Welcome to Boomtown!

aLAcrity Boomerangs is a group of boomerang enthusiasts from Los Angeles. At the moment, it is comprised of three people: Manny (a.k.a. v12aero), phnxhawk and Charles (a.k.a. hey_kuya).

Manny and I (phnxhawk) started this blog to share our interest in boomerangs--throwing and tuning, making our own rangs, as well as unraveling the science behind them. As we continue our journey into the world of boomerangs, we hope to make new friends and to expand our horizons. In this blog, we will post such things as videos from our regular throwing sessions, musings and lessons learned from throwing, and thoughts on making our own rangs.

Manny and I started throwing boomerangs since Spring 2009. It has been a long road as we developed a semblance of technique for throwing 'rangs. Nevertheless, after many a bruised hand or windy day, our fascination with these returning throwing sticks remains undimmed. We most certainly have more to learn about boomerangs, but we'll keep at it as long as we continue to have many happy returns.

--phnxhawk--

Friday, December 30, 2011

Happy New Year!

--by phnxhawk--

In the spirit of ringing in the new calendar year, I thought it would be nice to go back to our roots and post another "fun with boomerangs" type of video. In fact, it is not unlike the "Dual Diabolino" video with which we started our 2011 run. It would have been awesome if we three were throwing Eric Darnell Tri Flys so that I would have an excuse for a "punny" title, but this will simply have to do. On our last throwing session of the year, Charles, Manny and I decided to go back to basics and break out the Eric Darnell Pro Flys. Of course, in our case, old boomerangs simply beget fresh antics. For some of our thoughts on the Pro Fly, check out our first Ask aLAcrity.


Happy holidays, everyone!

"Putting my spin on boomerangs..."

Monday, December 26, 2011

Ask aLAcrity #3: Gloves of the Thrower

--by phnxhawk--

Question: Do you use gloves when throwing boomerangs, and what kind do you use?

One of the questions I am often asked when I first mention that I throw boomerangs is: "Doesn't it hurt to catch the boomerang?" When Manny and I first started throwing, we asked ourselves the same question. After suffering the occasional nick on the finger or bruised palm, our answer was, "Well, yes, it sometimes does." In an attempt to address this concern, we decided to try wearing gloves while throwing. (I believe Manny first suggested this to me when he bought his Spinback 55 and read a review that said something to the effect of "Do wear gloves with this boomerang.")

Since then, we have had time to evaluate the wisdom of our choice in gloves and revisit the decision to wear them. To begin the discussion, here are the gloves we bought and currently still use.

Our Gloves

Firm Grip Utility Gloves (Manny)


Firm Grip All Purpose Gloves (Gerard)


American football receiver's gloves (Charles), similar to below:


The Method to Our Madness

Manny and I were initially drawn to gloves that offered some form of padding over the palm, as we have occasionally returned home with some bruises in that area owing to some overly aggressive catch attempts. We were also interested in covering the fingers to guard against the occasional cut from our then-new carbon and paxolin boomerangs. Of course, we desired that this protection come without excessive restriction to mobility of the fingers and hand overall. So, we decided to try the work gloves shown above, and for the most part, they have met our needs.

On the throwing field, we found that the gloves provided the desired protection against cuts. However, any pipe dreams of recklessly arresting a fast-moving boomerang were dashed. We found that catching either very heavy booms or booms that had not slowed toward the end of the return still could leave the occasional bruise. I would hazard a guess that any benefit we derived from the palm padding was more of a placebo; we were more willing to risk making those catches--and justify any lack of bruises, whether by luck or skill--if we felt we were protected against harm.

One might expect that work gloves would unduly hinder the movement of the hand, as that style of glove tends to be bulky rather than form-fitting. I tried on a few gloves at the store to find a pair that seemed to provide a reasonable compromise between a good fit, some degree of palm padding and adequate grip between the thumb and forefinger. So far, I have not found the bulkiness of the gloves to be problematic. I hardly notice the fit of the glove on the off hand (left) during a throwing session. On the throwing hand, I do notice where the excess finger material bunches up while forming the standard pinch grip with that glove worn. It feels somewhat strange at first, but other than that sensation of awkwardness and the lack of direct contact between the skin and boomerang, the glove does not hinder the throw.

Why did Manny and I ultimately choose work gloves instead of another type? We considered cycling and workout gloves--both the fingered and fingerless kinds. These gloves would be more form fitting, and the cycling gloves would probably provide the desired level of protection (except, perhaps, in the case of fingerless gloves for obvious reasons). Ultimately, we were swayed by the desire to try the palm padding advertised in the description of the work gloves. More realistically, though, it probably came down to our driving by the local Home Depot before Big 5 Sporting Goods on the way home from the workplace. The plan was to try one kind of glove; if it turned out to be a complete flop, we would try something else. So, one could say the call on what glove to pick was essentially made by the flip of a coin.

Charles, as mentioned before, opted for a pair of receiver's gloves, essentially taking the road Manny and I did not take. Fortunately, he conveniently already had them lying around the house from past sporting activities. (Convenience certainly seems to weigh heavily in our choice of gloves.)

Gloves Revisited

Since we first started using gloves, we have had ample time to revisit the questions of whether we require gloves and what we would want in a replacement pair.

Charles told me he recently that he has weaned himself off throwing with gloves. I still use mine, but primarily when throwing certain boomerangs or on windy days, when all my boomerangs return with a fair bit of speed. In particular, I feel compelled to don them whenever I throw the Spinback 55 or any of my paxolin or G12 boomerangs from Volker Behrens. My paxolin and G12 boomerangs are all thin with "sharp" edges--well, they definitely seem sharp when trying to catch one on a hot return. In particular, cuts and a cracked fingernail from my Mini Marathon convinced me to keep at least one glove on when throwing those boomerangs.

Ah, but why one glove? I prefer to have the direct contact between my hand and the boomerang during the throw, as I feel it helps me better time my movements for the release. With the glove on that hand, I tend to feel as if I need to pay more attention to the throw. For that reason, I eventually dropped the glove on the throwing hand, but retained the glove on the off hand to provide some protection during catches. Since that leaves one hand without any sort of covering, I sometimes wonder how meaningful it is to continue using it. However, most of my "injuries" during catches have been sustained to my off hand, so I continue to feel more pressure to wear a glove for that hand. Incidentally, I found that Larry, who predominantly throws Volker's rangs and whom I have seen regularly make one-handed catches of fast-moving Mini Marathons and Sussex Hooks, adopted the same habit independently.

