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Ball gags are staples of BDSM, along with things like black studded leather, latex catsuits, floggers, and handcuffs. But why? What is it about these sex toys that have made them visually synonymous with BDSM?
Ball gags make it impossible to speak or kiss your partner. Even if you don’t use any other forms of restraint or toys in the bedroom, a ball gag adds a distinct power dynamic, leaving the wearer mute.
Many submissives enjoy feeling restrained, deprived, powerless, or even humiliated. A ball gag is another way to limit or restrict your sub during a BDSM scene, just like cuffs restrict movement and blindfolds limit sight.
If that has you interested in trying a ball gag for yourself, you’re in luck. I’ve put together a list of the best ball gags on the market, along with a buyer’s guide to help you purchase the right one for you and your partner. I’ve also given you plenty of tips and ideas for using your ball gag so you can have a safe and fun BDSM experience.
What are the Best Ball Gags?
| Image | Recommended ProductsProduct | Features | Price |
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BEST BUDGET OPTION
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BEST FOR INTERMEDIATE USERS
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BEST FOR VERSATILE PLAY
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BEST FOR ADVENTUROUS USERS
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BEST FOR BEGINNERS
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Ball Gags Review
Bondage Boutique Faux-Leather Medium Silicone Ball Gag
Bondage Boutique Faux-Leather Medium Silicone Ball Gag Review
This Bondage Boutique Faux-Leather Medium Silicone Ball Gag is the best ball gag for kink players looking to move up to the next level of play, from beginner or intermediate to a more committed dungeon slave.
It is odorless, flavorless, and hypoallergenic, which makes it safe for all players. The 24.5-inch strap offers a range of fitting from 17.5-inches to 22.5-inches and is very easy to fit in place. As the ball gag is not breathable you must never leave your sexy sub unattended while wearing this harness – not that you will want to!
Features:
- Best ball gag for experienced players
- Fabulous faux-leather
- Soft silicone ball and stretchy
Pros
- Comfortable, does not pull on the wearer's mouth
- Simple strap around design, no unwanted hair-pulling
- Perfect for completely silencing your sub – except for ecstatic moans!
Cons
- Ball is not breathable
Bondage Boutique Faux Snakeskin Silicone Ball Gag
Bondage Boutique Faux Snakeskin Silicone Ball Gag Review
The best ball gag for more adventurous intermediate to expert players, this Bondage Boutique Faux Snakeskin Silicone Ball Gag is hypoallergenic and phthalate-free as well as being odorless and flavorless.
Your master can use the 8-hole strap to fit the strap to your head. It ranges between 18.5-inches and 24.5-inches, while the ball gag itself is a generous 5.5-inch circumference – sure you keep your sub under your complete control.
This snazzy and stylish faux-snakeskin set fits perfectly with other dungeon toys for a great, sexy look at playtime.
Features:
- Attractive red and gold set
- High-quality materials
- Comfortable during steamy play sessions
Pros
- Built-in D-rings for attaching extra restraints either side of the mouth
- Breathing holes allow for safety with play
- Soft and stretchy silicone ball gag and bit for comfort
Cons
- The ball can make the wearer drool
Fetish Fantasy Breathable Ball Gag Training System
Fetish Fantasy Breathable Ball Gag Training System Review
If you are looking to try out some kinky sex, a ball gag is a great place to start. If you have no idea where to begin, the Fetish Fantasy Breathable Ball Gag Training System Set will easily let you know which is the best ball gag for your needs.
The three-ball gag diameters are; respectively: 1.5-inch, 1.75-inch, and 2-inch, which is ideal for curious kink beginners to being silenced and subdued.
Each ball gag is breathable for safety. The strap is 28 inches long and offers a range of head sizes from 19-inches to 26-inches. The strap is made from sturdy black faux leather, with all the buckles, popper attachments, and rivets offering a shiny glint of chrome.
There is a slight taste and smell at first, but these soon disperse – and you don’t really notice them after a while, when – ahem – other things are going on!
Features:
- Selection of ball gags
- Easy to use
- Strong yet flexible
Pros
- Best ball gag training set for beginners
- Free blindfold included for kink novices to try out
- Sturdy popper-type fastenings on ball gag bits
Cons
- The ball gag sometimes whistles as the user breathes through them
- The seam moldings can scratch if not checked and sanded before use
DOMINIX Deluxe Large Breathable Ball Gag with Nipple Clamps
DOMINIX Deluxe Large Breathable Ball Gag with Nipple Clamps Review
Ideal for more advanced BDSM play, this sexy DOMINIX Deluxe Large Breathable Ball Gagiscomplete with nipple clamps for finding that exquisitely precise point between pleasure and pain.
