GA161 Wooden Boomerang

To understand this product, you need to understand the history of the Boomerang A boomerang is a thrown tool, typically a flat piece of wood, that is designed to spin about an axis perpendicular to the direction of its flight. Boormerang's are of course an Aboriginal invention originally called a "Wo-mur-râng" which is roughly translated as "Bendy throwy stick" from the native language. First patented in 1942, the Boomerang was originally designed for chasing away dingos and flaming galahs from neighbourhood barbeques and were only truly known to the world when Paul Hogan demonstrated the use in the Oscar nominated motion picture, based on a true story - "Crocodile Dundee". When first used in the early forties, they were very popular with shielas as they were light, easy to use and a lot less dangerous than rifles. The exact origin of the Boomerang is thought to be near Ramsay Street, Adelaide. Adelaide, roughly translated from the original Spanish name "Agujero de bala oxidada del elefante" which meant "The elephant's rusty bullet hole". The Elephant's Rusty Bullet Hole was in deep recession following the 2 year winter that wiped out 50% of the native people - Adelopians. The Boomerang's were often delivered by "Ute's" (Utility Vehicles)and were coated in a fine oil made from Koala urine to ward off evil spirits said to have been left by the Liverpudlian's who had visited the area during the 2nd world war. They would be kept in a "kangaroo sack" which was named after the testicle sack of the native jumping rodent. The design of the Boomerang has changed over the years. Initially, a large and perfectly straight piece of timber was used called a "varita carne" or "meaty wand" but this proved to be useless as easily lost in the bush. With these meaty wands frequently being lost in the bush, a new design was required. Professor Madalin Westbollock of the Adelaide University of Sticks created a bent wand to throw in the bush which would return to its owner without getting stuck. I hope this review, although not on the specific item is informative and educational. If it is not, please throw it right back at me.

Do not buy this product if you're expecting boomerang behaviour. Flies in a straight line. I know how to throw a boomerang. The only way this is going back is by post.

We took them to the local park and although we did not get them to come back to us they definately work - we started to get it arcing a bit back round to us later on in the day. It takes a bit of practice to get it to fly right but when it does, it goes much further than I thought. The instructions say you need a 50m radius and they are not kidding! We almost hit a couple of cars and only the trees saved us and they were a good 15m or so away. I think the only shame with them is they are plain wood and not varnished so after a few goes they don't look new anymore with grass stains and so on but they are nice because they are wood and not plastic. They are also a bit on the light side so not so good when it was quite windy, but I guess they are for kids so can't be heavy. Overall they are simple and good quality. I would say the price I paid was fair, if a bit on the expensive side since it is just a bit of shaped wood.

Terrible, terrible terrible. These boomerangs are utterly flawed. They are made of a wood too light weight to carry enough momentum so they run out of spin half way around their curve. I've been throwing boomerangs for 25 years and these will NEVER work. Don't waste your money you will be disappointed.

Not sure if it's me or the boomerang, but I still haven't got it to return to me ! Still it seems to be good quality wood and definitely provides a lot of fun! I'd recommend it!

Very poor quality, rough, unfinished wood and it's not even symettrical and the cut is very uneven. Worth about £1, if that

I didn't unwrap the clear packaging the product was shipped in. The boomerang was not particularly well made and the price didn't reflect the overall quality of it. I was disappointed as it was a gift for my son's birthday.

Ok