Charles, Manny and I once discussed what our ideal boomerang glove might be. Based on comments much like those I have given so far, Charles suggested that we were essentially looking for his receiver's gloves with some palm padding similar to what we currently have in our work gloves, but with the thumb and index fingers on the throwing hand cut off for that direct contact when using the pinch grip. I myself have not yet seen fit to purchase a pair of gloves for that type of custom "tailoring," but I might try it one of these days.

My Recommendation

Are throwing gloves right for you? Well, they certainly are useful for guarding against the occasional nick or cut, especially when catching boomerangs that are still moving quickly or with much rotation.

What should you be looking for? I would focus primarily on the fit and the grip. I would recommend starting the search with gloves that have a snug fit, similar to the receiver's gloves Charles has used. Those will probably feel most comfortable and natural to wear. Glove materials that would not impact your grip on the throwing hand are also desirable. So, while out shopping, run your fingers over the material, especially where your throwing hand would normally contact the boomerang during a throw. Try to make an estimation in your mind of how well it would grip a painted boomerang during a throw. If you have trouble tracking down sports gloves that you feel would work well, you may need to also look at work gloves like Manny's and mine. They will likely have a looser fit, but might be easier to find.

Be sure to try the gloves on before you make a decision. Check for a comfortable fit and decent gripping ability of the material. Also try wearing the gloves and making the motions for a throw and catch to investigate whether you are comfortable with how the glove material bunches up at the joints in your fingers. Ultimately, though, you will simply need to do the obvious, and just buy a pair to try out on the field.

"Putting my spin on boomerangs..."

Wednesday, December 14, 2011

Trick Catch Part 2

Merry Winter Season!

As promised, here are the remaining trick catches from the trick catch portion of official boomerang competitions.  In the first post, Trick Catch Part 1,  we showed you these catches:

  • Right-Hand Catch
  • Left-Hand Catch
  • Eagle Catch - A catch made from above the boomerang using only one hand
  • Behind the Back Catch (Two-Handed)
  • Tunnel Catch - Both of your feet on the ground and one hand passing between your legs to catch the boomerang
  • Foot Catch

In this second post, cleverly titled Trick Catch Part 2, we show you the remaining four trick catches, for a total of 10 in all.  They are the following:

  • One-Handed Back Catch
  • Hackey Catch
  • Two-Handed Under the Leg Catch
  • One-Handed Under the Leg Catch

Here is the video:


Now that we have managed to successfully complete all the single boomerang trick catches, the next step is the doubling portion of trick catch.  This will be much more of a challenge.  We hope to share the successes of that endeavor when we achieve it.  That might take a few months of practice though so keep that at the back of your mind for now.

As for me, my next post will be another boomerang review as we haven't done one of those in a while.  What boomerang will I be reviewing you may be wondering?  Not one boomerang but two: a set of Turbo doublers that I ordered from Kendall Davis.

You can see the Turbo here:  www.kendalldavis.us
Click on the "Advanced" tab on the left and scroll down to see the Turbo boomerang.

Once again, thanks for reading our blog and have a safe holiday season!

-aLAcrity

Sunday, December 11, 2011

[Early] Season's Greetings!

--by phnxhawk--

After a month of inclement weekend weather in normally sunny Southern California and various other distractions, Manny and I have finally found our way back out to the throwing field. However, we do have content that we will be publishing in the next month. Here is some of what we will be posting soon:
  • Another edition of "Ask aLAcrity" discussing our current choice of boomerang throwing gloves.
  • More trick catch practice videos.
  • A look at phnxhawk's first attempts to carve his own boomerangs.
  • Long overdue updates to phnxhawk's boomerang collection list.
While you are waiting for those updates, though, here is something to whet your appetite....

Sometimes, the most memorable moments on the field are not those awesome catches and ridiculously low throws, but those fleeting moments of inspiration (or silliness, perhaps) that exemplify how much fun you are having there. While we three were going retro, throwing copies of the Eric Darnell Pro Fly, Charles pointed out some of the lesser known features of that model. All that for the low, low price of...the contents of one full Giant's Wallet from The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time.



[EDIT: After watching some of my favorite infomercials from the past several years, all I have to say is: Here's to you, Billy Mays!]

Incidentally, in case you were wondering what could possibly have kept us away from throwing sticks...

For my part, I have been distracted by a most epic video game: Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim.

From December 11, 2011

If pressed, I might try to argue for Skyrim's relevance to wind-related activities by noting the presence of dragons and the use of shouting as a tool and weapon. On second thought, that could simply suggest I am blowing hot air.

Well, if nothing else, our distractions have not been completely unrelated to boomerangs. For instance, Manny and I have been replaying The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time. And what is one of the gadgets the protagonist Link uses in the game?

From December 11, 2011

Young Link seems to employ a fair amount of layover--not to mention that he is a Southpaw--but at least he is not throwing it like a frisbee. Perhaps his dependence on layover might be due to his limited strength at his age. Not to mention that I have never used a boomerang to grab distant items and return them to me. And--well, it is probably best not to dwell on these details, but instead focus on how awesome it is to play a video game with a boomerang in it!


So, as always, thank you for your patience! And we hope you will look forward to our future posts about boomerangs!

..."Putting my spin on boomerangs"

Sunday, October 16, 2011

Trick Catch Part 1

by Manny Olivares

Hello all,

Recently we have been practicing the myriad of trick catches that must be completed at official boomerang competitions in the trick catch category. The trick catch portion of boomerang competitions actually consists of two events. The first event consists of completing 10 different catches with only one boomerang. The second portion involves doubling (throwing two boomerangs at the same time) and completing two different catches with the boomerangs.

This first post only has six out of the ten catches in the first event. We will be bringing you the rest of the catches on video within the coming weeks I hope. I, myself, have managed to successfully complete all the 10 catches required in the single boomerang category. However, I have not practiced the trick catches in the doubling portion so that will take a lot more practice.

Here are the catches presented in this first video:

  • Right-Hand Catch
  • Left-Hand Catch
  • Eagle Catch - A catch made from above the boomerang using only one hand
  • Behind the Back Catch (Two-Handed)
  • Tunnel Catch - Both of your feet on the ground and one hand passing between your legs to catch the boomerang
  • Foot Catch

Enjoy!





