Boomerang facts for kids
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A boomerang is a special tool that you throw. It's usually made with parts shaped like airplane wings, which help it spin and fly. Some boomerangs are designed to fly back to the person who threw them. Others, called non-returning boomerangs, are made to fly straight and were traditionally used by some Aboriginal Australians for hunting.
Throughout history, people have used boomerangs for hunting, sports, and fun. They come in many shapes and sizes for different uses. Even though boomerangs are a famous symbol of Australia, very old boomerangs have also been found in places like Egypt, the Americas, and Europe.
Contents
What is a Boomerang?
A boomerang is a throwing stick with special shapes that help it fly. Traditionally, they were made from wood, but also from bone, horn, tusks, or even iron. Today, boomerangs used for sports can be made from plywood or plastics like ABS, polypropylene, or carbon fiber.
Boomerangs come in many shapes and sizes. These shapes often depend on where they came from or what they were used for. Some common types include the traditional Australian L-shape, the cross-stick, and the pinwheel.
Returning Boomerangs
Returning boomerangs are special because they fly back to the thrower. They were some of the first human-made objects that could fly, even though they are heavier than air. A returning boomerang has two or more wing-like parts. When it spins, these parts create uneven forces that make it fly in a curved path, like an ellipse. If thrown correctly, it will return to where it started.
The typical L-shape is the most recognized form of a returning boomerang. While mostly used for fun today, returning boomerangs were also used to scare birds. People would throw them above tall grass to make game birds fly into waiting nets. Modern boomerangs for competitions come in many shapes, sizes, and materials.
Non-Returning Boomerangs (Throwing Sticks)
Throwing sticks, also known as valari or kylies, are mainly used as weapons. Unlike returning boomerangs, they don't have the special wing shapes that make them curve back. They are usually heavier and designed to fly as straight and powerfully as possible. Their goal is to hit a target and bring down animals for hunting.
The valari from Tamil culture in India is an ancient example. It often has two parts set at an angle, with one thin and pointed, and the other rounded for a handle. Valaris can be made of iron or wood with iron tips.
Where Did the Name "Boomerang" Come From?
The exact origin of the word "boomerang" is not fully known. Some say it came into the English language in 1827 from an old Aboriginal language in New South Wales, Australia. An older version, wo-mur-rang, was noted in 1798.
The first time Europeans saw a boomerang in action was in December 1804 at Farm Cove. During a fight between Aboriginal groups, a man named Bungary threw a curved weapon. It spun very fast and hit an opponent, then bounced back a long distance, leaving a bad bruise. This amazed the people watching.
In 1822, the word "bou-mar-rang" was recorded in the language of the Turuwal people near Port Jackson. The Turuwal people used this word specifically for a returning throw-stick, even though they had other words for their hunting sticks.
A Look Back: Boomerang History
Historically, boomerangs were used for many things:
- Hunting weapons
- Musical instruments (hit together to make sounds)
- Battle clubs
- Tools to start fires
- decoys to attract waterfowl (birds that live near water)
- Toys for fun
Boomerangs can be very small, less than 10 centimeters (4 inches) long, or very large, over 180 centimeters (6 feet) long. Some traditional boomerangs were decorated with special designs. Most boomerangs you see today are for tourists or sports, and they usually return.
Ancient Discoveries
Drawings of boomerangs being thrown at animals like kangaroos are found in some of the oldest rock art in the world. This art is in the Kimberley region of Australia and could be up to 50,000 years old! Boomerang drawings are also in rock art in West Papua.
The oldest surviving boomerangs from Aboriginal Australians were found in a swamp in South Australia. They are about 12,000 years old!
Even though boomerangs are linked to Australia, they have also been found in ancient Europe, Egypt, and North America. There's proof that non-returning boomerangs were used by Native Americans in California and Arizona, and by people in South India to hunt birds and rabbits. Some boomerangs were not thrown at all but used in hand to hand combat by Indigenous Australians.
Ancient Egyptian boomerangs have been found, and tests show some of them could return. A boomerang made from a mammoth's tusk, found in Poland, is believed to be about 30,000 years old! Even King Tutankhamun had a collection of boomerangs, both straight-flying and returning types.
