How to Throw a Spiral

According to retired NFL coach Sam Wyche, the trick to throwing a tight spiral is to toss it like you are flicking a booger. Wyche said he realized that when he was an assistant coach with the San Francisco 49ers in the early 1980s and would say "Booger, booger, booger" to star quarterback Joe Montana whenever a bad ball was thrown. The idea was to focus on the throwing motion. Read on to learn how to throw a spiral.

Things You'll Need

  • A football
  • A receiver
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Instructions

    • 1

      Take the football in your throwing hand. Grip it toward the back of the ball with your finger tips lining up with seams and stiches on the ball. An alternate grip is to place your index finger on the football's point and flare the rest of the fingers forward. This was used by Hall of Fame quarterback Terry Bradshaw.

    • 2

      Raise your throwing arm so that your elbow is parallel with your shoulder. Bend your elbow so your arm is upward.

    • 3

      Bring your arm back slight and then flick it forward quickly.

    • 4

      As your arm moves forward, start twisting your wrist slightly clockwise. That will put spin on the ball.

    • 5

      Release the ball just as your arm straightens out. Do this by releasing your fingers--and this is from Wyhce--almost as you were trying to flick a booger off your fingers. That will put the final spin and trajectory on the ball.