Thanks for watching!

aLAcrity

Wednesday, September 21, 2011

In the Spotlight: Mirage by Colorado

--by phnxhawk--

Boomerang: Mirage
Make: Colorado Boomerangs


The stretch of beach where Manny and I throw sometimes does not seem large enough. "How could this be?" one might wonder. After all, in some of our videos, it seems as if the sand goes on and on without an obstacle in sight. Well, on some occasions, I might be led to that sentiment by the loss of an errant boomerang to the briny depths. On other days, especially at the height of summer, it might be because vacationers have decided that the best, most quiet place to lie down and soak some rays is within range of my longer range, heavy-hitting boomerangs. On days like that, such as I had on a warm holiday weekend a few months back, a low-flying, shorter-range boomerang like the Mirage by Colorado Boomerangs can keep alive the hope that many happy returns can be had even when boxed into a smaller space.*

Overview & Physical Characteristics

From phnxhawk's Boomerang Collection

The Mirage, a sports 'rang from Colorado, has a planform resembling that of a hockey stick or an asymmetric Vee-type shape. In fact, when I first saw it, that hockey stick shape led me to mistake it for an MTA type of boomerang, as I had seen some similar-looking boomerangs with the more question-mark type of details at B Aggressive. Instead, the Mirage is a more sedate, beginner-intermediate level sport boomerang with a range up to about 35 yards. Carved from plywood, mine weighs in at 57 g, between my Rainier (53 g) and Eagle (62 g); so, it feels light in the hand.

Throwing & Flight


The Mirage is a delight to throw, especially on a day with just a light breeze blowing. With such a breeze and a fairly normal throw, I find the boomerang will consistently produce low, round flights. I have not had Manny spot the range for me, but I would say that it is comparable to the Rainier, which goes out to about 35 yards.

With a light breeze, I will typically throw the Mirage with a small amount of layover--10 or so degrees, perhaps--and at eye level. A "medium" strength throw, combined with a healthy amount of spin, complete the picture. With stronger winds, such as I had in the video above, I do find myself having to throw higher to keep the boomerang under control. Other than that, I have found it to be fairly ordinary to throw. To keep the flights level, I do have to be more mindful of the layover and release height, but it still tends to return even when I am a little more relaxed with regards to maintaining a level and vertical release.

The flights tend to be fairly level and round, with the boomerang returning to the hand without "putting on the brakes." This can make catches somewhat intimidating at first, since the spinning, returning boomerang takes on the appearance of an axe thrown at one's head. With the strength of my typical throw, that return speed is still manageable, providing ample opportunity to sandwich the boomerang between my hands for the catch.

I have found that I have been able to throw the Mirage comfortably in winds ranging between a calm to a light wind (say, 5 to 7 mph). Somewhere in the middle is the "sweet spot" in which I love to set up one low throw after another. When the winds are on the stronger side, I usually need to aim higher on the release to help keep the flights reasonably level and the return speed and height manageable. Those flights are still a lot of fun, but just aren't the flights that won my affection.

Summary

When I first decided to pick up the Mirage, I was lured by the promise of consistent, low and round flights. I was not disappointed. I did not find it to be especially difficult to learn to throw, and honing my technique to reliably obtain low and level flights was straightforward. I would not recommend it as an introductory boomerang to a first-time thrower, but it would make for a fun addition to the boomerang bag for novices with some experience throwing other 'rangs. The range is also short enough to keep it on my short list when I am trying to throw boomerangs in small parks. So, if low and round flights are your fancy, you may want to consider picking up the Mirage should you ever stumble across one for sale--at a reasonable price, of course!


"Putting my spin on boomerangs..."

Sunday, September 18, 2011

Ask aLAcrity #2: Boomerang Bags

--by phnxhawk--

Question: What type of bag do you use to carry boomerangs?


It is easy enough to grab a boomerang or two on one's way out the door and stuff one of the arms in a jacket or pants pocket. However, as with Pringles chips, "Once you pop, you can't stop." Almost overnight, two boomerangs give way to 20 more, and suddenly, one finds oneself in dire need of a travel bag in which to carry all those sticks.

Manny, Charles and I can generally expect to carry between 10 and 40 'rangs at any given time. We also need to leave enough space to carry water, snacks, pocket cameras and tripods, as well as various boomerang throwing and tuning supplies. These boomerang paraphernalia typically include: throwing gloves, wipe-down rag, wind direction indicator, rubber bands, tape, coins and various print-outs containing throwing or tuning tips. All this makes for a fair amount of bulk to haul around.

I suppose almost any bag would do for this task. When Manny and I stopped by the S.C.O.R.E. National Beach Boomerang tournament in Hermosa Beach in 2010, I saw that participants were sporting carrying cases of all kinds: plastic bags, briefcases, standard backpacks, messenger bags, laptop bags. If it could carry boomerangs, it was pressed into service.

As for Charles, Manny and me, each of us uses a variation of the messenger bag. I cannot think of any particularly compelling reason why we opted for the messenger type bag over other configurations. Messenger bags have been around for a while--for cyclists, for example. They tend to allow for easier access to the contents while the bag is shouldered. The most obvious reason one might spring for the messenger bag may be its aspect ratio. Messenger bags tend to be longer (side to side) than they are tall, so they might initially appear to be more convenient for placing typical two-arm boomerangs elbow- or tips-down in that type of bag. A standard backpack, on the other hand, tends to be taller than it is wide, which would appear to make sense for carrying 8.5 in x 11 in notebooks in typical upright orientation. Of course, a backpack would be quite capable of carrying boomerangs (in whatever orientation works best).

So, I guess it comes down to a matter of style. Messenger bags seem to have been in vogue in the last several years. I myself opted to buy one for general use after watching several seasons of 24 in which Jack Bauer used a messenger bag to haul around firearms, grenades, PDAs and kitchen sinks.

Manny: CalPak Goal

From Rang Messenger Bag

From Rang Messenger Bag

Manny seems to be pretty pleased with his purchase of this bag. It carries everything he needs and has been durable enough to haul boomerangs to and from our weekend throwing sessions without showing significant signs of wear. I think it is the smallest bag of the three of ours, and accordingly, he tends to carry fewer boomerangs than the rest of us.

