The Tried-and-True Guide for Ball Stimulation

Balls are such a sensitive and delicate part of human anatomy that playing with them can be a daunting prospect. What if you cause a partner intense pain while trying to give them intense pleasure? What if you kill the mood with an ill-considered twist or nibble? The risk involved can be enough to scare some people out of attempting ball stimulation altogether, especially if past partners have criticized their technique.

But at the same time, testicles are an underappreciated and underutilized hot spot. Along with the scrotum, they are packed with nerve endings just waiting to be explored. Here are some tips on testicular touch, whether you plan on incorporating it into a blowjob or handjob or just want to focus fully on the balls for a while.

Get the ball rolling with a conversation

One of the reasons the testicles are so commonly overlooked as an erogenous zone is that a lot of people actually don't like having theirs touched. Understandably, if you've had a partner in the past who reacted to ball stimulation with grimaces or yelps of pain—or even if you've just absorbed cultural messaging about how getting kicked in the balls is the worst pain ever—then you might feel nervous to play around down there.

As with most sexual issues, communication makes all the difference. If you're not sure how your partner likes their balls touched—or even if they like to have them touched—you can always just ask.

"Some [people] have very sensitive balls and don't like them played with at all, so the conversation should happen before you get into bed, not as you're about to touch them," advised Joe Kort, a clinical sexologist and founder of the Center for Relationship and Sexual Health in Royal Oak, Michigan. "Other [people] like them pulled on heavily and even squeezed really hard, so again, it comes with a discussion."

Hold 'em steady

The phrase "testicular torsion" strikes fear into the hearts of many people. When a testicle rotates around, it can cause pain, swelling and worse. The International Association for the Study of Pain defines pain as "an unpleasant sensory and emotional experience associated with actual or potential tissue damage," meaning sometimes our brains interpret a stimulus as painful because it could injure us, even if it isn't actually injuring us.

It makes sense then that some people are hesitant to let partners mess around down there, or may have strong, negative reactions to having their balls played with willy-nilly. Testicular torsion and other possible ball injuries are serious business.

Making the balls feel safe is the most crucial step in testicular stimulation, according to Jerry Davies, of the United Kingdom, who is the inventor of the Balldo, a product that essentially turns your testes into a dildo for penetration. A sense of security can be the difference between a pleasurable sensation and a sensation that's a blend of pain, self-protectiveness and fear.

"Balls like to feel safe. They like to be organized. They don't like to move, and that feeling that they could potentially be moved is what is causing the sensitivity," Davies said.

He suggested anchoring the balls in place before touching them by wrapping your thumb and forefinger around the "neck" of the balls—the section of loose scrotal skin just above the testicles—and then gently pulling downward while cupping the balls in your palm. From there, you can lick them, suck them or do whatever else feels good.

Test(es) out some toys

When you're just getting started with ball stimulation, some gentle touch from a hand and/or mouth will likely work just fine. But if you want to branch out a little and experience the full range of ball pleasure, toys can be a big help.

Rachel Wright, a licensed psychotherapist and sex expert in New York, said some vibrators marketed for clitoral use can work wonders on testicles, too. Her recommendation: Hold a vibrator on the underside of the balls and "feel the pleasure wash through you."

Kort recommended cock rings—specifically, the type that's made to go around the penis shaft and testicles—for boosting ball pleasure. Wearing one "makes your balls supersensitive and feels great," he said. Echoing Davies' point about helping balls feel safe and stable, Kort said compression is key, and cock rings can provide compression and stabilization so your hands are free to do other fun stuff.

There's no "right way" to play with balls, just as there's no right way to do just about anything sexually. It all comes down to what you and your partner find pleasurable and hot. So explore and experiment and you'll be having a ball in no time.