Trick catch

The Trick Catch event is the archetypal fun event and it is very impressive to watch. This discipline requires a lot of training to be able to get scores. The purpose of the event is to successfully complete required catches in a precise order. These catches are judged and marked on a total of 100 points or even more. Points are awarded to each catch according to difficulty.

To sum it up, there are 15 throws in 2 rounds, that is to say 10 throws with a single boomerang and then 5 throws with 2 boomerangs thrown simultaneously, known as "doubling.”

If the thrower does not catch his/her boomerang correctly, he or she is not allowed to try again. The thrower consequently scores zero for this catch and must then proceed with the next throw. For a throw to count, the minimum range must be 20 meters long. Now let’s take a look at how this very technical event works.

First, with a single boomerang:

• - Right hand (2 points)
• - Both hands under the leg (3 points)
• - Both hands behind the back (3 points)
• - Over the boomerang, known as an "eagle catch" (4 points)
• - Between the legs with both feet on the ground (6 points)
• - Bouncing on one foot and catching with both hands (6 points)
• - One hand under the leg (7 points)
• - One hand behind the back (7 points)
• - Between both feet, known as a "foot catch" (10 points)

Then, with 2 boomerangs (doubling):

• - Both hands under the leg (3 points) and both hands behind the back (3 points)
• - Left hand (2 points) / between the legs with both feet on the ground (6 points)
• - Right hand (2 points) / Bouncing on one foot (6 points)
• - One hand under the leg (7 points) and one hand behind the back (7 points)
• - Over the boomerang (4 points) / Catching with both feet (10 points)

The doubling event is particularly technical because you must throw two boomerangs simultaneously and catch them successively in a required way. In this event throwers generally use very thin 3-blade boomerangs, typically made out of phenolic resin (Bakelite) or polypropylene. One boomerang requires a bigger hole while the second boomerang must be able to go further and higher in order to ensure a minimum of space between both boomerangs. The throwers themselves design these boomerangs. They are strongly bent up and drilled so as to fly very high and then return, hold steady, and finally descend like a helicopter or a chimney, for an easy catch. This type of path enables the thrower to get into position, anticipate the flight, and perform the required catches.