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You’re probably throwing the Pokeball wrong in Pokemon Go. At least, that’s what I gather from all these comments that seem to assume that I’m left handed. I’m not.
But I’ve recorded and analyzed thousands of Excellent throws and have probably thought harder about throwing technique than anyone else, so here’s my attempt to convince you that my technique is better.
23 Comments
I always used my tongue. This fingertip idea might be interesting…
I have difficulties for throwing very high (e.g gmax lapras) or very low (e.g gmax snorlax when the target is on its crouch)
I feel betrayed by this 🗿 I throw with my right thumb to the right (counterclockwise). If I need the whole width of the screen I start my throw above the berry icon 🗿
Goddamn it he’s right
i'm right handed and this is the only correct way to throw
me being the weirdo to throw with the side of my middle finger: ummm
I already do the from the corner tho so I get partial points, right? :D?
I like to throw clockwise with my right thumb (except for some long throws and when I’m holding multiple devices). An advantage of this method is that it allows stabilizing the phone with both hands. The smaller range of motion likely helps with precision and preventing fatigue as well.
Using this technique, I managed to throw 1000+ excellent throws during Ponyta community day classic.
Not a single tip for Zubat Excellent throws…
Wait, you throw with your INDEX? That's the most mind-blowing part of this video (most of the rest I learned by trial and error a while back) – For fast catch, I use my right thumb on the ball drawer with my left thumb to throw the ball – I find that the somewhat circular movement of "bend and unbend while swiping" is both super comfortable and also lets me get wild momentum without necessarily needing to move my whole hand. For a slow catch I do the same thing but without the ball drawer, moving my right hand to the back of the phone to hold it more still. (this is usually only relevant in Raids, I almost only do fast catch unless it's a tour event, in which case I want to listen to the encounter music)
Great vid (as usual), but I think it brings up more questions than it answers, lol. One is the actual physical throwing mechanics of the hand, as it isn't obvious from just following the line on the screen (evidenced by the fact that everyone thinks you're left-handed). We did get to see a few shots of this in the video, but a more in-depth look could be useful for some.
Something else that may be useful would be a video exploring the pros and cons of different throwing styles. A number of people have commented that they use a different style than you (holding the phone in both hands using the thumb to throw), and neither of the two main styles I use involve the index finger either.
For more casual catching I use a one handed style holding the phone in my right hand and using my right thumb to throw the ball counter-clockwise. I can't quick catch, and the range is definitely limited, but it leaves a hand free to do something else, or just allows me to hold the phone to the side instead of to the front. For more serious catching or to quick catch, I hold the phone in my left hand and use my left thumb to manipulate the berry tray (if quick catching). I use my right-middle finger to throw the ball counter-clockwise, with my hand supinated about 90 degrees and the outside edge of the finger in contact with the screen. In this configuration the natural articulation (as you put it) is achieved using both the finger and wrist together.
I'm sure there are many other varieties as well, based on what people find most comfortable or intuitive. I'll also have to see about adapting my throws to be clockwise from the bottom right, as I do occasionally run into the issues you talked about trying to quick-catch distant pokemon.
This is the equivalent of Apple saying "You are holding it wrong"
I agree with all of your reasoning here and wish I had watched this (or thought about all of these factors) when I started playing. But now that I have years of throwing experience based on throwing the other direction, I am not eager to "re-learn" this direction despite the benefits.
WE NEED A LUNALA GUIDE 😭😭
What about for ar mode
While the throwing technique from bottom corner is objectively better (and how I throw for most encounters), throwing CCW to the right or CW to the left is purely subjective because a proper throw technique with either results in the same throw. That aside, the only thing I think you missed is throwing from the bottom corner is just as important for very close throws as it is far throws, especially for excellents.
I am right handed and throw CCW to the right and use the same technique which also has the benefit of switching to throwing one handed by thumb when needed. Throwing to the left is completely unnatural to me no matter how many times I try it and just don't like obscuring the screen during the throw. Could be down to size/weight of my phone or how I balance it, but it doesn't work for me as I can't get the same distance reliably and near impossible one handed.
Counter argument for articulation and CW left throws for right handed people is now your whole arm is involved with everything else. I can throw corner to corner to the right simply deviating my wrist. Throwing to the left I need to raise my arm across the screen for far throws.
As for quick catching, it's not incompatible/impossible with throwing to the right either. With my left thumb I always hold and slide up on the berry leaving plenty of room to throw from the bottom left corner when needed. Once you hold the berry, you can move your finger anywhere as long as you don't let go. It's not unnatural either because how I hold my phone, my thumb rest around the middle of the screen. This would actually interfere if I threw to the left.
enjoy your videos! I’ll try it like u said and see
This is a great video, I’ll try your technique for a while and hope it’ll work!
Edit to add: I’ve already gotten more great and excellent throws within two hours! I need to get used to it obviously, but I’m definitely changing my throwing. And especially with fast catching it’s waaaay easier to make an excellent curve ball now! Thank you so much!!
All I know is I don’t feel alone anymore 🤣 I have never been able to throw counter clockwise
I cannot argue with the logic. Great, now I have 9+ years of muscle memory to undo as a bottom-left-corner-counter- clockwise-thrower though.
you are probably better than me but i throw from bottom right corner counter-clockwise and probably throw excellent 80-85%. i dont think i will be able to change. i freely admit i rarely utilize fast catch.
Was switched from left to right for months. Now after a few throws i already get excellent with starting at the bottom and throwing to the left. Amazing, thank you!
Maybe true but I have years of practice throwing to the right
ok mandatory inflammatory statement (lmao): i think your method is suboptimal***, especially for the farther pokemon like muk trubbish throh etc.
***okay first i think suboptimal needs explaining because your method like obviously works and if thats your muscle memory then obviously use what works :]
but yes i think for someone just learning to play its better to start farther up the right side of the screen. the pokeball naturally curves down and to the right at roughly a forty five degree angle when thrown. so instead of fixing the starting point and changing the throw angle and speed like you do, i think its better to keep the throw angle the same for all pokemon (that ~45 degree angle that it naturally falls back towards) and change the speed and starting height instead. you generally want to throw directly through the center of the excellent circle for max distance pokemon, and then lower proportional to how close the pokemon is (this is due to the fact the pokeball curves up slightly before curving down and right so the closer a pokemon is the larger the relative height change). this makes it a lot easier for the far away pokemon as the angle and height are very easy to gauge and you only need to worry about the speed which you throw at, making muk and other similar throw pokemon pretty easy in my opinion.
also yes i agree throwing with right index is generally much better, at least anecdotally
if do you try this out id love to hear what you think^^