How to Throw a Dodge Ball

Dodgeball is a team sport played with each team standing on their own side of a line, attempting to eliminate players on the other team by striking them with a ball. Players can also eliminate you, and bring back a player from their team, by catching a dodge ball that you have thrown. It is important to practice proper technique to ensure your balls are at locations and paces that make them difficult to catch.

Instructions

  1. Throwing Basics

    • 1

      Grasp the ball in your dominant hand, using your finger tips to grip the ball, not your entire palm. If your hand is too small you can use your second hand to cradle the ball against your throwing hand until you begin the forward motion.

    • 2

      Bring the ball back toward your throwing shoulder.

    • 3

      Step forward with the leg opposite your throwing hand.

    • 4

      Cock your wrist back so the back of your hand and top of your wrist are at an angle of approximately 90 degrees.

    • 5

      Bring the ball forward with an over-the-top delivery for a standard throw, or side-arm for a curving throw.

    • 6

      Drive your weight onto your front leg and snap your wrist forward as you release for maximum spin and velocity.

    Shot Styles

    • 7

      The Boston Society of Bombardment has categorized several shots on their Web site. Fire a high-to-low shot, coming over the top with your arm and aiming at the feet of your target. A low ball is very difficult to catch, and if evaded with a jump can make an attempted catch of a teammate's ball more difficult. This a great shot to use when two players are throwing at once.

    • 8

      Toss a high arcing ball as a decoy to attempt to make a player look up, leaving them open to a teammate's toss. Throwing a ball that bounces high provides a decoy without offering an easy catch, and can be disguised as simply a missed high-to-low.

    • 9

      Throw side-arm to provide spin on your ball and make it cut through the air. The ball will spin in the direction of your throwing arm.

    • 10

      Run up to the median then jump across and fire before landing for a suicide shot. The player taking the shot is eliminated as well, making this a shot best saved for when more than one player remains on your team against only one opponent.