Master Pokemon GO Throws: Great & Excellent Throw Guide

Ever found yourself staring at a rare Pokemon in Pokemon GO, only to watch your Pokeball bounce off uselessly? You’re not alone. Mastering the art of the throw is what separates casual players from true Pokemon Masters. Whether you’re aiming for consistent great throws in Pokemon GO or chasing those elusive excellent throws, the right technique makes all the difference.

This comprehensive guide will walk you through everything from basic throwing mechanics to advanced tricks that will dramatically improve your catch rate and help you earn more XP along the way.

Understanding Throw Mechanics in Pokemon GO

Before we dive into advanced techniques, let’s break down the fundamentals of how throws work in Pokemon GO. When you encounter a Pokemon, you’ll notice a colored circle pulsating around it. This circle isn’t just for show – it’s your targeting system and the key to executing perfect throws.

The circle’s color indicates the difficulty level of catching that particular Pokemon. Green means it’s relatively easy, yellow suggests moderate difficulty, and red signifies a challenging catch. As the circle shrinks and expands, your timing becomes crucial for landing those premium throws.

Many players don’t realize that the circle actually freezes in position when you lift your finger from the Pokeball. This little-known fact is actually the secret to consistently landing excellent and great throws in Pokemon GO. By mastering when to release your throw, you can significantly increase your chances of hitting that perfect shot.

How to Make a Great Throw in Pokemon GO

Learning how to make a great throw in Pokemon GO is the foundation for all advanced throwing techniques. A great throw occurs when your Pokeball lands within the larger colored circle surrounding the Pokemon. While it doesn’t offer as much bonus as an excellent throw, it’s significantly easier to achieve and still provides a nice XP boost and increased catch probability.

The key to consistent great throws lies in understanding the timing of your release. You don’t need to wait for the circle to become tiny – just aim for when it’s at a moderate size. Many players find that practicing great throws first builds the muscle memory needed for more advanced techniques later.

To execute a great throw consistently, focus on the rhythm of the circle’s pulsation. Time your throw to land when the circle is about halfway through its contraction phase. This gives you a larger target area while still qualifying for the great throw bonus. Remember, the goal at this stage is consistency rather than perfection.

Mastering the Pokemon GO Excellent Throw

Now let’s talk about the holy grail of Pokemon GO throwing techniques – the excellent throw. Learning how to make an excellent throw in Pokemon GO will dramatically increase your catch rate for rare Pokemon and net you substantial XP bonuses. An excellent throw requires your Pokeball to land within the smallest possible circle around the Pokemon.

The technique for excellent throws builds upon what you’ve practiced with great throws, but requires more precision and patience. Here’s a step-by-step breakdown of how to get an excellent throw in Pokemon GO:

Wait for the target circle to shrink to its minimum size, then lift your finger from the Pokeball to lock the circle at that size. Watch the Pokemon’s animation carefully – most Pokemon have attack animations where they swat or jump. Time your throw to release just as the Pokemon is finishing its attack animation. Aim for the center of the locked circle with a smooth, straight throw.

This method takes advantage of the circle locking trick we mentioned earlier. By locking the circle at excellent size and waiting for the right moment to throw, you eliminate the timing pressure of trying to hit a constantly moving target. With practice, you’ll be landing excellent throws regularly.

Advanced Techniques: Consecutive Excellent Throws

Once you’ve mastered individual excellent throws, the next challenge is stringing them together. Many research tasks and special challenges require players to land multiple excellent throws in succession, which can be incredibly frustrating even for experienced trainers.

Here’s a clever method that can help you achieve consecutive excellent throws without the pressure:

Start by identifying Pokemon with larger catch circles or those that are easier to hit consistently. Pokemon like Tauros, Sudowoodo, or Ponyta tend to have more forgiving circles for excellent throws. Use the circle lock technique we discussed earlier to set the circle to excellent size. Wait for the Pokemon to attack, then throw during the last part of its animation.

