WEIGHTS
Adding weights to your rang is another way to change the characteristics. You can use coins of different sizes or pieces of lead foil ( 1-2mm thickness), which you can tape on to the underside of your boomerang.

Weights are mainly used to
a) increase distance
b) increase wind-stability

Taped on or inserted?
I personally prefer the use of taped-on weights - even if they may not look as nice as the inserted variation. The obvious advantage is however that you can adjust them to suit a great number of different conditions and requirements- and thus reduce the number of rangs you have to carry :-). The increased drag resulting from taped weights is - in my windy world- not a strong argument for inserted ones.

Lead weight-taped to the underside of the wing	Lead weight-inserted into the wing

RULES OF THUMB:
- the closer to the tip of one arm you place the weight, the stronger the effect will be.
- adding one weight of equal size to each wing will result in a longer, slightly more elliptical trajectory ( to adjust, use more tilt and throw a bit more into the wind )
- adding one weight of equal size to each wing and a third one to the elbow-section will result in a similar flight as unweighted, only with more distance ( adjust by using a bit more tilt )
- adding one weight to the lead-wing will result in more distance and delayed lie-down and will reduce, if not eliminate, hover ( adjust by adding tilt to the throw and aiming lower and throw harder and more into the wind)
- adding one weight to the dingle-wing will result in a higher flight-path, increased hover and reduced distance due to earlier lie-down ( adjust be throwing higher and more vertically)

EXAMPLES:
1. wind-stability: to add wind-stability without adding distance place a weight on the lead-wing, about halfways between the elbow and the tip (try a 1 cent or 2 cent coin - that's 2 or 3 cens respectively - for starters. I personally use a piece of lead foil of appr 5 grs). This will keep your boom lower and reduce hover and thus keep the it from getting blown away . If you want wind-stability WITH hover for catching-events, try a second weight on the dingle-arm at the same position.
2. wind-stability and distance: for Australian Round for example, when it gets windier and you need those extra yards and also need some stability, try one weight on the dingle-arm ( 2-3 grs), halfways between elbw and tip, and a second one, this one a bit bigger m( 3-5 grs), on the lead-wing, further down towards the tip.
3. distance: for maximum distance only, I use one heavier weight near the tip of the lead-wing ( as much as 30 grs!!). Adjust by throwing more tilted and lower. If you don't get the boom to return completely, try and add a second weight ( 30-50% of the first one ) on the dingle-arm, near the elbow area. This helps to give the rang back some lie-down again.

Obviously, there are so may different factors that you can combine and play around with - it basically is a lot of trial-and-error-experimenting. But, the more you try, the easier it will get for you, when you learn by EXPERIENCE how a certain technique affects your boomerang's flight pattern.

If you need any further help, specially with tuning and adjusting your long-distance-booms, send an e-mail, and I'll be happy to share some of my experiences with you.