boomerangs on my 17th birthday because I deserved it. I don’t pretend to understand what was going on in my head at that time, but it was a great decision that I still stand by today. It’s a very fun activity to do at a park or open field, and gives great exercise while not requiring a lot of money/time. (It’s especially great if you have no friends, since the boomerangs come back to you! Oh that’s depressing…)

Boomerangs are Real?

Yes! The boomerang was actually the first heavier-than-air man-made flying machine; the oldest boomerang discovered dated to be 20 to 30 thousand years old. The first boomerangs, however, weren’t the type to return to the thrower. These non-returning boomerangs were designed for hunting: the idea that hitting something from far away is better than trying to punch it. Someone must’ve noticed that certain sticks flew further than others and gradually developed it into a weapon.

The aboriginal Australians were one of the few ancient cultures which did not develop the bow and arrow, which may explain why the boomerang is so prevalent in their culture. A 4.4 pound (2KG) throwing stick can be thrown from one end of an American football field to the other and fatally wound a large mammal like a kangaroo. Over time, people realized that these cool throwing sticks can be used for recreation/sport instead of hunting. The famous King Tut even had returning boomerangs buried with him in his tomb, most likely used for recreation as they were too small to hunt with.

How do Boomerangs Work?

A boomerang looks essentially just like a flat stick. Yet if you go outside, pick up a branch off the ground, and throw it, it’s not going to fly back. Unless the branch you picked up happened to have the same airfoil design that boomerangs have (or you threw it straight up):

This design is something we see in airplanes, helicopters, and birds. The design forces air above the wing to be faster than the air beneath it, and creates higher air pressure underneath the wing. This pressure difference generates lift, which is the force that resists gravity. Easy, right? In addition to the airfoil, the wings themselves, although connected, are actually moving at different speeds through the air – as one blade moves forward with the throw, the other blade moves away from the throw. Having one wing moving faster generates more lift and this asymmetric design causes the boomerang to constantly turn.

Don’t be afraid if that made no sense to you – I took years of physics and spent many hours reviewing my fluid dynamics and I can’t say that I fully get it, either.

Basically, the boomerang works by having a special shape that travels through the air. Fun fact: the boomerang also works in zero gravity (with air, of course). In a complete vacuum a boomerang isn’t returning unless you threw it completely around the earth.

Boomerangs are Fun?

Have no friends to play with like Milhouse? Throw a boomerang instead!

Yes! It’s a challenging activity that not only works your upper body when throwing, but also gives you good cardio from chasing after the boomerangs. There are also competitions to make things even more interesting: testing skills such as accuracy, how far you can throw it and still be able to catch it, maximum flight time, trick catches, and so on. My friends and I would also play variations of games like HORSE to try and one-up one another. It’s a great way to spend a few hours outside on a nice day instead of loafing around on your couch.

How Can I Get Started?

Only two things are needed to enjoy throwing boomerangs: an open space and a boomerang. The open space should be clear of obstructions like trees, metal posts, children, animals, houses. You’d be surprised how attracted boomerangs are to things you don’t want to hit.

As for boomerangs, there are a whole lot of them to consider. Boomerangs are traditionally made out of wood or bone, but nowadays you’ll also see them in plastic, foam, or even carbon fiber. They can come in the traditional curved stick design, or have 3/4 wings, or even be triangle shaped. Lastly, they have left-handed and right-handed variants. My first boomerang was a wooden one called the Yanaki by Colorado Boomerang, and it’s by far my favorite. Amazon also has some other nice boomerangs such as the Blue Speed Racer and Aerobie Orbiter. These two boomerangs aren’t made of wood and won’t fly as far as the Yanaki. However, they will be much easier to catch, and will stand up to much more abuse (especially if you’re not throwing on a grass field).

If you plan on trying this out with kids, I recommend starting with the non-wooden boomerangs first. If you’re really interested in buying more boomerangs, I recommend the Boomerang Man, Richard Harrison. I bought my first boomerangs from Rich and was amazed by the level of customer service he provided. Rich has been in this industry for a long time and definitely knows his stuff. His website does look rather outdated, but it is definitely worth checking out.