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What is a Ball Gag? The Ultimate Guide to Ball Gags

What is a Ball Gag? The Ultimate Guide to Ball Gags

Thinking of Using a Ball Gag but unsure what the deal is? We've got you covered. Here is everything you could possibly want to know about this quirky but incredibly kinky toy.

So, ball gags. They may not be everyone's cup of tea, but they are essential for the bedroom if the BDSM scene floats your boat. Even if BDSM play is not your thing, ball gags are a great way for regular couples to spice up bedroom antics – especially if things are getting a little stale.

Lots of ball gags have rescued lots of marriages over the years, you can be sure of that. They may not fall into the realm of beginner bondage toys, but some come couples, they found a place in their bondage toys collection.

You might have seen the occasional ball gag appear in various movies – usually in a comedic sense – but ball gags are more than a simple movie gag (pun intended) and serve an excellent erotic purpose. Ball gags are fun, seriously!

In all honesty, if you don't know how to use a ball gag properly, they can be a slight hindrance to bedroom fun. Thankfully, they are straightforward to use correctly, so the chances of disappointment are pretty slim. Still, there are things you need to be aware of to get the most out of this kinky little device.

With this post, we aim to hold your hand a little (and nothing else) and ensure your first gagging session is fun, safe, and, most crucially, incredibly hot.

What Is a Ball Gag?

A ball gag is basically a mouth gag used mostly in BDSM as a form of restraint, rendering the submissive participant unable to speak fully and, in extreme cases, making it difficult to breathe correctly.

Ball gags are mostly made of leather or fake leather, with the ball (usually a silicon ball wrapped in leather) attached to the front of the strap. The idea is for the ball to fit inside the person's mouth cavity, ensuring the mouth is forced open throughout the whole session.

Ball bags come in various-sized balls. For beginners, the ball is usually relatively small and does not prevent the person from breathing too much - more advanced users might go for a larger silicone ball leading to more restriction. Some mouth gags even come with a penis gag instead of a ball.

Mouth gags are considered something of a mainstay in the BDSM world. If you are keen to spice things up a little, ball gags are an accessible way to get a little kinky without going wild.

Pink Ball gag

Why Do People Like Them?

It's not easy to explain why they are so popular without first explaining something about the BDSM scene. So let's do that. My guide on BDSM for beginners touches a bit on this topic, but here we go with another summary:

BDSM and bondage have two key ingredients: the submissive partner (known as a sub) and the dominant partner (known as a dom).

The idea is for the dom to sexually command, dominate and sometimes even humiliate the sub in any way they choose. That is the whole thrill of BDSM play.

That is also where the gag enters the fold. The gagged person is (obviously) the submissive partner. The sub is supposed to lose all speaking ability and, in turn, will be unable to complain. It's almost like a feeling of being trapped in some way, and therein lies the thrill.

If you are new to this whole thing and find it hard to grasp how that could be thrilling, well, don't knock it until you have tried it. You might be surprised. Or rather, you WILL be surprised because ball gags are amazing fun alongside your favorite BDSM bondage straps in your kinky sex toy box.

To explain further, the gag is supposed to hinder any mild objections (at best) or unreserved screams (at worst). This lends itself to the idea of control. Or rather, the dom is the one in control, and the sub is being restricted and, therefore, without any control. Again, don't knock it until you have tried it. There is a reason this is so popular, after all.

Sometimes, other sex toys are brought into the fold, such as physical restraints or even pain-inducing toys like nipple clamps. A safe word will be deployed to stop the events if the sub is genuinely experiencing too much discomfort - but we can talk a little more about that later.

What Are The Benefits Of Using One?

Ball gag for women

Well, ‘benefits’ is probably a poor choice of word. What is the incentive would be a better question, probably. As already mentioned, the idea is simply to spice things up and introduce a new, exciting aspect to your sex life. That in itself is usually beneficial enough - especially for couples who are lagging somewhat between the sheets.

Visually Erotic

People often miss the point with ball gags. Yes, physical restraints are a turn-on for many people, but there is also a visual aspect to the whole experience. The very sight of your partner being ball gagged is kinky enough for most people.

The truth is, even the most average people have thought about BDSM play on some level. It's certainly not an unusual thought to have. The problem is that the average person usually does not have a BDSM dungeon tucked away in the basement, ready for play.

So, ball gags are a simple, handy way of introducing a little BDSM and bondage fun into the mix without having to dig out the basement and spend fortunes on... uh, whatever it is you might have in a sex dungeon.