Charles: Osprey Elroy

From aLAcrity Miscellaneous

From aLAcrity Miscellaneous

This bag is pretty rugged and spacious; in fact, I have sometimes wondered whether Charles bought the "bottomless" version from a space alien or a man from the future. I would guess that I have seen it carry up to 30 or 40 boomerangs in addition to boomeranging supplies and a water bottle or two. To facilitate carrying so many 'rangs, Charles also fashioned from a hunk of packing foam a boomerang holder compatible with typical two-arm booms:

From aLAcrity Miscellaneous

phnxhawk: Timbuk2 Classic

From Return 2 Thrower

From aLAcrity Miscellaneous

I use the Timbuk2 Classic, medium size, messenger bag. It is long enough to fit any of the boomerangs currently in my inventory. In terms of volume available, I would guess that it is comparable to the Elroy. I can fit about the same number of boomerangs in the bag in addition to my boomerang-related field supplies. However, the Elroy has more pockets, which can be good or bad, depending on the user. The Classic features one large, spacious main bay and a few thin zip-up pockets on the inside-front of the bag. The smaller pockets are adequate for smaller or thinner items, such as my gloves or a packet of rubber bands. Bulkier items, such as my tripod, camera and water bottles, sit on top of my boomerangs in the main bay. The lack of separate pockets for these different items can be an inconvenience, I admit, but it is a minor one for me; I seldom need to rapidly withdraw boomerangs from the bag, one after another in quick succession.

Timbuk2 also sells a "large" and "extra large" version of the Classic. These are slightly wider (front to back thickness), but are predominantly longer (side-to-side length). In other words, the larger size bags would not enable me to fit many more boomerangs back-to-back--certainly not enough to warrant the additional expense.

So, why should one pick a particular bag over another? Most types of bags would probably do the job ably; I would not say that there is a particular bag that I would extol as the must-have boomerang thrower's bag. So, common sense will generally be one's guide. It obviously has to carry anything one would typically want to have available for boomerang throwing sessions: boomerangs, gloves, tape, water bottles, snacks, medicine, first aid kits or whatever else would seem necessary. In addition, would the bag be used for other purposes (e.g. cycling or hiking)? Or does the bag have to provide other capabilities (e.g. fit in certain spaces, sturdy enough for impact resistance)?

Between the three bags we use, Manny's CalPak bag would be more than adequate for the thrower on the go. It is small, light and relatively inexpensive, but could carry field supplies and enough boomerangs for adequate variety. If the aim is to haul as many boomerangs as possible, either the Osprey Elroy or Timbuk2 Classic may be a better investment. The Elroy, with its extra pockets and rugged construction, may also do well doubling as a hiking or as a commuter bag while the Classic is typically marketed as a cyclist's messenger bag. Even between these bags, I find that there is no clear winner.

So, my best advice is: take stock of what you need and want in a boomerang bag as well as how much you are willing to spend, and just make a call. Almost any bag will ably do the job of carrying boomerangs, so in many ways, you can't go wrong.


"Putting my spin on boomerangs..."

Friday, September 9, 2011

First Look: Fuji by Kendall Davis

--by phnxhawk--

Boomerang: Fuji
Manufacturer: Kendall Davis

Late last year, I ordered an Ohm from Kendall Davis. To my surprise, when I opened the box, I found not only the expected boomerang, but also a stowaway. As I found out shortly thereafter, Kendall had included a copy of his Fuji design for me to test. Over the course of the spring and summer, I became better acquainted with this neat boomerang, and although I would not claim to know it intimately, I think I have come to know it well enough to say that I like how it flies.

Overview and Physical Characteristics

The Fuji is one of Kendall Davis' prototype designs, named after the eponymous mountain in Japan. It has a modified, shallow Vee planform, as shown below.

From phnxhawk's Boomerang Collection


From phnxhawk's Boomerang Collection

This version was carved from plywood. By my measure, the thickness for this version was 5 mm. (However, I was foolish enough to buy calipers that need batteries, of which I currently have no spares. So, I am counting on my eyes not to fool me as I hold my ruler up to the boomerang.) My Fuji weighs in at 59 g. For those of you who might be curious how my other Kendall Davis boomerang compares in this regard, my 6 mm Ohm weighs 78 g.

This Fuji also came with the bright and glossy kind of paint scheme that I have seen on Charles' and Larry's Kendall Davis 'rangs. Owing in part to its bright orange color, I have found Fuji easy to track in flight; the paint has also held up well in the nine or so months it has spent crammed in my boomerang bag.

The Throw & Flight


I have generally found the Fuji to be relaxing to throw. It tends to need a firm throw (compared to other boomerangs I might use in the same wind conditions). However, it is also forgiving; I have not gotten the feeling that I need to work hard to throw in a particular way to coax it to return in a satisfactory fashion.

The throw itself has not presented any surprises--which is a good thing, in this case. I usually throw Fuji like I would my typical sports boomerangs: with a small amount of layover, some "oomph" and plenty of spin, aiming at eye level or a few degrees above. Charles and I did find that it tends to need a firmer throw, compared to similar boomerangs we would use in the same wind conditions.

Alternatively, I suppose one could say that I could use it in a slightly stronger wind to let the air help carry it back to me with a weaker throw. Indeed, Kendall had scribbled, "For Wind," on the back side of the boomerang. In terms of wind resistance, I generally feel comfortable throwing Fuji in "light breezes" to "medium wind," which I would say goes up to about 8 mph.

The flights are essentially what I would expect from this type of boomerang configuration. They tend to be fairly round, going out to about 35 yards in range. With my current style of throwing it, Fuji tends to start low and climb gradually through the pattern. In the future, I might experiment with tuning my throw and/or the boomerang to keep the flights a little more level, but it is currently quite enjoyable as is. The returns tend to be gentle, as it descends slowly and into the hands for the catch. I never felt the nagging fear that I needed to keep the gloves on while throwing it.

Summary

To sum up, I definitely give the Fuji a thumbs-up. Kendall indicated that he could see a variation on this design becoming a great novice-level boomerang, and I am inclined to agree. Its flight behavior is benign and predictable--compliments both, rather than indications of a blasé reaction. It has also presented no special challenges in the throw to obtain an enjoyable return. However, this version does need a firm throw (or a slightly stronger breeze). So, that quality does lead me to rate this version as somewhere between "entry level" and "intermediate." I suppose that would be something akin to "entry level, with prior experience preferred."

Kendall has suggested that a 4 mm version of this boomerang might bring it closer to his vision of it as a beginner 'rang. If we at aLAcrity get a chance to test it out, we will be sure to write an update to this first look at the Fuji by Kendall Davis.


"Putting my spin on boomerangs..."

Saturday, August 20, 2011

Lefties for Righties

by Manny Olivares

Hello all! If you are befuddled by the title of this post, no worries, the meaning will be clear momentarily. I mentioned a while back that I would post about an interesting way of throwing left-handed boomerangs. The time has come and soon you will all be enlightened and inspired with knowledge gained by aLAcrity through meeting another thrower from the area, Gabe. Some may even feel that they have gained the true secret to a happy and fulfilling boomerang life (I might have gone a little too far there...haha).

