# What is the maximum distance I can throw myself a ball? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [January 18, 2017, 6:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-maximum-distance-i-can-throw-myself-a-ball/777457 "2017-01-18T06:22:49Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 15\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Leo\_Bloom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leo_bloom/32/10377_2.png) [@Leo\_Bloom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leo_Bloom)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2017, 4:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-maximum-distance-i-can-throw-myself-a-ball/777457/21 "2017-01-18T16:27:10Z")
Damn, I was hoping we would take up one of the centipede scenarios. ---
**Author:** ![Leo\_Bloom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leo_bloom/32/10377_2.png) [@Leo\_Bloom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leo_Bloom)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2017, 4:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-maximum-distance-i-can-throw-myself-a-ball/777457/22 "2017-01-18T16:38:16Z")
nm ---
**Author:** ![Leo\_Bloom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leo_bloom/32/10377_2.png) [@Leo\_Bloom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leo_Bloom)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2017, 4:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-maximum-distance-i-can-throw-myself-a-ball/777457/23 "2017-01-18T16:48:14Z")
> [@jtur88](#): > > … > When we were kids playing two-man touch football, we employed a rule that you could pass to yourself, and you were not downed by being touched while the ball was in the air. But they were mostly underhand tosses of only a few yards. Even then, five yards was easy, and ten probably attainable with just a soft toss, with sufficient practice. > … :)🙂 What a great memory that is! I haven’t thought that move in years. But the best/worst psyches were the _overhand_ tosses, as you pump hard for your guy rounding the pothole next to the second red car, and then forward pass it to yourself as you run around defense. When giving directions to people, and I sense that a graphic would be helpful, I still sometimes wish I could tell them gather round, pull up my shirt, point to my bellybutton, and say, “OK, here’s the … and then you go …” ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2017, 4:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-maximum-distance-i-can-throw-myself-a-ball/777457/24 "2017-01-18T16:56:39Z")
> [@Leo\_Bloom](#): > > :)🙂 What a great memory that is! I haven’t thought that move in years. > > But the best/worst psyches were the _overhand_ tosses, as you pump hard for your guy rounding the pothole next to the second red car, and then forward pass it to yourself as you run around defense. > > When giving directions to people, and I sense that a graphic would be helpful, I still sometimes wish I could tell them gather round, pull up my shirt, point to my bellybutton, and say, “OK, here’s the … and then you go …” “Cosby, you catch the “J” bus. Have the driver open the door at 34th. I’ll fake it to you.” 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Omar\_Little](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/omar_little/32/269_2.png) [@Omar\_Little](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omar_Little)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2017, 5:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-maximum-distance-i-can-throw-myself-a-ball/777457/25 "2017-01-18T17:03:35Z")
Rico Gathers, TE with the Cowboys, threw a 40 yard pass to himself. > **[Rico Gathers throws 40-yard pass to himself](https://www.ourdailybears.com/2016/2/28/11130142/rico-gathers-throws-40-yard-pass-to-himself)** > > View the FanShot on SB Nation. ---
**Author:** ![Leo\_Bloom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leo_bloom/32/10377_2.png) [@Leo\_Bloom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leo_Bloom)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2017, 5:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-maximum-distance-i-can-throw-myself-a-ball/777457/26 "2017-01-18T17:05:11Z")
😃 ---
**Author:** ![OldGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/3bc359/32.png) [@OldGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OldGuy)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2017, 6:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-maximum-distance-i-can-throw-myself-a-ball/777457/27 "2017-01-18T18:07:40Z")
> [@Omar\_Little](#): > > Rico Gathers, TE with the Cowboys, threw a 40 yard pass to himself. > > [Rico Gathers throws 40-yard pass to himself - Our Daily Bears](http://www.ourdailybears.com/2016/2/28/11130142/rico-gathers-throws-40-yard-pass-to-himself) If the yard markers are accurate, that’s longer than 40 yards. He releases the ball straddling the two yard line and his hands are at or just past the 50 it appears as as he catches it. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2017, 6:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-maximum-distance-i-can-throw-myself-a-ball/777457/28 "2017-01-18T18:33:36Z")
> [@Omar\_Little](#): > > Rico Gathers, TE with the Cowboys, threw a 40 yard pass to himself. > > [Rico Gathers throws 40-yard pass to himself - Our Daily Bears](http://www.ourdailybears.com/2016/2/28/11130142/rico-gathers-throws-40-yard-pass-to-himself) Gathers runs a 4.65 second 40, which is fairly pedestrian by NFL standards (though very fast for a man of his size), so it’s likely that even a moderately fast wide receiver or cornerback could catch a longer pass given sufficient throwing ability. ---
