The non-returning boomerang has been used for at least 20,000-30,000 years and was often made from mammoth ivory. These boomerangs were used for hunting purposes, designed to fly straight and stay airborne for as long as possible.
Prehistoric hunters may have thrown boomerangs from a great distance at an animal to enjoy it for dinner. These animals were often quite small, but even larger ones like kangaroos or ostriches could be injured by a larger boomerang. Perhaps while crafting a conventional boomerang, someone inadvertently created one that was special. Thus, when thrown, it returned to the thrower’s position.
There are some hypotheses that the returning boomerang may have been used in some kind of game, but there is little evidence to support this. The exact origin of the boomerang remains a mystery. Archaeological evidence shows that tools with similar characteristics and uses to the Australian Aboriginal boomerang have been found worldwide, such as in the Jaskinia Obłazowa cave in Poland, dating back around 30,000 years, or in the tomb of Pharaoh Tutankhamun (around 2000 years ago).
While there are many different ways to make a boomerang, traditionally, it is made from hardwood, carved at an angle ranging from 90° to 120°, with a flat underside and a slightly curved top. So what allows the boomerang to return? The answer is as follows. As mentioned, a boomerang has 2 wings with an opening angle of 90-120°. When thrown horizontally with a high rotational speed, the two wings of the boomerang generate lift, similar to the large rotor blades of a helicopter.
The key difference is that due to the obtuse angle formed by the two wings, the boomerang will fly in an elliptical curved path and return exactly to the thrower’s location if designed correctly. Additionally, the air pressure on the curved surface, combined with the twisting motion during the throw, causes the boomerang to loop and return. A right-handed person will throw the boomerang counterclockwise, and it will return to their left side (the opposite for left-handed individuals).
Those who have used a boomerang certainly understand that throwing it so that it returns is not a simple task. To make a boomerang return, you must follow certain principles. First, do not throw it directly into the wind. Aim at a 45° angle away from the wind to the right (or to the left if your boomerang is designed for left-hand use). By flicking your wrist to make the boomerang spin (if you cannot flick your wrist, the boomerang will not fly stably), throw the boomerang forward and slightly above eye level by about 10°. Tilt your arm about 5°-20°. If it goes too far, you need to reduce the amplitude of your elbow release and actively flick your wrist more.