It was several weeks ago and we had just arrived at the park where we regularly throw with our other aLAcrity member, Charles. It was here that we were introduced to Gabe and then we all proceeded to start throwing our rangs. I began to watch Gabe throw, as he had just picked up a boomerang I was unfamiliar with and I wanted to see what kind of flight it had. He released the rang with his right-hand and it did the strangest of things! The boomerang began turning right in a clockwise flight, as opposed to going counter-clockwise like any self-respecting boomerang should go!

I was appalled at this apparent violation of boomerang law and instantly asked Gabe how he had managed to do such an incredibly feat. "It's a left-handed boomerang," he said casually. OF COURSE! Such a short answer but it explained the magic I had seen occur right before my eyes. Soon I had Gabe showing me how to do it, throwing a left-handed boomerang with your right-hand.

It's pretty simple of course, just follow the rules of right-handed boomerangs in reverse, thus changing it to left-handed boomerang rules. Throw to the left of the direction of the wind and instead of leaning it right for layover, lean it left. The paint should always be facing you. The big secret, of course, is to use your right-hand instead of your left. Ta-Dah! You are now free to shower me with praise. Ha ha. ;-)

Seriously though, seeing it in person was pretty cool. Considering that I don't own any left-handed boomerangs I probably would have never tried it myself. While this might not be a mind-blowing trick or anything it can come in useful every now and then.

Last year I ordered a boomerang and received a left-handed version as opposed to right. I tried throwing it a few times with my left but my throwing technique was horrible. Having never used my left-hand in the throwing motion I felt and looked incredibly awkward while tossing it. I could have easily thrown it with my right and been able to get a little joy out of it.

Anyway, I made the following video of me trying to reproduce Gabe's throw. It felt incredibly awkward at first but eventually I managed to succeed. I could have accomplished it much faster than I did, but this was a particularly bad catching day as you will see lol. Enjoy!





Thanks for watching!

aLAcrity Boomerangs

Monday, August 8, 2011

Ask aLAcrity #1: Entry-Level Boomerangs

--by phnxhawk--

We here at aLAcrity have lately been receiving questions about boomerangs from readers of the blog. In the spirit of sharing knowledge, Manny and I thought it might be a good idea to base some of our blog posts around our responses to some of these queries. So, we present the first "Ask aLAcrity," our new, regularly unscheduled column in which one of us addresses a question that we have received from you, the esteemed reader.

Question: What would you recommend for one's first 'rang as an introduction to the sport?

My top picks for entry-level boomerangs (that are for young adult/adult throwers, that are currently readily available and that I have thrown more than once):
My top pick (and Charles') from that group, if I had to pick only one as my recommendation, would probably be the Pro Fly or Tri Fly in polypropylene.

Right out of the shipping container, with little modification, the Pro Fly has been very reliable for me in performance. It was easy and straightforward to learn to throw, as it was very similar to many of the other boomerangs in my bag at the time. I often use the Pro Fly when I am baffled by strange wind conditions or when I need a ~35-yard boomerang I am confident I can control, such as might be the case in a small park. It can be tuned fairly easily, and the high-visibility colors help keep my eyes focused on the boomerang instead of that distracting wisp of cloud. The polypro version is quite durable and has fared well in my bag. (In case you were wondering whether polypropylene plastic hurts less than plywood on impact, I would say they're the same.)

The Tri Fly, like its Pro Fly cousin, performs reliably and readily accepts tuning. I would guess the Tri Fly's range is slightly shorter, but not by much. Manny's Tri Fly is of the ABS variety and was flying circles around him in no time (well, once Charles had a look at it). Fortunately, for anyone without a "Charles" to aid them in learning to throw or tune the boomerang, there are instructions for both of those tasks embossed on the bottom side of both the Pro Fly and Tri Fly. But wait; there's more! The Pro Fly and Tri Fly also have a price that is hard to beat and easy to swallow: $6 to $8.

From phnxhawk's Boomerang Collection

From Manny's Rangs

Which one is better? For right-handed throwers, I think it comes down to a matter of personal style. As for myself, I simply have less experience throwing boomerangs with tri-blade planforms and have yet to really feel comfortable handling them, so I still tend to avoid them. Left-handed throwers, on the other hand, are locked in to the Tri Fly, which becomes a left-handed or right-handed 'rang with a few twists of the blades on a new model. I have not yet seen a left-handed Pro Fly, at any rate.

However, I would also add that my Pro Fly (polypropylene) needs a firm throw and a healthy dose of spin to get the return flights I like. I also expect that the ABS version would go slightly further and need more strength in the throw compared to the polypro version. So, if you feel that you need something that tolerates a weaker throw, the Spinracer or Mozzie might be good alternatives. (Manny also has a Tassie Devil, by Adam Carroll, that fits in the "entry-level" category...but that is a "work in progress" for him, so I have opted to omit it from my list for the moment.)

Based on the boomerangs I have tried (essentially, the ones in Manny's, Charles' and my bags), I have generally found modified V's, omegas and some tri-blade boomerangs to be relatively easy to learn to throw. I feel as if they tend to be very natural to handle and throw, but also forgiving to errors in the throw. They tend to slow down and hover at the end of the flight, which provides more time to set up for a catch or just to build up confidence in being around 'rangs in flight. I have found that boomerangs that come in fast instead tend to unnerve me. In terms of material, I would start with boomerangs made from plywood or plastic (polypropylene or, perhaps, ABS).

Of course, depending on the detailed design of the boomerang (size, weight, wing shaping, holes), some of the beginner-friendly qualities I have extolled above might be reduced or eliminated. So, do take care in applying the above generalization when shopping for an entry-level boomerang, and use the manufacturer's recommendations as a guide to making your selection.

My First Boomerangs

As I have mentioned previously, my first "legitimate" boomerangs were the Rainier and Phoenix by Colorado Boomerangs, which I acquired in spring of 2009. These are also the same boomerangs I used to hook Manny on this hobby while throwing on the same stretch of beach almost a year later. They were carved out of plywood and are terrific flyers. Although boomerangs fashioned from plastics and various types of composites seem to be in vogue now, Rainier and Phoenix continue to serve as my go-to 'rangs when I throw in the light morning winds at the beach and in spacious parks.

