What Is A Ball Gag? A Beginner’s Guide
When you hear BDSM, you might picture someone with a black, round-shaped ball in their mouth. If you’ve ever wondered what that is – it’s a ball gag! A Ball gag is a popular sex toy within the BDSM community, but you don’t need to be a 50 Shades aficionado to have fun with one. No matter if you’re kinky, vanilla, or something in between, you and your partner can have fun with a ball gag.
What is a ball gag?
A ball gag is a beginner-friendly piece of BDSM equipment: its main use is to “restrain” the submissive partner during sex, so they can’t make noise or express themselves. Both submissive and dominant partners love this type of sex toy, with some sex shop owners claiming that a ball gag is one of their most popular sex toys bought by couples.
Why do people like using a ball gag?
Kinksters love adding a ball gag to their play because it enhances their sensations during power-play: when the submissive partner is unable to speak or communicate correctly, the dominant partner, “the dom”, enjoys having ultimate control. Similarly, any submissive who loves surrendering control to their partner during BDSM play will love the feeling of helplessness that wearing a ball gag can provoke.
What is BDSM?
BDSM stands for bondage and discipline, sadism and masochism, although the DS can also often mean dominance (or domination) and submission. If you’re not familiar with BDSM, it’s an umbrella term for all types of power-play fantasy, and sexual play.
BDSM enthusiasts love either giving or surrendering control in their sexual relationship, or in their general sex lives! Those who enjoy surrendering power are referred to as submissives or “subs,” while those who like taking control are called dominants or “doms”. BDSM couples like to use power-play in their intimacy, often using sex toys such as a ball gag to enhance the experience.
What does a ball gag do?
A ball gag is simply there to surrender full control to the dominant partner. Even during bondage play and rope play, the submissive partner can still speak and express themselves. A ball gag takes away that ability, giving the dominant partner total dominance over their submissive partner
Are there different types of ball gags?
There are many different types of ball gag, so you can choose what type works best for your needs, desires, and experience level. These sex toys are best suited for intermediate level BDSM play, but there are plenty of beginner-friendly alternatives to test out:
Breathable Ball Bags
Breathable ball gags are typically silicone or plastic ball gags, and they come with holes in the ball so that you can breathe easily. These are ideal for beginners or those with respiratory conditions such as asthma.
Novelty Ball Bag
A Novelty ball gag replaces the classic black ball with something decorative or fun: you can find a novelty ball gag with a rose design, a football, or even a hamburger design! A novelty ball gag can be used either as a fun gag gift or for a particular BDSM fantasy.
Dildo Ball Gag
If you want a ball gag that takes submission to the next level, you can find sex toys that mimic oral sex, attached to a ball gag. Instead of a round ball, the submissive partner has a penis-shaped toy in their mouth. We’d recommend this type of ball gag for users who are already familiar and experienced with these sex toys.
What is the best ball gag for a beginner?
If you’re new to BDSM and new to the concept of the ball gag, we recommend that you opt for a breathable ball gag and a smaller-sized ball to begin with. You might find the sensation strange at first, and you might want to cough or clear your throat a lot.
This is normal – for a better experience, you might want to practice using a ball gag alone before incorporating it into the bedroom – this will help you get used to the sensations beforehand. This is a good general rule for all sex toys – testing them out alone first can help prepare you for any surprises.
Who can use a ball gag?
You don’t need to be a next-level kinkster to enjoy a good ball gag. Incorporating a ball gag into your play can simply add a dimension of power-play or submission to your intimacy: if you enjoy rougher sex or love it when your partner takes control, you might enjoy wearing a ball gag for heightened sensations of total domination.
How to use a ball gag?
You can use a ball gag in a number of ways to heighten sensations in the bedroom and make for a steamy experience for everyone
Here are some ways to make use of a ball gag in the bedroom:
(Please remember that all BDSM acts must take place within the healthy confines of a consensual relationship. Never wear anything or perform any sexual act that you’re not comfortable with. BDSM is about power and control, but it is also about respecting pre-agreed rules and limits.)
Add a ball gag to oral sex
If a dominant partner loves watching his submissive partner squirm and squeal with pleasure during oral sex, incorporating a ball gag into the action could heighten sensations for both parties!
Wear a ball gag during bondage play
If you’re a kinkster and you’re into bondage and rope play, you can use a ball gag to enhance the experience. When the submissive partner is restrained and tantalized by their dom, being unable to express themselves can be a turn-on for both parties.
How to use a ball gag safely
As a ball gag can be placed in the mouth for long periods of time, you’ll want to take several steps to make sure that you use your toy safely:
Clean your ball gag regularly
As with all sex toys, cleaning and maintenance are essential. To avoid bacterial buildup or the spread of infection, clean your ball gag regularly. If possible, try to buy a silicone ball gag: silicone sex toys are much higher-quality and much easier to clean than plastics and rubber.
Choose the right ball gag for your experience level
While you might want to go straight for the kinkiest, largest ball gag, it’s not a good idea if you’re inexperienced. Drooling constantly due to a large ball gag won’t be fun for anybody, so make sure to pick an appropriate-sized ball.
Employ a non-verbal safeword
BDSM enthusiasts usually agree upon a safe word to use during play: when one partner is uncomfortable, in pain, or needs to stop, a safe word is used to communicate to the dominant partner that play must stop. Given that a ball gag impedes the ability to speak, try to agree upon a non-verbal safe word before using a ball gag. Keeping your hands free where possible is a good idea, especially if you’re a beginner.
Aftercare
If you’re going to use a ball gag during your play, it’s important to incorporate some aftercare into your session.
What is aftercare?
Aftercare is a catch-all term referencing the affection or attention that a submissive partner should receive after a BDSM session. Aftercare helps the submissive partner recalibrate and feel emotionally secure after being dominated: good ideas for aftercare include cuddling, kissing, wrapping a blanket around the submissive as well as offering snacks and water.
While aftercare is a typical practice in the BDSM world, some sex psychologists recommend aftercare for all sexual encounters as a way to combat shame or “post-coital blues”. Studies show that post-sex depression is common both in men and women, and a healthy dose of aftercare can help combat it.
Verdict?
When it comes to adding some variety to your sex toys, a ball gag is a great way to ramp up the tension and add some thrilling power-play to your intimacy. Make sure to have the full consent of your partner before embarking on any BDSM adventure, whether it be with a ball gag or other BDSM sex toys.
