AI Tutor
Imagine someone tosses you a big playground ball, and you hug it tight against your chest—THUMP! It bounces right off your ribs and rolls across the gym floor.
That hug move is called body trapping, and it usually fails because your chest is hard like a wall, kicking the ball right back out.
So how do your hands stop the ball completely before it ever touches your shirt?

Hand Shapes for Every Toss

To catch cleanly, your hands must reach out in front of your body with wide, relaxed fingers ready to grip.
When a ball flies at your chest or higher, point your thumbs toward each other to form a window shape with your fingers up.
When the ball arrives below your waist, point your pinky fingers together to form an open basket.
Making the right shape is step one—but how do you stop the ball without it stinging your fingers?

The 'Give' Technique

When the ball meets your fingers, bend your elbows and draw your hands slightly backward to absorb the ball's force.
Think of catching a water balloon: stiff arms break the balloon, but soft hands that move with the ball keep it safe.