If you’re specifically trying to complete research tasks requiring consecutive excellent throws, consider this strategic approach: After your first successful excellent throw, immediately encounter another Pokemon of the same species (they tend to have similar catch circles). Use the same timing and throwing motion that worked previously. If you miss the excellent throw, quickly close the game before the throw registers, then restart to preserve your streak.

This method requires some practice but can save you tremendous frustration when working on those “3 excellent throws in a row” tasks that sometimes appear in special research.

Perfecting the Curveball Throw

No discussion of advanced throwing techniques would be complete without covering curveballs. Learning how to make excellent throws in Pokemon GO becomes even more valuable when combined with curveball technique, as the bonuses stack for an even higher catch rate and XP reward.

Throwing a curveball involves spinning the Pokeball in a circular motion before releasing it. The ball will curve in the direction opposite to your spin – spin clockwise for a right-curving ball, counterclockwise for a left curve. This takes practice but offers several advantages: curveballs are harder for Pokemon to bat away, they provide a 1.7x catch multiplier, and they give additional XP.

To combine curveballs with excellent throws: Spin the Pokeball until it’s glowing with energy. Use the same circle locking technique discussed earlier. Wait for the Pokemon’s attack animation. Throw with a curved motion that will land in the center of the locked circle.

Many players find that starting with larger Pokemon helps build confidence with curveball excellent throws. As you improve, you can gradually move to smaller, more challenging targets.

Essential Tools for Better Pokemon Catching

While mastering your throw technique is crucial, sometimes you need additional tools to maximize your Pokemon GO experience. This is especially true for players who want to access Pokemon that don’t spawn in their local area or who have limited mobility.

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Using a location spoofing tool like AnyTo can help you practice your throwing techniques on a wider variety of Pokemon. Instead of being limited to whatever spawns in your immediate area, you can access different biomes and Pokemon habitats. This gives you more opportunities to practice your great throws in Pokemon GO on various Pokemon sizes and movement patterns.

The ability to simulate movement also means you can hatch eggs and earn buddy candy while practicing your throws from home. This is particularly valuable for players who want to improve their skills but may not have the time or ability to walk around extensively.

Additional Gameplay Tips for Success

Beyond throwing technique, several other strategies can improve your overall Pokemon GO experience and make catching Pokemon easier.

Turning off AR mode can significantly improve your catching consistency. While AR mode is fun for screenshots, it adds an extra layer of difficulty to aiming your throws. The standard mode provides a stable, predictable background that makes it easier to focus on your throwing technique.

Using berries strategically is another key aspect of successful Pokemon catching. Razz Berries make Pokemon easier to catch, while Nanab Berries calm down Pokemon that move around frequently. For Pokemon that are particularly difficult to catch, using a Golden Razz Berry combined with an excellent throw gives you the best possible catch rate.

Don’t overlook the importance of building your XP through consistent catching. Each successful catch contributes to your trainer level, which in turn improves your ability to catch higher-level Pokemon. Focus on building streaks and taking advantage of XP events to level up more quickly.

Putting It All Together

Mastering how to get a great throw in Pokemon GO is just the beginning of your journey toward becoming an elite Pokemon trainer. As you practice these techniques, you’ll find that what once seemed difficult becomes second nature. The satisfaction of consistently landing excellent curveball throws on rare Pokemon is well worth the effort invested in practice.

Remember that different Pokemon have different catch circles, movement patterns, and attack animations. Part of the skill development involves learning these nuances for the Pokemon you encounter most frequently. Don’t get discouraged if you struggle with certain Pokemon – even experienced trainers find some Pokemon more challenging than others.

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Whether you’re working on how to make a great throw in Pokemon GO or pushing yourself to consistently land excellent throws, the most important factor is persistent practice. Every missed throw is a learning opportunity, and every successful excellent catch is a step toward mastery. With these techniques and a bit of patience, you’ll be well on your way to filling your Pokedex with rare catches and climbing the ranks to become a Pokemon GO champion.

Some images in this article are sourced from iMyFone.