A subset of cock and ball torture, ball stretching is a sexual practice in which the scrotum (the skin surrounding the testicles) is stretched, either temporarily for sensation, or permanently as a form of body modification which does not require piercing.

Ball-stretching fits into the two categories of temporary and permanent quite neatly, although some people practice both.

Safety first!

The testicles are a delicate organ, and damage can easily be caused. If any abmormal signs show, then play should be stopped immediately, and if any pain continues significantly after stopping, then a doctor should be consulted. Abnormal signs include swelling, discolouration (especially purple), pain, cold or numbness.

Any bindings or devices used to hold the testicles must not be so tight as to cut circulation, and must be removable immediately on any problem.

Effects on fertility are unresearched, but believed to be on the destructive side. If you plan to father children, you may not want to partake - especially in extreme measures.

Temporary Stretching

As part of BSDM play, a submissive male will have his testicles encircled and then pulled away from the body.

Although this creates a sensation on its own, a common goal is to experience orgasm with the balls stretched. As the man nears and has his orgasm, the scrotum contracts, attempting to pull the testicles up towards the body. The resistance to this from the stretching causes a prolonged, and more intense orgasm.

Permanent Stretching

Certain stretching devices may be applied for long periods of time - probably up to a day at a time. Safety checks should be made regulary, and only a comfortable stretcher should be left on.

The balls are typically stretched by a lesser amount at a time during permanent stretching, since pain would occur if they were stretched a large distance for a long time.

Initially, they will stretch quite a lot in a short time, for example an inch over the space of a month is not uncommon. After this, when the slack in the skin is taken up, stretching is much slower, and may take months or years.

Long-term stretchers have been known to stretch up to 6 inches or more.

Devices

• Hand - the simplest device for a temporary stretch is to hold with the hand and pull gently.
• Rope - should be bound gently and comfortably, and may be pulled down with weights.
• Metal Rings - metal rings can be used through which the balls can be pushed. These tend to stretch about 1/4 inch per ring. Surgical steel should be used for long-term wear to avoid allergic reaction.
• Parachute - a parachute-shaped piece of leather, with a hole in the top. This snaps around the scrotum and has chains hanging down for adding weights.
• Split Rings - These are not large enough to push the balls through, and so split into two sections. They are fixed together with allen bolts, and are typically available in 1 inch, 1 1/2 inch and 2 inch sizes.
• Leather Stretcher - These buckle up or use snaps, and can be anything from 1/2 inch to 4 inches.
• Elastic - an elastic binder can be used, which straps to the leg, and provides a permanent force to pull the balls.
• Weights - weights can be hung from many of the devices to increase the stretch - usually as part of a temporary stretching.

A typical long-term stretching strategy may be to acquire a couple of surgical steel split weights, and then several rings. The stretch can be increased one ring at a time until they are used up, then a large split-weight can be substituted for several rings, and then the rings stepped up once again.

The use of split weights below the rings means that the rings won't slip off, and fall with a jangle at your boss's feet when you're stretching 24-hours a day!