Well, this is about the most essential part of any boomerang website, so I figured I'd best include it here.  These directions are for right-handed people.  You lefties out there need to do the mirror image of what's described below.

1.  Nearly all boomerangs have a rounded side and a flat side.  If it's unclear which side is which, the painted side will usually be the rounded side.  The boomerang is thrown with the rounded side facing you and the flat side facing away from you.

2.  Grip the boomerang at the tip of one of the arms, it doesn't matter which one you choose.  To form your grip, think of the how you shape your hand when holding a trapped firefly.  Slide the boomerang between your thumb and the knuckles of your index finger.  The boomerang should be cocked back towards your forearm so that you can flick your wrist as you release it and give it lots of spin.

3.  All boomerang are thrown vertically.  Throwing a boomerang sidearm like a Frisbee™ will cause it to fly high into the air, then come crashing back to the ground.

4.  If there's any wind, keep it hitting your left shoulder.  Throw the boomerang vertically and parallel with the ground, perhaps a smidge higher, making sure to give it lots of spin on the release.

5.  The safest way to catch a boomerang is to sandwich it between your hands.  Use discretion when catching! 

6.  If it lands behind you, throw more off-wind.  If it lands in front of you, throw more into the wind.  If it goes too high into the air, make sure you're throwing it vertically and aren't using any sidearm.

Note:  Returning boomerangs are not, nor have they ever been used as weapons.  The boomerang's predecessor was called the kylie and was made from a much denser wood.  They flew in a straight line.  Returning boomerangs have always been used for recreation.

 U.S.B.A. Boomerang Competition Events