Plus, it's pretty difficult concealing a full-on sex dungeon from your Nan when she cheerfully pops over to see the grandkids. A ball gag is a less awkward way of entering the BDSM scene without your Nan finding out. 

Then again, who knows? Maybe she wouldn't mind. For all we know, she has her own sex dungeon nestled away at the bottom of the garden. It takes all sorts of people, you know, of all sorts of ages.

Partner Trust

Another aspect of BDSM and sex play is that it brings couples closer together by enhancing the trust between the two parties. This trust allows the couple to try these more edgy, possibly even slightly risky adventures together.

Permitting your partner to gag you and hinder speech and even airflow demonstrates a massive amount of trust and can help develop your relationship outside the bedroom. This “giving in” is what makes these some of the best BSDM gear for couples exploring emotional & psychological realms of human sexuality.

Increase Orgasms

orgasmic pleasure

So, the dom gets sexually aroused, and the sub gets left with what exactly? Well, make no mistake about it; this is a mutually joyful experience. Many people wrongly assume the dom gets all the fun here, but the truth is, wearing a ball gag is known to produce intense orgasms for both the sub and the dom. It's a two-way street - it wouldn't be much fun else, would it?

But how can the sub experience orgasms? Because the ball gag restricts your breathing, you can only breathe nasally. This, in turn, heightens the orgasm.

Drooling - It's Fun, Don't You Know!

If oral sex is your thing (and let's be honest, isn't it everyone's thing?), you probably assume that a ball gag might not be the best choice for you, but that isn't correct.

As the ball gag hinders tongue movement, it can cause a fair amount of saliva to gather in the mouth. This paves the way for a terrific blow job, post-ball gag. Seeing a person drool uncontrollably can be something of a kick for the dom in anticipation of the mother of all blow jobs. 

They Help Keep The Noise Down

Character and role play can be a big part of BDSM, and no less for ball gag wearers. When coupled with intense sexual activity and sexual spanking, it is possible to create something of a racket. In other words, things can get a little noisy when using a flogger whip or other spanking paddles and toys.

For those of you who live in modern housing with paper-thin walls, who prefer your neighbors not to hear everything you get up to, a ball gag can (believe it or not) help to keep the racket down somewhat if both parties are wearing one.

Any Negatives?

A few, yes. But thankfully, not many, all quite superficial. Ball gags are intensely joyfully and completely harmless - if enjoyed responsibly - but there are one or two things you should be aware of.

Keep An Eye On The Time

ball gag time

One of the golden rules with BDSM and bondage is to know your limits and never allow things to get out of hand. Ball gags are incredibly good and sexy fun, but they can put pressure on the wearer's mouth, and then there is the whole breathing issue to be aware of because, well, breathing is important in order to continue living. It's a science thing, apparently. 

A professional dominatrix usually insists on wearing a ball gag for 15-20 minutes maximum before taking a break. You should do the same. Never push things too far, and always know your limits.

Mouth Out Of Bounds

This is an obvious one, really. If you like using your partner's mouth as a chief part of sex, then ball gags might not be the best idea for you. Wearing a ball gag obviously renders the use of your partner's mouth impossible, so if sexy mouth fun is your thing, maybe cross ball gags off your list.

There are options, however. Ball gags with a detachable silicone ball are available, although removing them sometimes can be a little frustrating.

Another option is a ring gag, which is pretty much a penis ring that is fastened over the wearer's mouth by a strap or buckle. Speech is still inhabited, but breathing is fine, and the mouth is, uh, available for fun.

It Gets A Little Messy

Good luck preventing a little drool from getting over bed sheets (or dungeon floors) when experimenting with ball gags. Then again, classing this as a negative is a bit of a stretch - a little drool never hurt anyone and when you consider the various other bodily fluids at play, a bit of drool is quite harmless in the grand scheme of things. You might need to provide a cleaning hand if they are tied to BDSM bed restraints!

Best Ball Gags

With the mostly positives and very few negatives out of the way, let's take a look at the actual ball gag devices available for you to get your hands on. Or mouths, rather. Get your mouths on.

Breathable Ball Gag

Also known as an open-mouth gag, breathable ball gags are frequently used by novices. This is entry-level gagging. Because of the tiny holes in the ball, which enable the wearer to breathe via their mouth and nose, they are categorized as breathable.

For couples still experimenting with bondage who are hesitant to take chances or endanger their lover, gags with breathable balls are ideal.

