Sometimes you need to throw...
I really needed to get out and throw. Throwing boomerangs can be a real stress reliever and I have been in bit of a funk because of my brother in law passed away over the weekend. Today it was cool, but skies were clear so I headed to my local field at lunchtime. I selected about a dozen boomerangs to try.
The wind was a bit stronger than I like, but would often drop off making me change my throws. I started with a couple polypro triblades I had made last week. I used the original as a control and the 3 new ones were great. I also had a polypro version of Fantone's Darth Maul boomerang. It worked fine and I nailed an easy catch with it. I had found three other boomerangs I made which I had never tested. The plywood EasyVee didn't really need testing but I threw it anyway. I also had a small left hand plywood hook. My first throw was terrible but I adjusted my angle and release and it was fine. Last homemade one was a plexiglass version of Jerri Leu's Sparrow. Wow, nice flight and range.
Next came the fun stuff. I hadn't been throwing for nearly 6 months and the new boomerangs which came in the house were piling up. I decided to try and get some of those in the air too. I started with a few I brought back from The Texas LD Shootout. One from the prize table there was a nice strip laminated omega by David Fantone. He used a finish that had glitter in it so the boomerang sparkles a bit. I noticed that the leading edge on this one was more angular than I am used to seeing from David but the test throws proved it to be a fine performer. I was a bit surprised that it took less power than I had anticipated and that it had some hover on return. Nice job David!
While I was in Houston, Dave Hughes gave me a few boomerangs he had made for me. I had those and a previous pair so they were up next. First off was two PaxVee's. The original one had been a favorite and the new one is no different. Two quality performers for sure! Next up was a Hughes style Geronimo Hook. I had to really work with this one for best return. It seemed as though I wasn't hitting the perfect throwing window for it. I had a similar problem with the HyperVee, although I was getting close with that. Dave has suggested that I make a couple from .093" phenolic I found in my shop. I bet those would be easy on my old arm.
Next came a few boomerangs from a favorite boomerang maker, Kendall Davis. The first one was a Sparrow Hawk, I think from phenolic. What a great feeling throwing this one. It is sort of small with a big flight. I liked throwing it. I also really liked throwing a very special "extra hot" Peregrine boomerang by Kendall. Kendall painted this on with chile peppers on it. He sent it to me, knowing I was a chilehead myself. Again, excellent flight from pretty rang.
Did I save the best for last? It appears so. I recently received a Sussex Hook from Bruce Bernstein. When you receive a boomerang from Bruce, you immediately think it should be hung on display. When you actually do throw it, you know why Bruce makes boomerangs in the first place. I really hated taking this one out. I was throwing on a baseball field and to my left was the dirt infield. Anything that didn't make it back was going in the dirt. My first toss was exactly there, in the dirt. The flight wasn't bad, the angle and throw was. I adjusted several times and got some incredible flights from it. Most of the time I could get low flights if I didn't lay it over much. It had good distance and was awesome to watch. I expect this one to make many more trips to the field with me. As good as it looks, it isn't a wall hanger!
So, in about 30 minutes I got 30 throws in with 16 boomerangs. I feel better now than when I went to the field. I have to thank David, Dave, Kendall and Bruce for taking some of my stress and sadness away, even if for just a little while.
BoomerangDave
Phot: Top boomerang is the Salsa Perigrine
The wind was a bit stronger than I like, but would often drop off making me change my throws. I started with a couple polypro triblades I had made last week. I used the original as a control and the 3 new ones were great. I also had a polypro version of Fantone's Darth Maul boomerang. It worked fine and I nailed an easy catch with it. I had found three other boomerangs I made which I had never tested. The plywood EasyVee didn't really need testing but I threw it anyway. I also had a small left hand plywood hook. My first throw was terrible but I adjusted my angle and release and it was fine. Last homemade one was a plexiglass version of Jerri Leu's Sparrow. Wow, nice flight and range.
Next came the fun stuff. I hadn't been throwing for nearly 6 months and the new boomerangs which came in the house were piling up. I decided to try and get some of those in the air too. I started with a few I brought back from The Texas LD Shootout. One from the prize table there was a nice strip laminated omega by David Fantone. He used a finish that had glitter in it so the boomerang sparkles a bit. I noticed that the leading edge on this one was more angular than I am used to seeing from David but the test throws proved it to be a fine performer. I was a bit surprised that it took less power than I had anticipated and that it had some hover on return. Nice job David!
While I was in Houston, Dave Hughes gave me a few boomerangs he had made for me. I had those and a previous pair so they were up next. First off was two PaxVee's. The original one had been a favorite and the new one is no different. Two quality performers for sure! Next up was a Hughes style Geronimo Hook. I had to really work with this one for best return. It seemed as though I wasn't hitting the perfect throwing window for it. I had a similar problem with the HyperVee, although I was getting close with that. Dave has suggested that I make a couple from .093" phenolic I found in my shop. I bet those would be easy on my old arm.
Next came a few boomerangs from a favorite boomerang maker, Kendall Davis. The first one was a Sparrow Hawk, I think from phenolic. What a great feeling throwing this one. It is sort of small with a big flight. I liked throwing it. I also really liked throwing a very special "extra hot" Peregrine boomerang by Kendall. Kendall painted this on with chile peppers on it. He sent it to me, knowing I was a chilehead myself. Again, excellent flight from pretty rang.
Did I save the best for last? It appears so. I recently received a Sussex Hook from Bruce Bernstein. When you receive a boomerang from Bruce, you immediately think it should be hung on display. When you actually do throw it, you know why Bruce makes boomerangs in the first place. I really hated taking this one out. I was throwing on a baseball field and to my left was the dirt infield. Anything that didn't make it back was going in the dirt. My first toss was exactly there, in the dirt. The flight wasn't bad, the angle and throw was. I adjusted several times and got some incredible flights from it. Most of the time I could get low flights if I didn't lay it over much. It had good distance and was awesome to watch. I expect this one to make many more trips to the field with me. As good as it looks, it isn't a wall hanger!
So, in about 30 minutes I got 30 throws in with 16 boomerangs. I feel better now than when I went to the field. I have to thank David, Dave, Kendall and Bruce for taking some of my stress and sadness away, even if for just a little while.
BoomerangDave
Phot: Top boomerang is the Salsa Perigrine
Added on April 08, 2008 by bvdrangs
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