What’s A Ball Gag (Everything You Need To Know)

What’s A Ball Gag (Everything You Need To Know)

There’s more than just one way to create a dominant-submissive dynamic in the bedroom! From bondage to butt plugs, there are plenty of ways to derive sexual (and non-sexual) pleasure from BDSM. 

One of the most popular accessories in the BDSM sex toy industry is the ball gag. Ball gags are used during speech restriction and silent play, which are common forms of play in the BDSM community. 

If you’re interested in finding out what ball gags are and how to use them safely, you’re in the right place! We’ll be covering all of these topics and more in this article, so read on!

What’s A Ball Gag (Everything You Need To Know)

Ball Gags: What Are They? 

If you’re familiar with the concept of a regular gag (something designed to be put in a person’s mouth for the purpose of limiting their speech), then a ball gag is exactly what it sounds like!

A ball gag is a gag that features a ball, usually made of silicone or rubber, attached to straps of some kind. The straps hold the gag in place while the ball fits into the submissive’s mouth, behind the teeth. 

When the ball is secured in place, it keeps the submissive’s mouth open, preventing them from talking. This is often used as a means of asserting dominance control in a sexual or sensual BDSM scenario. 

Types Of Ball Gags 

There’s plenty of variety in the types of ball gags you can find, so before you can incorporate ball gags into your sex life, you’ll need to consider what kind of ball gag you’re interested in using. 

For instance, do you want a breathable or non-breathable ball gag? Breathable ball gags can be differentiated from non-breathable gags because the ball has holes to allow airflow. 

If you and your partner(s) are into breath play (oxygen restriction), a non-breathable ball gag could be a fun way to explore this. However, if that’s not your thing, you may prefer a breathable ball gag. 

You will also need to take into consideration the size of your own or your partner’s mouth since ball gags come in different sizes. 

Ball gags can be made out of various materials. While most balls in ball gags are made from rubber or silicone, you can also find gags with plastic, leather, or faux-leather balls. 

Harder materials are typically marketed towards more advanced BDSM-ers, while softer materials are considered more beginner-friendly. 

How To Use A Ball Gag 

On the surface, using a ball gag might seem easy or even self-explanatory. However, as with any element of BDSM, it’s important to be as educated and informed as possible to ensure the safety of all parties involved. 

Step 1: Talk With Your Partner 

Whether you’re in a monogamous relationship, an open relationship, or a purely sexual partnership, it’s crucial to have an in-depth discussion before using a ball gag. 

It goes without saying that all parties should be completely on board with the idea. There must be enthusiastic consent from both sides before you proceed any further. 

At this point, it’s also a good idea to explore what you’re both comfortable with in terms of using a ball gag and outline any hard and soft limits. 

For example, you might ask, “How would you feel about wearing a ball gag while tied up?”, and your partner might respond with, “I’d like that, but I’d only feel comfortable using a breathable gag.” 

It’s all about communicating your boundaries and desires so that both parties feel safe, respected, and excited! 

You should also discuss what kind of aftercare you anticipate needing after your ball gag scene so that you can be prepared. However, you might not know exactly what you need until after the scene, so it’s important to communicate your needs on a continual basis. 

What’s A Ball Gag (Everything You Need To Know)

Step 2: Make A Safety Plan 

Part of your initial discussion about using a ball gag should involve planning ahead to keep everyone safe during your play. 

A crucial element of safety planning if you’re going to be using a ball gag is working out a system of communication. 

If one partner is wearing a ball gag, the idea is to stop them from talking. While that can be a lot of fun, it means that the submissive partner can’t verbally communicate, which means you can’t rely on a safeword. Therefore, you’ll need to establish ‘safety actions’. 

Assuming that the submissive partner will have the use of their hands, you could work out a tap-based communication system where, for example, one tap means ‘slow down’ and two taps means ‘stop’. 

Alternatively, if the partner wearing the gag will be tied up, a common safety method is giving that partner something that makes noise, like a squeaky toy, that they can squeeze a certain number of times to communicate. 

Step 3: Find The Right Gag 

Once you’ve talked about your wants and boundaries and established how you will use a ball gag safely, you can work together to find the perfect ball gag. 

You should take into account the factors we discussed in our section about different types of ball gags, such as size and breathability. 

To work out which size will work best, you may need to take open-mouth measurements. The ball should never be larger than the submissive partner’s open-mouth height. 

In general, we’d recommend starting out with a smaller ball and moving up to larger gags over time if you feel comfortable. 

Materials should also be considered before buying a ball gag. As we mentioned earlier, softer ball gags are usually better for beginners. If either you or your partner has a rubber allergy, you will need to prioritize other materials such as leather or plastic. 

Step 4: Play Carefully 

No matter how in-depth your discussions have been prior to using a ball gag for the first time, you should still be careful when engaging in speech restriction. 

Firstly, if the submissive partner can’t breathe through their nose that day for whatever reason (a cold or allergies), you should wait until they feel better. Using a non-breathable ball gag with no nasal airflow can be very dangerous. 

The dominant partner should pay attention to the submissive partner at all times and never leave them alone or out of sight, especially if they are tied up. 

Remember, the submissive won’t be able to speak, so the dominant needs to be able to see them clearly at all times. If you’ve established a communication system based on tapping, the dominant should stay within touching distance.

What’s A Ball Gag (Everything You Need To Know)

Step 5: Aftercare 

Speech restriction can bring up a lot of emotion for all parties and also has a clear physical impact on the submissive. 

Some of the emotional and physical effects of using a ball gag can be unexpected, which is why attentive, communication-based aftercare is important. 

For example, not being able to talk can make a person feel very vulnerable. On the other side of the coin, it’s not uncommon for the dominant partner to feel negative emotions such as guilt after a scene, even if everything has been totally consensual. Both parties should have the opportunity to talk through their feelings if they feel that they need to. 

Both partners may benefit from comforting words and actions after using a ball gag. The submissive might need water, food that is easy to chew (their jaw might be sore), or even just a hug. 

Summary 

To summarize what we’ve discussed, a ball gag is a gag consisting of straps and a ball that holds a submissive partner’s mouth open to prevent speech. 

Ball gags come in different materials, sizes, and designs, so you can choose the gag that matches your preferences and those of your partner. 

Remember to discuss your desires, boundaries, safety plan, and aftercare with your partner before using a ball gag!