Apparatus for launching a boomerang or similar article which, owing to its form, has the property, after being hurled away, to return approximately to the same point, said apparatus comprising a holder (3) having a continuous diverging boomerang receiving slot (6) with a wide end opening (7) and a narrow end opening (8), with a stop (10) extending adjacent one of the side ends of said wide end opening into said opening, the other, narrow end opening of the slot being located in the path of a striker (12), the arrangement being such that a boomerang having at least two legs interconnected by a knee bend (11) can be placed in said slot with the free end of one of its legs confined behind said stop, and with the knee bend projecting from said narrow end opening.