No one knows exactly how the returning boomerang was invented. Some experts think it developed from the flat throwing stick, which is still used by Aboriginal Australians and other groups worldwide. A hunting boomerang is very hard to make perfectly straight. The curving flight of returning boomerangs was probably first noticed by hunters trying to make their throwing sticks fly straight.
Some believe the curved shape and flight path of returning boomerangs were useful for hunting birds and small animals. The noise a boomerang makes as it flies, or when it lightly hits tree leaves, might have scared birds into nets or towards hidden hunters. In southeastern Australia, it's said that boomerangs were made to hover over ducks, making them dive towards hunters with nets or clubs, thinking it was a hawk.
Most boomerangs used by Aboriginal groups in Australia were traditionally non-returning. These weapons, called "throwsticks" or "kylies," were used to hunt many animals, from kangaroos to parrots. A 2 kg (4.4 lb) non-returning boomerang thrown about 100 meters (330 ft) could seriously injure a large animal. A throwstick could hit a kangaroo's legs or knees, or an emu's neck. Hooked non-returning boomerangs, called "beaked kylies," were said to kill multiple birds when thrown into a thick flock.
Today, throwsticks are still used by Aboriginal peoples for many purposes. Besides throwing, they can be used as clubs, for digging, to start fires by rubbing, and they make a sound when two are hit together. Recent findings also suggest boomerangs were used as weapons in wars.
Boomerangs Today: Sport and Fun
Today, most boomerangs are used for fun and sport. There are many types of throwing contests:
- How accurately it returns.
- The "Aussie Round."
- Fancy catches ("trick catch").
- How long it stays in the air ("maximum time aloft").
- How fast you can throw and catch it five times ("fast catch").
- How many times you can catch it without dropping ("endurance").
Modern sport boomerangs are often made from Finnish birch plywood, hardwood, plastic, or other strong materials. They come in many shapes and colors. Most sport boomerangs weigh less than 100 grams (3.5 oz). Boomerangs for the "maximum time aloft" event are often very light, under 25 grams (0.9 oz).
Some people have even suggested using boomerangs instead of clay pigeons for shotgun sports. The way a boomerang flies is more like a bird, making it a harder target.
Modern boomerangs are often designed using computers for very precise shapes. They can have more than two "wings" (like 3 or 4) to get more lift. A newer invention is a round boomerang, which looks different but still returns using the same principles, making it safer to catch.
In 1992, German astronaut Ulf Merbold showed that boomerangs work in space just like they do on Earth. French and Japanese astronauts have repeated this experiment on space stations.
Since the late 1900s, many people have started creating unique art boomerangs. These often look very different from traditional ones. They can be made from thin plywoods and plastics. Designs vary widely, from animal shapes to funny themes, complex symbols, or just abstract art. The painted designs are also very diverse. Some art boomerangs are not designed to fly back.
How Boomerangs Fly: The Science
A returning boomerang is like a spinning wing. It has two or more arms, or wings, connected at an angle. Each wing is shaped like an airfoil, which is the shape that helps airplanes fly. Even though the traditional L-shape is common, a boomerang doesn't have to be that exact shape to work.
Boomerangs are made for either right-handed or left-handed throwers. The main difference is how the front edges of the wing sections are shaped. A right-handed boomerang flies in a circle to the left (counter-clockwise), while a left-handed one flies to the right (clockwise). Most sport boomerangs weigh between 70 and 110 grams (2.5-3.9 oz) and can fly 20 to 40 meters (65-130 ft).
When you throw a boomerang with a lot of spin, it flies in a curve instead of a straight line. If thrown correctly, it comes back to you. As the boomerang spins and moves through the air, the air flowing over its wings creates lift. One side of each wing moves faster through the air than the other side because of the spin. This means the top part of the boomerang creates more lift than the bottom part.
You might think this would make the boomerang just tilt over. But because the boomerang is spinning so fast, it has a lot of angular momentum. This causes something called gyroscopic precession, which makes the boomerang turn in a circle. If you throw it flat like a Frisbee, the same effect will make it shoot straight up and then crash.
