boomerang, curved throwing stick used chiefly by the Aboriginals of Australia for hunting and warfare. Boomerangs are also works of art, and Aboriginals often paint or carve designs on them related to legends and traditions. In addition, boomerangs continue to be used in some religious ceremonies and are clapped together, or pounded on the ground, as accompaniment to songs and chants.
The Aboriginals used two kinds of boomerangs and many varieties of boomerang-shaped clubs. The returning boomerang (the name derives from the word used by the Turuwal tribe in New South Wales) is light, thin and well balanced, 12–30 inches (30–75 cm) in length, and up to 12 ounces (about 340 grams) in weight. It varies in shape from a deep, even curve to almost straight sides of an angle. The ends are twisted or skewed in opposite directions either as the boomerang is being made or after it has been heated in ashes.
The boomerang is thrown with a vigorous action in which the thrower may run a few steps to gain greater impetus. It is held at one end, above and behind the thrower’s shoulder, with the concave edge to the front, and swung forward rapidly with the flatter side underneath. Just before release, added impetus is given by a strong wrist movement; it is this spin, together with the skew of the edges, which determines its unique flight pattern. If thrown downward or parallel to the ground, it sweeps upward to a height of 50 feet (15 metres) or more. When thrown so that one end strikes the ground, it ricochets into the air at terrific speed, spinning endwise. It completes a circle or oval 50 yards (45 metres) or more wide and then several smaller ones as it drops to the ground near the thrower. A figure-eight course may also be followed.
Returning boomerangs were used only in eastern and western Australia as playthings, in tournament competition, and by hunters to imitate hawks for driving flocks of game birds into nets strung from trees. The returning boomerang is generally considered to have developed from the nonreturning types, which swerve in flight.
The nonreturning boomerang is longer, straighter, and heavier than the returning variety. With it animals were maimed and killed, while in warfare it caused serious injuries and death. One type has a picklike hook at one end. Boomerang-shaped, nonreturning weapons were used by the ancient Egyptians, by Native Americans of California and Arizona, and in southern India for killing birds, rabbits, and other animals.
Today boomerangs are often made of high-grade plywood and fibreglass. Boomerang competitions—measuring the speed and distance of thrown boomerangs as well as the accuracy and catching ability of the thrower—are held regularly throughout Europe, North America, Australia, and Japan.
FAQs
Boomerang Athletes! Boomerangs are a sport with world championships held every 2 years. You don't have to be a great athlete to compete but it sure helps! Technique, practice and knowledge are far more important than athleticism.
Was boomerang a real weapon? ›
Boomerangs were, historically, 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 (3.9 in) from tip to tip, and the largest over 180 cm (71 in) in length.
Have boomerangs ever been used as weapons? ›
They are weapons for hunting birds and game, such as emu, kangaroo and other marsupials. The hunter can throw the boomerang directly at the animal or make it ricochet off the ground. In skilled hands, the boomerang is effective for hunting prey up to 100 metres away.
Does boomerang really come back? ›
We mentioned it above, but boomerangs come back thanks to an interesting bit of physics called “gyroscopic precession.” Gyroscopic precession is a force generated by spinning objects such as bicycle wheels.
Do boomerangs still exist? ›
Today, boomerangs can be made from a wide variety of materials, including wood, plastic and space-age composite materials. Most modern boomerangs are returning boomerangs. They come in all sorts of shapes and sizes. Most of them are used for sport.
Did Native Americans use boomerangs? ›
Boomerang-shaped, nonreturning weapons were used by the ancient Egyptians, by Native Americans of California and Arizona, and in southern India for killing birds, rabbits, and other animals. Today boomerangs are often made of high-grade plywood and fibreglass.
How far can a boomerang fly? ›
Long Distance boomerangs are defined by those models designed to go from 80-200 yards and are VERY difficult to control. They require ideal throwing conditions and Expert skill to use safely, and lots of open space as in 4-5 football fields of open space or more.
What are the two types of boomerangs? ›
There are two types of boomerangs: returning boomerangs and nonreturning boomerangs. Returning boomerangs are lightweight and have a special curved shape. A returning boomerang flies in a circle and comes back to the thrower. People use returning boomerangs for sporting events and as toys.
Do boomerangs break easily? ›
Care of your boomerang
Boomerangs will break if they hit a hard surface at speed. This includes concrete, walls, fences, trees, cars, frozen ground, even compacted mud. Even a stone buried in the soft ground under grass can break a boomerang. Breakages are almost inevitable.
Are boomerangs still important? ›
Boomerangs are an internationally recognised symbol of Australia. For Aboriginal people the boomerang is as old as creation and a symbol of the enduring strength of Aboriginal culture. The boomerang has also been a popular symbol for tourism and travel, with notions of visitors returning 'like a boomerang'.
History and Anthropology of Boomerangs
King Tutankhamun, the famous Pharaoh of ancient Egypt, who died 2,000 years ago, owned a collection of boomerangs of both the straight flying (hunting) and returning variety.
Do boomerangs hurt? ›
Like any thrown object, boomerangs can cause harmful, even serious injuries if they hit you or someone else during the flight.
What is the physics behind a boomerang? ›
A boomerang is an example of gyroscopic precession. The throw of the boomerang gives it an angular velocity perpendicular to its path. The cross-section of the boomerang is an airfoil which gives it more lift on the top, leading edge than on the bottom.
Are there boomerang competitions? ›
"What it is is a 10-day event of team competition and individual competition and the skills that it takes to throw competitive boomerangs — how far, how accurate, how fast, how high, and can you catch it." Team USA took the cup in the 2022 World Boomerang Championships, which took place in France.
What else are boomerangs used for? ›
Boomerangs have many uses for First Nations people, including as a weapon and a tool, for hunting and digging, and in ceremonies. Some are designed to return to the thrower but the vast majority are not. For many thousands of years, Aboriginal groups exchanged boomerangs across the continent.
What is the game boomerang? ›
The game released for PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5 on January 13, 2022. In the game, players control anthropomorphic food-based characters armed with boomerangs and various superpowers.
