A ball gag is usually made of two items – a “ball” shaped item, which can be made of many different materials, as well as being hollow (to allow uncontrolled access to the mouth) or solid (to prevent access and prevent sound), as well as a rope, strap or other type of restraint to keep the ball gag in place.
A ball gag is usually made of two items – a “ball” shaped item, which can be made of many different materials, as well as being hollow (to allow uncontrolled access to the mouth) or solid (to prevent access and prevent sound), as well as a rope, strap or other type of restraint to keep the ball gag in place. It is called ball gag bondage for a reason!
Ball gags are added to dominant/submissive role play. The person who is wearing the ball gag is unable to speak, adding a level of helplessness to the physical act. It has become a symbol in the bdsm community, and identifies both the person wearing it as a submissive, and the role they play in the BDSM community.
When the ball gag is placed into your mouth by your dominant partner, it becomes one of the signs that you are submitting to their control – and demonstrates your acceptance that they are depriving you of your ability to speak and make identifiable noises.
The longer you wear a gag, the more you mouth signals that it can not close, nor can you lick your lips, or with most gags, extend your tongue out of your mouth at all. You will also begin to drool without control because your mouth is forced open. The act of drooling adds to the kink of humiliation – and reminds you of the power of control of your master.
Wearing a ball gag provides different uses and feelings depending on the desires of the master and submissive. For example, a ball gag can be a way to humiliate and punish a submissive. Or the submissive might experience “pain-arousal” of having the gag keep their mouth unusually and uncomfortably open.
A ball gag is usually one aspect of the BDSM relationship. When other types of physical restraints are added, the ball bag increases the submissive’s feeling of helplessness, and potentially increases their anxiety level, as they are not capable of speaking during the sexual act – which some people enjoy as much as the act itself.
Not all participants in role play enjoy the use of ball gag bondage. However, for those that do, the use of fantasy and mental stimulation plays a large part of the act and feelings which the gag produces.
Think of the movies in which the bad guy stuffs or ties a rag around the mouth of the “women in distress” in order to prevent her from screaming to attract help. These fetish scenes are sexually arousing for some, and the ball gag provides the physical stimulation to help build the mental fantasy.
From the dominant’s perspective, his submissive may not speak unless given permission; and many dominants enjoy the both the sounds made and the uncontrollable drooling of their gagged partner. Many dominants also say they like the sound their submissives DO NOT make as well!
Different types, designs, and materials of ball gags allow for different levels of roleplay, as well as different levels of submission that ball gag bondage can provide..
One of the factors to consider when choosing materials is the ability to properly clean and disinfect the gag. Just like dildos, or a butt plug, or a vibrator – the gag must be cleaned after every use. Remember that it is being used with a bodily fluid, and you do not want to provide an environment for oral infections.
Depending on how the gag is made, cleaning can be either easy or difficult; and drying time can be minutes or hours. Toy cleaners will work but warm water and mild soap work just fine. Letting it soak in very hot water occasionally also helps.
Not all of the materials of your gag can be cleaned or disinfected. The leather or rubber straps aren’t designed to be disinfected in the same way as they are porous material.
When choosing the first ball gag, we always suggest the smallest of the choices. It is easier to work up and learn what your submissive enjoys, rather than start too large and ruin the moment and enjoyment of using gags.
Beginners — should start with balls that are smaller, and softer, such as silicone, as they will be more comfortable, but still give the feelings and rush you are seeking.
Smaller balls do not force the jaw/mouth open too much. We tend to suggest one piece stretch bands if they are available as they will not get too tight for beginners.
Intermediates — tend to choose bigger balls, and usually materials that are more firm, as well as straps that buckle for longer mouth play. Intermediate balls will open the mouth slightly more, and will decrease the amount of sound heard from the person wearing it. Leather straps help adjust how tight the ball is pulled into the mouth. The ball gag harness is very important to the overall use of ball gags.
Advanced users — tend to choose very hard materials such as metal, or other very hard surface such as a hard plastic. These are also solid, not allowing any air to be brought in through the ball.
They always have leather straps and a buckle allowing for the gag to be tightly pulled into the mouth.
Just like “Kleenex” refers to a tissue and “Xerox” is used to indicate a photo-copy, “ball gag” tends to be used generically to describe different styles of mouth restraints.
Beginner ball gags tend to have holes in them which allow the wearer to breathe more easily. More advanced balls are solid, and larger, which restricts the amount of air the submissive gets, as they must breathe through their nose. This deprivation, although very small, often leads to a more intense experience during orgasm. It is a mild form of erotic asphyxiation.
Other gag styles are available as well. Some are designed to prevent the mouth from being closed, which prevents the submissive from refusing to accept an item in the mouth. Some are round, yet hollow gags – which others are metal mouth stretches.
Because there is so much interest in ball gag bondage, ball gag designs evolve constantly. We have jock strap gags, where the dominant wears the gag as a jock strap for days, then straps it on the submissive’s face, requiring them to breathe in the smell of their master without reprieve.
We also sell gags designed for men, with a built in pocket pal placed in their mouth, so that their master can penetrate the submissive’s mouth (and ejaculate if desired) without restriction or refusal.
Because your submissive will be unable to talk and unable to communicate their feelings, you must create a communication system to make sure you are both on the same page.
That system of communication might include hand movements that you both understand. However, that doesn’t always work when other restraints are involved, and you must have a clear method to communicate that a full stop is necessary.
If the submissive is new to ball gag bondage, limit the initial settings to 15-20 minutes. Your submissive needs to become acclimated to the feeling the gag evokes. Trying to do too much or go too long on the first few attempts can ruin it forever.
Safety is critical. Role play is about fantasy fun, and the excitement that it generates. If your submissive has a cold, or is sniffling, do not use gags. You are using a toy that restricts the airflow – a cold or sinus infection is already causing airflow issues, and you would never want to add a gag in that situation.
Enjoying the use of a ball gag takes time and patience. Partners need to feel comfortable, secure and SAFE before allowing the gag to generate the arousal that it does. We always explain to customers that there is a fine line between pain and pleasure – but what we forget to tell is that there is also a fine line between fear and pleasure. Go slowly, eliminate the fear, and you will experience the wonders of role play with a ball gag.
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