MTA, Long Distance, Fast Catch
How to master the power events
"It it works, it's true "
Fast Catch - full speed
The biggest problem in getting good scores in Fast Catch and Endurance is, in my experience: finding the right boomerang. Without the rang that fits/can be fitted to your throwing style, there will never be consistent and satisfying results in these events. What I did - and what i guess is the best you can do - is try out various models from different makers and materials, throw them under different conditions, and see which one(s) work best with your natural throwing style.
What is this? That is the throw - the natural tilt angle, the natural power and strenght of grip- which comes "naturally". In Fast Catch you need to fit your hardware to the throw you do not have to hold back, but to the throw that comes out fully- without overpowering or exhausting you. Remember: in Endurance you have to repeat this for 5 minutes! This is your starting point!
Any Fast Catch boom you are trying out and you tend to overthrow easily is not the one for you! Unless, of course you can tune it to fly lower and spin less without getting too slow. Also, a rang you have to throw with all you have in your arm is not the one, either. It may work for 5 throws, but what about 8 or 9, with some running in between throws??
| HERE'S HOW IT'S DONE IN GREAT STYLE ON VIDEO |  |
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So: your best choice is the boom that- thrown with your natural power and tuned properly- comes back to you at chest level, no matter if it goes on one level plane or if it climbs slightly, dives down and comes back up. If you have to hold back in order to avoid your rang passing overhead, or throw extra hard to make sure it won't touch turf, you are poorly equipped.
In order to achive this top perfornmance, most booms need some fine tuning- adding some weight, a little twist here, a bend there- some flaps maybe. All this can be found in the tuning section. BUT: this will remain your goal, for wind or calm, for Fast Catch or Endurance: no holding back!
Power Boomeranging
MTA and Long Distance throwing. - When I am making MTA and long distance rangs in my shop, I sometimes wonder where they will end up - and if the people who ordered them from me are aware that these 2 events (boomerang species) require a deeper understanding, knowledge and more physical abilities than all other boomerangs? These 2 types of rangs have one thing in common: an atypical flight path, which has to be understood in order to be mastered.
The MTA boomerang is thrown high (between 20 and 45 degrees up!)and almost vertically, with lots of spin and power, spirals skywards in 2-4 circels, then "sits" when the forward momentum is exhausted and begins the hovering stage.
The distance boomerang (typically weighted on the lift arm) is thrown extremely low, with a tilt angle between 60 and 85 degrees. It travels out a long way staight, then slightly lays over, climbs high into the wind in an eliptical curve, turns over into a figure-eight-path and slides back in a vague right turn and passes you on your left side to land behind you- if everything was done correctly.
The basic tuning of these rangs is described in the tuning as well as the throwing section. Before you start tuning ANY boomerang however, you have to have a clear imagination of the flight path you are looking for! So, if you never saw a correct MTA or distance throw in real life, you'll have a problem. If you have read the instructions in the tuning section, you may already have been able to advance one important step.
The second preliminary for these 2 power events is: power! Physical strength, in your shoulder, your arm and your fingers!
in MTA: the more momentum (forward power) you can induce on your rang, the higher it will climb. The tighter you can hold the rang in between your fingers, the faster it will spin and the longer it will hover. The shoulder/arm provide the power for the trip up, the grip/ the finger strenght deliver the "hang time". Without either you won't get a good score.
In Long Distance: the harder you throw, the further out the rang will travel. BUT it won't return the same long distance unless you are able to give it enough spin in order to halp it sail its long way home! So: the arm/shoulder power deliver the fuel for the trip out, the grip/ finger strenght adds the fule for the trip home. It takes both to get a full return from a long flight!
Power practice. What can you do to become more successful in these events: training! Consult the coach at your local gym for specific exercises for arms and shoulders! When I was still competing, I had a bicycle tire attached to a beam in my shop and used to pull it over my shoulder forward. Expanders will do the job too, if you pull them forward over your shoulder. For your fingers you can either grab a tennis ball and squeeze it in your palm whenever you have the time... Or: get one of these devices I used to use and that you find in music stores (for guitar players) or sports stores (for climbing gear): finger trainers :desinged for practicing/pressing each finger seperately on a small device that works with various springs.
Optimizing the boomerang. - You have trained, you have practiced, so how do you get those winning throws? The answer is: you tune the rang according to your power throw!
For long distance: you either add weights or reduce lift ( bend or twist one or both arms) up to a point when the rang won't turn and climb anymore (make sure you don't lose it at this stage, because it will go straight on a long, long way!!). Then you add a little more lift and voilà: there you are! Sounds simple but takes a long time to get right.... If you managed to get the out-trip right and can't get the full return: clockwise twist adds spin (but increases distance again....). Alternative: get some sanding paper and smooth the leading edges - or even give them a more shallow angle. Needless to say you don't want to induce irreversible changes to your only distance rang....
In depth instructions on how to get the maximum out of your competition boomerangs by adding weights and/or twisting and bending them according to your specific needs or to adjust them to your personal throwing style.