Buzz
To excel at dodgeball, you need to perfect your throwing technique. A powerful throw relies on your whole body—not just your arm. The grip, the body mechanics behind the throw, and your target all influence how effective your shot will be. Although there are various ways to grip the dodgeball, the fundamentals of delivering a strong throw remain consistent across techniques.
Key Takeaways
- Hold the ball firmly, lift your elbow above shoulder level, and throw while running to maximize throwing force.
- If running isn’t an option, take a step forward to build momentum and unleash your full power at your opponent.
- Fully extend your arm before releasing and aim low—targeting the knees or below increases your chance of a hit.
Instructions
How to Hold the Ball
Claw grip the ball firmly. Place your middle three fingers across the top, thumb pressed into the bottom left, and pinky on the right side. Squeeze with full force.
- If the ball has seams, align your grip to take advantage of them for added control.
Support the ball with your wrist and hand. Stretch all five fingers across the top, then bend your wrist so the ball sits snugly between it and your palm.
- This technique is especially useful for those with smaller hands.
Use a three-finger grip technique. Position your index and middle fingers across the top, press your thumb into the left side, and curl your ring and pinky fingers underneath to reinforce the hold.
- This grip requires your wrist to tilt slightly during the throw.
- Experiment with all three grips to discover which feels the most natural and secure.
Getting Ready to Launch
Keep your arm bent at a ninety-degree angle. Raise your arm so that your elbow remains above your shoulder. This positioning is key to generating maximum throwing power.
- A frequent mistake is throwing the ball forward like a shot put, which limits the use of your full body strength and results in a weaker throw.
Step or run into your throw for more force. Always aim to throw while in motion. Running will give you more power. If you’re under pressure and can’t run, at least step forward to gain some momentum.
Use your entire body to generate power. Don’t just rely on your arm. Engage your shoulder, hips, legs, and wrists to create more force. This will help your throw go further and hit harder.
Get as close to your target as possible. If you're playing on a court, move right up to the line before throwing. This ensures the ball doesn’t slow down, giving your opponent a better chance of catching it.
Position your opposite foot forward. Keep the arm and leg you’re throwing with positioned behind you, while the opposite foot and leg should be directed towards the target.
Executing the Throw
Target your opponent’s knees or lower. Avoid aiming at the torso, where the ball is easier to catch. At the same time, don’t aim so low that the ball hits the floor before reaching your opponent.
Follow through with a full arm extension. To achieve both power and accuracy, make sure your arm is stretched out completely when releasing the ball.
- This complete extension is known as the “follow-through.”
Let the ball fly. Starting with your arm at a ninety-degree angle above the shoulder, fully extending it, and using your entire body to aim below the knees should result in a powerful and well-placed hit.