Fast Catch boomerangs usually have three or more wings that look the same from above. Long Distance boomerangs often look like a question mark. Boomerangs for "Maximum Time Aloft" usually have one wing much longer than the others. This design, along with careful bends and twists, helps the boomerang "auto-rotate" and hover longer as it comes down from its highest point.
Some boomerangs have small bumps or pits on their top surface called turbulators. These help increase lift by making the airflow stick better to the surface.
How to Throw a Boomerang
You should always throw boomerangs in wide, open spaces, at least twice as big as the boomerang's flight range. Whether a boomerang flies left or right depends on its design, not which hand you throw it with. You can throw a right-handed or left-handed boomerang with either hand, but it might feel awkward if you use the "wrong" hand.
Here's how to throw a right-handed boomerang (reverse for a left-handed one): 1. Grip: Hold smaller boomerangs between your finger and thumb at one end. For larger ones, wrap one or two fingers over the top edge to help it spin. 2. Facing: The curved, wing-shaped side of the boomerang should face towards you (the inside of the thrower). The flatter side should face outwards. 3. Angle: Tilt the boomerang outwards, from almost straight up to about 20 or 30 degrees. The stronger the wind, the closer to vertical you should hold it. 4. Aim: Aim to the right of the wind coming towards you. The exact angle depends on the wind and your boomerang. 5. Trajectory: Throw it either parallel to the ground or slightly upwards. 6. Spin and Force: The key is to make it spin with the right force and at the correct angle.
A properly thrown boomerang will fly out parallel to the ground, maybe climbing a little. It will then make a smooth, anti-clockwise circle or tear-drop shape, flatten out, and return hovering. It should come in from the left or spiral in from behind. Ideally, it will hover, allowing you to catch it by sandwiching the center between your hands.
Boomerangs can return even without wind, but you should always consider even very light winds. Little or no wind is best for an accurate throw. Light winds (up to 3-5 knots) can be managed with skill. If the wind is strong enough to fly a kite, it might be too strong unless you have a boomerang made for strong winds. Gusty days are challenging, and you need to wait for calm moments between gusts to throw.
Boomerang Competitions and Records
An aerodynamic returning boomerang.
|
|
| First played | Ancient |
|---|---|
| Characteristics | |
| Contact | No |
| Mixed-sex | No |
| Type | Throwing sport |
| Equipment | Boomerang |
| Presence | |
| Country or region | Australia |
| Olympic | No |
| World Games | 1989 (invitational) |
Boomerang throwing is a competitive sport! A world record was set on June 3, 2007, by Tim Lendrum in the "Aussie Round." He scored 96 out of 100 points, which was a national and world record.
In international competitions, a World Cup is held every two years. As of 2017, teams from Germany and the United States were very strong. Manuel Schütz from Switzerland has won the individual World Champion title many times (2000, 2002, 2004, 2012, 2016). Fridolin Frost from Germany also won in 1992, 1998, 2006, and 2008.
The team competitions in 2012 and 2014 were won by "Boomergang," a team with players from different countries. Germany won the team world championship in 2012, and Japan won for the first time in 2014. In 2016, the USA became the team world champion.
Competition Events
Modern boomerang tournaments usually include some or all of these events. In all events, the boomerang must fly at least 20 meters (65 ft) from the thrower. Throwers stand in the middle of circles marked on an open field.
- Aussie Round: This is seen as the top test of boomerang skills. The boomerang should ideally cross the 50-meter (164 ft) circle and come right back to the center. Each thrower gets five tries. Points are given for distance, how accurate it is, and the catch.
- Accuracy: Points are given based on how close the boomerang lands to the center of the rings. The thrower cannot touch the boomerang after it's thrown. Each thrower gets five tries. There are two accuracy events: Accuracy 100 and Accuracy 50.
- Endurance: Points are given for how many times you can catch the boomerang in 5 minutes.
- Fast Catch: This measures the time it takes to throw and catch the boomerang five times. The fastest time wins.
- Trick Catch/Doubling: Points are given for special catches, like behind your back or between your feet. In Doubling, you throw two boomerangs at the same time and catch them one after the other in a special way.