The 24.5-inch strap has a buckle fastening and features a tab over the buckle fastening into which a padlock can be clipped to keep your naughty sub in place until you decide to release them.
The ball gag is very versatile: the clamps can be unhooked, other harnesses can be added, and popping the chains in the fridge for a while before playtime can make for punishingly supreme sensation fun!
Features:
- Smooth and velvety silicone
- Includes adjustable nipple clamps
- Black and silver aesthetics
Pros
- Multi-sensational dungeon fun
- The chains are ideal for temperature play
- O-rings for use with other rigs
Cons
- The chains from the nipple clamps are a little short for bigger busts
Bondage Boutique Faux Leather Small Ball Gag
Bondage Boutique Faux Leather Small Ball Gag Review
With a circumference of 4.7-inches, this faux leather Bondage Boutique Beginners Small Ball Gag is the perfect ball gag for beginners who want to experiment with kink and restraint, and hoping to experience gagging without paying a premium.
The sturdy strapping lies flat against the face and can be adjusted very precisely anywhere along its 27-inch length thanks to the sliding D-ring fastening to keep your sub safely restrained, yet easily freed afterward!
A word of warning: you will not use this toy for long, as you will soon be eager to move on to a more adventurous intermediate and large ball gag!
Features:
- Soft silicone bit and ball
- Small ball gag for petite users
- Economic pricing
Pros
- Ideal beginner ball gag due to non-intimidating size
- Great for longer play sessions as won't begin to ache jaw
- Precise head fitting for maximum comfort
Cons
- Not ideal for more adventurous users!
Ball Gag Buyer’s Guide
A ball gag fits snugly around your sub’s head with the ball sitting behind the teeth, forcing their mouth open.
Ball gags should be odor-free, adjustable, and made of a hypoallergenic material. The best ball gags are breathable, ensuring your sub stays safe.
When it comes to ball gag play, some people like the potential to feel humiliated or objectified. Without the ability to speak, the wearer may feel like little more than a sex doll.
This depersonalization is a big appeal for some kinksters, as it can free them from distractions and allow them to be fully immersed in the physical sensations.
A ball mouth gag, maybe combined with a harness and restraints, could be exactly what you need to get in the “subspace” (sub headspace).
You can also view the ball gag as a sign of trust with your partner. With a ball gag in, you can’t give your partner verbal instructions or hints about what you want them to do.
They’re in control, and you’re trusting them to give you a pleasurable experience.
How to Choose the Best Ball Gag
When choosing your mouth gag, you need to consider your experience level, your budget, and the size of the gag. These will determine which gag is the right one for you and your partner.
Experience Level
If this is your first ball gag, look for a gag with a smaller ball. It can be physically challenging to hold your jaw open for long periods, and a larger ball will stretch your jaw more.
As you get more comfortable with a ball gag, you can graduate to a larger size. One reason I love the Fetish Fantasy Breathable Ball Gag Training System is that it allows you to progress to larger balls without buying a whole new gag.
More experienced users may also want to try mouth gags to come with other attachments, like nipple and genital clamps or a collar.
Beginners should stick to one feature at a time, so you and your partner can figure out what kinks you do and don’t like.
Budget
Your budget will determine what material your ball gag is made of and whether it comes with any extra features. The least expensive ball gags have straps made of nylon, while more expensive gags use silicone or faux leather.
Not only are the more expensive gags more comfortable, but they tend to look better, too. The material of the ball gag impacts both you and your partner.
One of you gets to wear it, and the other gets to enjoy the visual treat. If you or your partner have a leather kink, you should consider spending the extra money on a faux leather gag.
Size
The size of your mouth gag is more than just the size of the ball. You need to make sure your ball gag’s head fitting is long enough to fit your sub’s head.
The best ball gags have a sliding D-ring so you can fit the gag precisely to your sub’s head, rather than relying on pre-punched holes.
If your mouth gag includes nipple clamps or other bondage features, check the measurements on those, too. You want all features of your ball gag to properly fit your sub’s body.
Benefits of Ball Gags
- Ball gag play is a great way to explore power dynamics in your relationship. It can help you feel more submissive and vulnerable, allowing you to fully immerse yourself in the physical sensations of play.
- The ball mouth gag forces your mouth open, which can heighten the other senses and increase sensitivity to touch, taste, and smell.
- Many people enjoy the feeling of humiliation or objectification that comes with wearing a ball strap mask. This can help them fully immerse themselves in the scene and lose themselves in the physical experience.
- A ball strap mask is a great way to enhance your BDSM play and take your relationship to new levels of intimacy, trust, and connection. Whether you’re experimenting on your own or exploring with a partner, it can be an incredibly liberating and transformative experience.