**Author:** ![newme](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/e0b2c6/32.png) [@newme](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/newme)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2017, 7:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-maximum-distance-i-can-throw-myself-a-ball/777457/29 "2017-01-18T19:20:33Z")
> [@OldGuy](#): > > If the yard markers are accurate, that’s longer than 40 yards. He releases the ball straddling the two yard line and his hands are at or just past the 50 it appears as as he catches it. No, watch it again. He throws from the 2 and catches it at the 30. ---
**Author:** ![Disheavel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e274bd/32.png) [@Disheavel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Disheavel)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2017, 7:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-maximum-distance-i-can-throw-myself-a-ball/777457/30 "2017-01-18T19:51:54Z")
I have to agree with **Newme** that is a 28 yd pass maximum. I have a Nerf football in the office and I just did a 20 yd pass to myself in jeans and leather shoes. I could run a 4.60 during my college football days\* but I suspect I am still under 5. So 40 yards shouldn’t be a problem with a real arm, turf, and being in top shape. Punting would be an interesting comparison to do as I think the distance wouldn’t be as far. \*In thinking back I really wasted my youth, as one of the things I did was catch a discus out of the air barehanded between 140-150 ft. from the ring… on a dare. I mean, how dumb was I??? Oh to be young again! ---
**Author:** ![Dahu](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dahu/32/3416_2.png) [@Dahu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dahu)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2017, 11:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-maximum-distance-i-can-throw-myself-a-ball/777457/31 "2017-01-18T23:46:43Z")
> [@bob\_2](#): > > The OP said “football” not baseball. The world record throw for a rugby ball is 163.32 feet (just short of 50 metres. Hard to tell from the video but the ball looks to be in the air for less than ten seconds, so even an average runner could manage that. > > [Teacher sets world record for longest football throw-in using special flipping technique | Daily Mail Online](http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1244361/Teacher-sets-world-record-longest-football-throw-using-special-flipping-technique.html) The video in the link is for a “football”, not a rugby ball. “Soccer” ball, if you like. ---
**Author:** ![Sterling\_Archer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f1d935/32.png) [@Sterling\_Archer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sterling_Archer)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2017, 11:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-maximum-distance-i-can-throw-myself-a-ball/777457/32 "2017-01-18T23:47:02Z")
Goofing around in my backyard I found I could do about 30 yards. I am nowhere near pro athlete levels in speed or arm strength. Throw it high enough, you can give yourself quite a bit of time. You can also give yourself some forward momentum as you throw. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2017, 12:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-maximum-distance-i-can-throw-myself-a-ball/777457/33 "2017-01-19T00:11:41Z")
Come to think of it, if we’re neglecting air resistance, this is easy. Start running. When you’re up to full speed, throw the football straight up (relative to you), as hard as you can. Keep running at full speed. In the real world, air resistance will prevent this from working. But you still probably want to be already running when you throw. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2017, 12:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-maximum-distance-i-can-throw-myself-a-ball/777457/34 "2017-01-19T00:30:53Z")
> [@newme](#): > > No, watch it again. He throws from the 2 and catches it at the 30. That’s what I see. I was like, how is that a 40 yard pass? I mean, 28 is still pretty cool, but doesn’t seem all that impressive to me. ---
**Author:** ![smithsb](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smithsb/32/12107_2.png) [@smithsb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/smithsb)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2017, 5:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-maximum-distance-i-can-throw-myself-a-ball/777457/35 "2017-01-19T05:59:52Z")
> [@Disheavel](#): > > I have to agree with **Newme** that is a 28 yd pass maximum. I have a Nerf football in the office and I just did a 20 yd pass to myself in jeans and leather shoes. I could run a 4.60 during my college football days\* but I suspect I am still under 5. So 40 yards shouldn’t be a problem with a real arm, turf, and being in top shape. Punting would be an interesting comparison to do as I think the distance wouldn’t be as far. > > \*In thinking back I really wasted my youth, as one of the things I did was catch a discus out of the air barehanded between 140-150 ft. from the ring… on a dare. I mean, how dumb was I??? Oh to be young again! Better a discus than a Javelin.😃 [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-maximum-distance-i-can-throw-myself-a-ball/777457.md?page=1)