- Consecutive Catch: Points are given for how many times you can catch the boomerang without dropping it. This event is not timed.
- MTA 100 (Maximal Time Aloft, 100m): Points are given for how long the boomerang stays in the air. The throwing field is usually a 100-meter (330 ft) circle. An "MTA unlimited" event exists without the 100-meter restriction.
- Long Distance: The boomerang is thrown from the middle of a 40-meter (130 ft) line. The furthest distance the boomerang travels away from this line is measured. When it returns, it must cross the line again, but it doesn't have to be caught.
- Juggling: Like Consecutive Catch, but with two boomerangs. One boomerang must always be in the air.
World Records
| Event | Result | Name | Year | Tournament |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Accuracy 100 | 99 points |  Alex Opri |
2007 |  Viareggio |
| Aussie Round | 99 points | Fridolin Frost |
2007 | Viareggio |
| Endurance | 81 catches |  Manuel Schütz |
2005 | Milan |
| Fast Catch | 14.07 s | Manuel Schütz |
2017 |  Besançon |
| Trick Catch/Doubling | 533 points | Manuel Schütz |
2009 | Bordeaux |
| Consecutive Catch | 2251 catches |  Haruki Taketomi |
2009 | Japan |
| MTA 100 | 139.10 s |  Nick Citoli |
2010 | Rome |
| MTA unlimited | 380.59 s | Billy Brazelton |
2010 | Rome |
| Long Distance | 238 m | Manuel Schütz |
1999 | Kloten |
Guinness World Record – Smallest Returning Boomerang
In 1997, Sadir Kattan from Australia set a record for the smallest returning boomerang. It was only 48 mm (1.9 in) long and 46 mm (1.8 in) wide. This tiny boomerang flew the required 20 meters (65 ft) and returned to the target circles!
Guinness World Record – Longest Throw of Any Object by a Human
A boomerang was used to set a Guinness World Record for the longest throw of any object by a human. David Schummy threw a boomerang 427.2 meters (1,401.6 ft) on March 15, 2005, in Australia. This beat the previous record set by Erin Hemmings, who threw an Aerobie 406.3 meters (1,333 ft).
Long-Distance Boomerangs
Long-distance boomerang throwers try to make their boomerang go as far as possible while still returning close to where they threw it. In competitions, the boomerang must cross an imaginary line 40 meters (130 ft) away from the thrower. Outside of competitions, people are happy if they don't have to walk too far to pick up their boomerang.
Special Features
Long-distance boomerangs are designed to have very little air resistance (drag) but still enough lift to fly and return. Because of this, they are very tricky to throw correctly, which can be hard for beginners.
Today, most long-distance boomerangs are shaped like an "S" or a question mark (?). They also have angled edges on both sides to reduce drag and lift. This is important because they are thrown almost flat. These boomerangs are usually made from strong materials like fiberglass composites.
How They Fly
The path a long-distance boomerang takes on the ground looks like a water drop. Older types of long-distance boomerangs would fly very low at the start and end, but climb high and fast in the middle. Newer designs fly almost flat, climbing steadily during the first half of the flight and then descending steadily during the second half.
Related Terms: What is a Kylie?
In the Noongar language, a kylie is a flat, curved piece of wood that looks like a boomerang. It's thrown for hunting birds and animals. "Kylie" is one of the Aboriginal words for a hunting stick used in fighting and hunting. Unlike returning boomerangs, kylies fly in straight lines. They are usually much bigger than boomerangs and can travel very far. Because of their size and hooked shapes, they can injure or kill an animal or even a human opponent. The word "kylie" might come from an Aboriginal word for "boomerang" from the Western Desert languages, like the Warlpiri word "karli."
See also
In Spanish: Búmeran para niños
- List of premodern combat weapons
- List of martial arts weapons
- Australian Aboriginal artefacts
- Batarang
- Bat'leth
- Captain Boomerang
- Chakram
- CAC Boomerang, a World War II fighter-plane
- Flying wing, tailess boomerang shaped aircraft
- Frisbee
- Googie, boomerang-shaped architecture
- Shuriken
- Throwing stick
- Valari