They are perfect for foreplay because they look like conventional ball gags and don't significantly obstruct the wearer's breathing. They do, however, produce the desired muffling effect for BDSM fans.

Regular Ball Gag

regular ball gag

A regular ball gag is probably just as you imagine, with a strap that wraps around the head, ball, jaw, or face. The balls can be found in a wide range of sizes and materials and are usually quite robust and sturdy.

There are literally hundreds of variations available, so make sure to shop carefully to determine which ball gag is best for you or your participant.

Dildo Ball Gag

Also known as a penis gag. Dildo ball gags have a simple rubber dildo (or vibrator) attached to the silicone ball, usually on the front of the gag. Also available are double-sided gags with the second dildo attached to the rear of the gag, the idea being that it fits inside the wearer's mouth. Maybe not one for the novices, this.

Seriously though, take caution with this type of ball gag because breathing can be extremely tough and can lead to gagging, in the literal sense. Make absolutely certain that the wearer is comfortable and willing before you get this particular party going. Seriously.

Having said that, a double-sided dildo ball gag (nice little tongue twister, that) is great for females who like to play the submissive role, in addition to males who enjoy good anal penetration.

Safety First

Although bondage and BDSM is mostly about punishment from the best spanking paddles, risk, pushing things to the edge, and exploring boundaries, remember this is supposed to be fun and safe. Let's take a look at a few key considerations to ensure your gagging fun does not wander out of bounds. 

Create a Safe Word

Safe words are crucial - essential - an absolute must. If BDSM is your thing, you know this already, but if you are new to ball gags, you should think of a safe word before even taking your new toy out of the wrapper. What is a safe word anyway? Delve into this precautionary aspect of bondage play here. 

But remember, the wearer can't speak too well (if at all). So how does that work?

Simple, really. You need to come up with a signal of some description. Either a hand sign or a movement that will instruct the submissive partner to stop.

Ensure The Wearer Is Healthy

After 15 minutes or so, it's hard work wearing a gag. Aside from restricting breathing, the saliva build-up can be quite heavy. The chances of choking are very slim, but you MUST ensure the wearer does not have any type of breathing issues, or throat problems, before wearing. The wearer should be in adequate health before using a ball gag.

Wearing a gag can be physically demanding for the wearer. Not only does it muffle their speech, but it can also cause a build-up of saliva in the mouth that could lead to physical heaving or even choking if used for too long.

For this reason, it's important to check that the wearer has not vomited or had an upset stomach recently, as this could increase their chances of vomiting while they're gagged, which can be extremely dangerous.

The Wrap-Up

bondage toys

There are other factors to consider, such as size, material, and type of fasteners, but these are all subtle extra options for you to consider while shopping for one. Don't worry about those things too much - just choose a ball gag that looks like it might work for you, and take it from there.

If you are new to the scene, don't get too carried away.  Going straight for the triple reverse dildo vibrating spiked ball might be over-ambitious. Small steps,  folks, small steps.

And most importantly, enjoy yourselves! There is a slight stigma attached to wearing a ball gag, but really, it's no big deal. Wearing a ball gag is mostly just a theatrical way of enhancing your sexual experience, and as already mentioned, they have probably saved a few marriages over the years.

If you are looking for a new ball gag, we have you covered with a great range of the latest and greatest ball gag options in all shapes, sizes, styles, and themes. Go ahead, treat yourself. I feel like you owe us one for making me think about my dear nan in a rather terrible way.

Live a little. Experiment. Shake things up. After all, what's the worst that can happen?  You will enjoy this new experience way more than you probably imagine, really.



Click to buy bondage toys online.



Mayla Green

Mayla Green has been involved in the sex toy industry since 2004. Working behind the motto “Sex TOYS should be FUN”, Mayla provides unique tips & advice amassed from over a decade of hands on experience with adult products. She also coaches clients how to fully enjoy sexual pleasure and can be seen in major publications & magazines online.

Happily married since 2009, she knows firsthand how the sex life eventually becomes repetitive (which truthfully means boring), so if you're looking to spice things up in the bedroom, Mayla's your gal! Her literary pride & joy is covering topics for established couples needing inspiration to keep lovemaking exciting and fun.

Not in a relationship? Her other focus is teaching women how to properly handle the “little person in the canoe” to experience the best orgasms ever, no partner required! Her creative and innovative tips, techniques and advice is on par with a certified sex therapist or Sexologist, but with an extra advantage from her knowledge of the adult toy business.

View all articles published by Mayla Green exclusively for The Adult Toy Shop sex blog.

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