Safety Ninja

Once you get your new boomerang, remember to throw safely and responsibly. The last thing a thrower would want--well, among other things--is to be "kickbanned" from his or her favorite throwing spot. Keep a respectable distance between yourself and anything you would be concerned about hitting, such as glass windows that were just washed, children playing soccer and parked airplanes. Use the advertised range of the boomerang as a first order guide to a minimum distance to maintain. (Whenever throwing a new boomerang, I try to reserve even more open space than that.) Avoid throwing over and/or at people, and be aware that a boomerang skipping across the ground still hurts and will likely deviate from the nice, curved path you expected it to follow before it hit the ground. On a windy day, keep extra distance on the downwind side in case the wind carries it further than was anticipated.

In addition, unless you know what might happen if you do so, never throw a boomerang sidearm (i.e. boomerang parallel to the ground/painted side facing straight up). The boomerang will climb high into the sky and promptly plummet straight toward the ground. It might then slam right into the earth and might break the boomerang. It might instead pick up on the way down and careen toward the thrower at high speed. Either way, it is not a confidence-building experience (especially at night when your friend is using you as a human shield).

Where to Buy

The Pro Fly, Tri Fly, Spinracer and Mozzie are typically available from one of the following boomerang sellers:

Have a question to ask aLAcrity?


I hope you enjoyed this first edition of "Ask aLAcrity" and that you stay tuned for the next one. If you have a question about boomerangs, feel free to seek our input by e-mailing aLAcrity.boomerangs@gmail.com. We will most likely have have an answer--even if it is as simple as "I don't know." Some of those questions will be answered here on the blog, in addition to our replies by e-mail, to share our insights with other readers.

"Putting my spin on boomerangs..."

Thursday, July 28, 2011

Give Me Some Spin...Spinback That Is!

Spinback 55 - A Boomerang Review

- Manny Olivares -

Boomerang:  Spinback 55 Graphite

Manufacturer:  Tomahawk

The Spinback 55 is a very unique boomerang that I’ve had for a good while now.  Previously I had not felt comfortable enough with the S55 to post a review, but now I feel more proficient.  However, even now the S55 is one of those rangs that I sometimes have difficulty using.  It seems to have a mind of its own sometimes and refuses to be completely tamed, even by a hand as masterful as mine (haha).  If you are intrigued by the S55 thus far, feel free to read on ahead to see if this is the rang for you.

Overview & Physical Characteristics

The S55 is a rather large boomerang as can be seen in the picture below.


From Manny's Rangs

I bought this rang off Mr. Rich Harrison's site (www.theboomerangman.com) and it is a very sturdy, heavy rang.  The first thing you'll notice is the way it looks obviously.  It very clearly says "Graphite" on the trailing arm and you won't soon forget it.  The rang is made out of a very dense polypropylene infused with some graphite and it has the weight to back that up.  I expected the rang to be extremely rigid and unyielding to tuning but I was very surprised to find that it has a considerable amount of flex.  The flex and "give" is also very apparent once you throw it.

The paint scheme on my S55 is a blue bar along the edge of the dingle arm.  The rest of the rang is a sort of faded black color.  Despite the lack of other "flair" it's a very impressive rang to hold and to look at in person.

Throw and Flight

"Kmphooosh!!" That is what phnxhawk is quoted as saying when asked what the S55 sounds like when thrown.  "As if it's tearing the air...a howl."

I'm always impressed by how awesome it sounds when I release it for the throw.  It also tends to make a very distinct metallic twang sound as the Spinback flexes on its flight outward.

This boomerang requires moderate to heavy winds in order the ease the throw.  On  a calm day you'll have to give this bad boom plenty of layover, about 30-35 degrees and as much power as you can muster.  The ideal conditions of course are those windy days when all your other boomerangs are failing.  This is when the S55 is in its element.  Not much layover is required, 10-15 degrees, and a medium strength throw released fairly level is all that's needed to get it to come back.  Too high or low a throw and you'll have a much harder time getting it close enough to catch.

I've always had difficulty with this boomerang due to the fact that conditions change very often at the beach.  We might start out to a calm windless morning and 1.5 hours later the winds have picked up and my other rangs aren't cutting it anymore.  The difference is night and day, from throwing S55 when the winds are nonexistent and having no luck getting it to return, to throwing it when the air is howling away.  This dramatic change in conditions throws me off and it's very easy to overthrow this rang in harder winds.   I've made the mistake many times of launching it too hard and hurting my hand on a catch that I perhaps should not have attempted.  Believe me, this rang hurts when it's coming back at full speed.  A smarter man would let it fly past perhaps haha.

S55 flies relatively low to medium height in a wide circular path with a range of approximately 55 meters as indicated by its name.  I've always been impressed with the hover it has.  Many a time I have seen it fly very low on the return trip and it just keeps chugging away and even passes me if I don't choose to stop it.

Note to the wise: This is definitely a boomerang that I would recommend wearing gloves to catch, though not required if you're really really awesome at slapping it between your two open palms.

Here's a video of me throwing the S55.



Summary


The Spinback 55 is one of my favorite rangs due to its great distance and the majestic flight I get out of it.  I can confidently recommend the S55 if you're an advanced thrower willing to rise to the challenge and take the time to figure out the perfect throw.  There is nothing better than seeing that gorgeous flight end in a picture perfect catch in your own two hands.

Happy Throwing!



Fancy your own Spinback 55?

It is available online at:

The Boomerang Man

and

LMI & Fox



Next time on aLAcrity......


Stay tuned for upcoming video of our new friend Gabe.  He has a very interesting way of throwing left-handed boomerangs...


Boomerangs: Frequent Flyers to the Perfect Tune

Tuesday, July 19, 2011

Teaser: The Deadly Fog

--by phnxhawk--



Oh, no! What will happen to Manny and phnxhawk? Will they simply get up as if nothing was wrong? Or is this the end?! Stay tuned...for the next video from aLAcrity!

Manny and I have been building up a bank of footage that we have not had a chance to process. I was sifting through some of it recently when I stumbled across some video from a most foggy day. We did continue to throw as the fog bank surrounded us. Although the boomerangs occasionally did get lost in the mist from time to time, we evaded injury yet again. For my part, I was trying to discern whether I could get some sense of the flow around the boomerang as it tore through the fog, but to no avail. I suppose it was not quite the weather I would need for that purpose.

At any rate, we do have some more videos and posts in the pipeline. So, please stay tuned!

Putting my spin on boomerangs...

Saturday, July 2, 2011

Boomerangs by Moonlight

--by phnxhawk--

Overview

Ordinarily, the onset of dusk would force me from the beach or field after a long day of throwing boomerangs. Boomerangs start to disappear against the darkening sky, as if cloaked by some advanced stealth technology. So, it would seem quite foolish to continue throwing, not knowing whether the boomerang is about to land a dozen feet to your right or about to ruin thousands of dollars of orthodontic work.

