An important part of manhood has always been about having the competence to be effective in the world — having the breadth of skills, the savoir-faire, to handle any situation you find yourself in. With that in mind, each Sunday we’ll be republishing one of the illustrated guides from our archives, so you can hone your manly know-how week by week.
Usually the process goes something like this: Buy a boomerang at a toy store because it sounds fun. Go to an open field to throw the thing. Toss it a half dozen times only to have it clatter to the ground 20 feet away from where you’re standing. Return home and place the boomerang in the back of your closet to be forgotten.
Boomerangs are understandably frustrating. It’s not as intuitive as throwing a baseball or football. What separates a successful throw from an embarrassing one is rooted in a few fundamentals: the right grip, your throwing motion, and evaluating your conditions. Oh, and one more thing, make sure the boomerang you have is an actual “returning boomerang.” Many are just for decoration, which means they fly about as well as a snow globe.