Features to Look for in a Ball Gag
Make sure your ball gag includes some of these features so that you and your partner can have a safe, pleasurable experience:
Breathable ball
Even though some subs enjoy the feeling of restricted breathing that comes with a mouth gag, the safest way to use a ball gag is to choose one with a breathable ball. A breathable ball gag ensures your sub’s airway is never blocked.
Hypoallergenic materials
All your sex toys should be hypoallergenic, but it’s even more important for a sex gag, as it goes in your sub’s mouth and face. Make sure both the straps and ball are made of something that won’t irritate their sensitive skin.
Odor- and taste-free
Nobody wants to wear a ball gag that smells and tastes bad. It can be difficult to determine if a sex toy has an odor to it if you’re not purchasing it in person. I recommend reading reviews from past buyers to see if the ball gag has a strong odor or taste and if there are any easy fixes.
Adjustable head strap
Because everybody is different, you need a ball gag that has an adjustable strap, preferably one with a sliding D-ring rather than pre-punched holes. The more securely the ball gag fits, the more comfortable your sub will be.
O-ring or D-ring compatibility
Some mouth gags have large O- or D-rings that you can use to connect the gag to your other BDSM toys. If you already use several toys with O-rings, you might want to look for a ball gag that has them, too.
Soft, silicone ball
A softer ball gives your sub room to bite down when they’re wearing their gag, which can ease some of the tension on their jaw.
How to Have Fun with a Ball Gag
Create a “safe action.” You and your partner probably already have a safeword, but you can’t speak when you have a ball gag in. You and your partner need to come up with a safe action, some nonverbal signal that the play needs to end. If your sub performs the safe action, you need to stop what you’re doing and help them remove the ball gag, no matter what.
Establish your boundaries. As with any BDSM play, it’s critical that you and your partner lay out some ground rules before you begin. Make sure you’re on the same page about what do you and don’t want to do during the scene.
Place the ball in your sub’s mouth. Once your sub is ready, have them put the gag to their mouth. To make sure it’s in the right place, you may need them to open their mouth and bite on the ball while you handle the strap.
Fasten the restraint. Help your sub fasten the strap behind their head. It should be comfortably snug, not painful, and tight enough that it won’t fall off when you let go.
Check-in with your sub. Make sure your sub is comfortable and ready to start playing with the mouth gag. Remind each other of your safe action.
Have fun. How you play with your ball gag is entirely up to you and your partner. Maybe you want to lavish your sub’s body with pleasure while they’re restrained and helpless to resist. Maybe your sub wants to follow you on all fours, waiting for your permission to do anything. Or maybe you want to enjoy otherwise vanilla sex that happens to involve a ball gag. The possibilities are endless!
Aftercare. As with all forms of BDSM, aftercare is key. Cuddle, hydrate, eat a snack and talk about your experiences. Praise your sub for trying this new thing with you. They may find it relaxing if you gently massage their jaw when the ball gag is off.
Never leave your sub alone with a ball gag
Your sub could suffocate without a clear airway if the ball gag is non-breathable. Even if the gag is breathable, your sub cannot call for help in case of an emergency. Always keep your sub closely monitored when using a non-breathable mouth gag and never use one alone.
Ball Gag FAQs
Are ball gags safe?
Ball gags and dildo gags are safe as long as your sub is supervised. You should never leave a person with a ball gag on. Regularly check in with your sub to make sure they are breathing well.
Because of the nature of a ball gag, your sub cannot call out to tell you if they are suffocating, so it is your responsibility as a dom to monitor their breathing.
Can you use a ball gag for masturbation?
No, you cannot use a ball gag for masturbation or any kind of solo play. Ball gags pose a suffocation risk, and they leave you unable to talk or call for help if you have an accident. Always have a partner in the room with you if you want to use a ball gag.
Can you leave a ball gag in for long periods?
You shouldn’t leave a ball gag in for longer than an hour. Beginners should stick to 10 to 20 minutes at a time, while more experienced users can use the gag for up to an hour.
When you’re finished with your BDSM scene, no matter how long it is, be sure to give your sub plenty of aftercare. Wearing a ball gag can be physically strenuous on the jaw as well as emotionally draining.
Can you use a ball gag if you have TMJ?
If you have TMJ (temporomandibular joint dysfunction), you should probably not use a sex gag. The stress of keeping your jaw open for long periods can cause intense TMJ pain.
There are plenty of alternative methods to a ball gag that is gentler on your jaw–bit gags, soft silicone gags, fabric gags or rolled-up panties, and even fruit are all options that let you bite down on your gag.
If you have TMJ and want to explore your options for gags, consider visiting a BDSM forum and asking for suggestions. The BDSM community is full of creative and helpful people who are happy to find solutions for curious kinksters.