(As a side note, I have been known to throw regular boomerangs in the dead of night. I admit that I was pretty damn lucky not to have hit myself.)

Of course, the overwhelming need to continue throwing 'rangs into the evening has driven some throwers to try different ways of filling that void in their boomerang life. Larry, whom I have mentioned previously, has been toying with embedding LEDs in the wings of some of his boomerangs. He had mentioned to me in previous conversations that it has worked pretty well for him. I have also had good experiences with the visibility of the LEDs embedded in the Scimitar by Eric Darnell. So, I had high hopes that Larry's night 'rangs would make for an awesome show when I joined him to throw them in May.

The Boomerangs

He had a few boomerangs set up for throwing that night, including two Night Pro Fly 'rangs (Eric Darnell) and two plastic Paragons (Adam Carroll). He also had a Night Tri Fly (Eric Darnell) that he tried out for a few throws.

From 2011-05-29_Night Throwing


From 2011-05-29_Night Throwing


From 2011-05-29_Night Throwing

As you can see, the LEDs and accompanying battery, switch and wiring have been embedded into the underside of each wing, generally near midspan. They stick up above the clean surface of the wings by perhaps one or two millimeters, and they have also been taped over for some extra protection during handling. The switch for each LED is a simple push-button under a dimple in the middle of the cover plate. If I recall correctly, pushing the button toggles it between steady light, flashing light and off (or something to that effect). All in all, it is a very slick installation. The LEDs are quite visible and bright, even at a distance, making the boomerang easy to spot, both in the air and on the ground.

The installation of the LEDs accounts for the majority of the modifications Larry made to the boomerangs. For the Darnell boomerangs, Larry also taped over the holes at the end of the wings, aiming to reduce the drag since the LED modifications already add a significant amount of weight.

The Flight

I took some video clips of Larry's throwing the Paragon and Night Pro Fly. It amounts to colored lights whirling about in the shadows...but it was night, after all.



In flight, the LEDs produce a neat effect, especially when set to the flashing mode. Check out the result in the video above. Actually, it was most fun when we had two night boomerangs in the air, seeming to chase each other up and down the flight path. The LEDs enabled me to readily track the boomerangs, and I seldom lost track of them. (When I did, it was due to the fact that I had shifted focus away from the boomerang I was throwing and had trouble reacquiring it...but that happens to me even during the day.)

The extra weight from the LEDs and batteries, although somewhat trivial when held in the hand by themselves, is significant relative to the existing weight and inertia of the boomerang. As you might expect, being "weighted," Larry's night boomerangs require a harder throw (or a windy night) for consistent returns. The flight path tends to be more teardrop in shape, but I happened to be lucky enough to visit him on a breezy evening. So, the path was wider and rounder than might have otherwise been the case.

I would guess that the wind was blowing at a fairly steady 3-5 mph. I was able to throw his Night Fly 'rangs with about 10-20 degrees of layover and somewhat low (just below eye level) to coax the night fly into some consistent returns. They also seem to go out pretty far, but I did not take the time to evaluate the range. I would expect that they go out a few yards further than the unmodified versions.

On the return, one of his Night Fly boomerangs tended not to stop. It came in fast and needed a healthy dose of luck combined with some good hand-eye coordination to put one's hands out for a catch. The other Night Fly tended to slow down and end with a nice hover. In fact, it deceived me into thinking I could handily catch it, much to my chagrin. With only the LEDs clearly visible, I tended to fumble my catches, not having any visual cues as to the exact location and orientation of the rest of the boomerang. In one case, I put my hands out where I expected I could catch the boomerang, but wound up with one wing spinning around my hands and into my face, just over my left eye. Fortunately, the damage seemed to be minimal, and I was able to get back to throwing very quickly. (I also had no black eye the next morning.)

Overall, it was a great night of throwing boomerangs. The LEDs make for a dazzling light show. The calmer winds, combined with the "weighted" night boomerangs, do make for challenging throwing conditions, but not to the point at which they were unmanageable. And aside from the part in which I was freaking out about having a boomerang hit me in the face, I had a lot of fun. I would definitely go back and give those boomerangs another go. Hopefully, I can bring Manny and Charles along next time to create more chaos with four pairs of whirling lights in the air.

Additional Links



"Putting my spin on boomerangs..."

Tuesday, May 31, 2011

Second Look: Spirit Renewed

--by phnxhawk--

Boomerang: Spirit (ABS)
Manufacturer: Adam Carroll (realboomerangs.com)

Charles reviewed the Spirit last month. Having had more time to play with this boomerang, I decided to post my own review as a supplement to his. I hope the video and experiences I have collected provide some additional perspectives to how it looks and performs in the air.

Overview & Physical Characteristics

From phnxhawk's Boomerang Collection

The Spirit I recently added to my collection comes from Adam Carroll. Using a hook type of planform, the standard Spirit, made of a different plastic, is advertised to have a range of about 50 meters with a teardrop-shaped flight path. As with Charles' Spirit, mine is crafted from ABS, which seems a little more dense and stiff than the standard plastic material. This Spirit, weighing in at 51 g, has a weight and overall size like that of my Mozzie. In the future, I would like to compare the weight of the standard Spirit to its ABS cousin.

As you can see in the above picture, the paint scheme on my Spirit is of the abstract type that Adam is known to apply, using alternating bands of dark purple and lighter blues. This can make it difficult to pick out against the sky in the videos, but it tends to stay quite visible in person.

The Throw & Flight

Throwing at the park with Charles, I frequently obtained the advertised teardrop flight path. There, I was throwing hard with some layover--perhaps something like 10 or 15 degrees. I was also aiming to throw roughly 45 degrees off-wind and at about eye level or slightly higher. Without wind or with a light breeze, this would cause the Spirit to start low and quickly rise high in the outbound legs, diving back down on the return arc of the teardrop. In a severe calm, the boomerang would often stop short, giving out and circling its way down a few yards ahead.



At the beach, where the wind tends to be a little stronger and steadier, I was frequently able to coax the boomerang into a more rounded, elliptical flight path. In the video clips above, I would guess the winds were blowing somewhere between 5 and 8 mph. We were also marking the Spirit at around 45 yards in range, a little shy of the expected 50 meters (about 55 yards). Again, I would throw about 45 degrees off-wind and aim to throw just above eye level. For these clips, I was applying a "medium" strength throw for me--firm, but somewhat light, especially compared to some of the heftier G12 boomerangs I have been throwing lately. In terms of layover, I found that a small amount, 5 to 10 degrees tended to work best for my strength of throw and release height.

