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..."