Throwing in this fashion would allow me to obtain flights in which the boomerang stays fairly low and level throughout return, rising a little higher as it completed the turn back to me. On the return leg, the boomerang would "put on the brakes" and drop back to my feet or into my hands for an easy catch. In these types of returns, the Spirit would exhibit some hover--not as pronounced as with some of my omega type booms, but enough to make catches easier on the hands.

What might I change about how I use the boomerang in the future? To get up to the advertised range, I expect I would need to do some tuning to both the boomerang and my throw. I might try to reduce wing dihedral and incidence angles on the tip combined with a low or level, hard throw. For the moment, however, I have been spoiled by the ease of the throw and return as it is currently tuned.

Summary

The Spirit is a fun addition to my collection, working reasonably well in calm and light winds and, although not ideal, remains somewhat manageable in medium winds (say, 7 to 10 mph). As it takes a harder throw and can be a little sensitive to how it is released, I might place this in the intermediate class of 'rang. Depending on the wind conditions, it may take some additional work to decipher how to throw and tune it best for the desired flight pattern. A light wind is generally preferable to round out the flight into a more elliptical pattern. So far, this has been a great addition to my boom bag, and I look forward to additional throwing sessions with it in hand.

Links

Interested in picking up your own Spirit? Check out these links:


"Putting my spin on boomerangs..."

Sunday, May 29, 2011

New Booms in the Bag & Other Stories

--by phnxhawk--

I have uploaded pictures of some of the latest boomerangs to be added to my throwing bag. Have a look. Since the start of the calendar year, I have added several Blue Star and Adam Carroll 'rangs: Volker's Sussex Hook in paxolin and G12, Large Marathon, Suzuki and Wyche and Adam's Spirit and Blast.

In other news, I reminded myself yesterday why I should not throw when the winds are gusting up to 18 mph. I had decided to throw for an hour or so at a local park, since I had some free time in my schedule for the day. It started out well enough; the wind was a pretty stiff breeze, but was still manageable. Over the course of the hour, I was driven around the park by the arrival of families and their children as well as the deteriorating weather conditions. (Well, it was still a sunny day, but the winds had picked up tremendously in that time.)

In defiance of common sense, I decided to try throwing in a lowered basin which happens to be ringed by tall trees and is adjacent to a fence dividing the park from a small airport. A couple test throws with my Windeater 3 were blown around, but not to the point at which I would have been convinced to stop. On my third throw--at eye level, by my reckoning--the boomerang suddenly climbed high into the air and proceeded to swing back well overhead, careening toward the airport. A stinging wall of wind seemed to follow in its wake.

As I whipped around to track it, I realized how much I had underestimated the effects of the gusts. My poor boomerang had been carried up to a height greater than that of the fence (which is at the top of the basin, to boot). Whispering various expletives as I imagined the mayhem that could ensue if it found its way past the fence, I watched it fly into one of the trees along the rim of the basin. I paused for a moment and let out a sigh of relief.

Dread sunk in. I knew that Volker Behrens was shutting down production and foresaw that I had just added another boomerang to any final order I would place this weekend. I packed up my bag and worked my way up the slope to assess the situation. Standing by the tree, I craned my head to look up at the branch where the boomerang had been caught, mulling over various means of retrieving it. Suddenly, the boomerang tumbled from its initial perch and caught on a lower branch. The gusts were shaking the tree enough that it was loosening its grip on my boomerang. Two minutes later, my hopes were fulfilled, and Windeater hit the grass with a dull thud.

I had narrowly escaped "disaster," and I knew it. The last thing I needed was to have the owner of an expensive airplane demanding answers as to why his aluminum skins were dented. Every now and then, I need to learn an old lesson once again. (Hopefully, the price remains only as high as the cost of one boomerang.)

"Putting my spin boomerangs..."

Volker Behrens' Blue Star Boomerangs to Shut Down

--by phnxhawk--

Volker Behrens has posted a notice that he will shut down his boomerang shop at the end of this month, which is only a couple days away. After that, availability of Blue Star boomerangs will essentially be limited to whatever he or Ted Bailey at flight-toys.com has in stock.

So, if you have any last minute requests, you should make that inquiry soon. I found the notice late this week, so I myself must carefully consider what I can afford to pick up at this time.


"Putting my spin on boomerangs..."

Tuesday, May 3, 2011

The Boomerangs of William Glover, mixing old school experience with 21st century materials!

It was less than a year ago when I paid a visit to William Glover's web site, I wanted to get to know more about him, after all he created "Griffin" and "High Voltage" two popular and classic boomerangs from the 80's. I quickly learned that William was an old school kind of guy and that when it came to making his boomerangs, that they would only be made of the finest plywood available. I really admired that, but I thought if he would just take a look at some of modern materials that are available we would have some really awesome and interesting boomerangs.

Well, dreams do come true! During my search last winter for boomerangs made of synthetic materials, I was able to find one. I had originally started my search on Volker's site looking at G12 and Pax models, but I also decided to check out Ebay. On Ebay I found a boomerang that met all my needs and my budget (free shipping). That boomerang was "Patriot". Patriot was described as a serious Aussie round boomerang for competitors and advanced beginners, made of tough linen phenolic by William Glover! "Linen phenolic"........"William Glover"!...........Whaaaaaaaaat!!

I don't know what caused the change of heart, but I can tell you this. We all benefit! William perfectly blends his old school experience with new 21st century materials. Each of his linen phenolic boomerangs still have that great hand made feeling about them while retaining a modern look. Even his classic boomerangs look and fly fantastically. Paint schemes can vary from simple to artistic, when you have a Glover rang in hand, you know it. The way he applies paint to his boomerangs whether simple or art is some of the best and most durable I've seen. And he backs all his stuff up with some of the best customer service available. Check out the pictures and video below. I will be updating pictures and video soon.

Patriot


About a week ago William sent me another one of his linen phenolic masterpieces "Blue Thunder". He recently changed the name to "Distant Thunder". Probably because "Thunder" gets out far.

Blue Thunder


The collection so far!

Here is some video I put together, Enjoy!




To purchase please contact

Bill Glover at WWW.GLOVERRANGS.COM
Rich Harrison at WWW.BOOMERANGMAN.COM
Ted Bailey at WWW.FLIGHT-TOYS.COM

More pictures, video, reviews and updates to follow soon.

Charles aka hey_kuya