How to Masturbate Better: Tips, Techniques and New Things to Try

How can you masturbate better without changing everything?

The easiest way to masturbate better is to change one part of your usual routine instead of trying to reinvent the entire experience. Your body already knows what it likes. Think of this as adding a few new options to the menu.

If you normally go straight for the same spot, try slowing down and exploring the surrounding areas first. Change the pressure before you change the speed. Switch hands. Pause for a few seconds. Try a different rhythm, or spend longer building arousal before focusing on orgasm.

Even something as simple as adding lube can make familiar movements feel different by reducing friction and letting your hands glide more easily.

Other easy experiments include:

• using your non-dominant hand
• changing from fast to slow stimulation
• alternating firm and light pressure
• taking short breaks instead of rushing towards orgasm
• touching other sensitive areas at the same time
• trying a new position or adding a sex toy

Why can the same masturbation routine start to feel less exciting?

A masturbation routine can become less exciting simply because it has become very predictable. That doesn't mean there is anything wrong with your technique, your libido or your body.

Most of us naturally repeat whatever reliably works. Same hand, same position, same pressure, same route to orgasm. Efficient? Absolutely. Exciting forever? Maybe not.

When you know exactly what is coming next, there is less novelty in the experience. Sometimes the answer isn't stronger stimulation, but different stimulation. Slowing down, touching somewhere unexpected or changing the order in which you stimulate different areas can wake things up surprisingly quickly.

It can also help to notice whether masturbation has slipped into autopilot. If you're racing towards the finish because that's simply what you always do, try giving yourself more time. You don't need candles, a playlist and a three-act storyline every time. Sometimes taking an extra ten minutes and breaking your usual pattern is enough to make solo play feel like play again.

How can women make masturbation feel even better?

Women can make masturbation feel different by experimenting with clitoral pressure, indirect touch, rhythm, position and combinations of external and internal stimulation. The trick is not assuming that one successful technique has to become your only technique.

Change where the pressure lands

The clitoris is usually the star of the show, but direct stimulation isn't automatically better. Try touching around the clit, through the clitoral hood or along the labia before moving to more direct contact. Your pussy has plenty of sensitive territory beyond one obvious spot.

Change pressure before speed

Instead of immediately going faster, try lighter or firmer pressure while keeping the same rhythm. The difference can be much bigger than you'd expect.

Mix external and internal sensations

If internal touch feels good for you, alternate or combine it with clitoral stimulation rather than treating them as separate activities.

If you want more hands-on inspiration, our Pussy Stimulation: Fingering Tips guide explores different ways to experiment with fingers, rhythm and pressure.

How can men make masturbation feel even better?

Men can make masturbation feel better by varying grip, pressure, rhythm and the areas being stimulated instead of repeating the same up-and-down movement every time. A familiar technique can still be great, but it doesn't have to be the only one in your repertoire.

Experiment with your grip

Try loosening your grip, switching hands or changing how much of the shaft your hand covers. You can also alternate long strokes with shorter movements focused around the head or frenulum.

Use more than one hand

One hand can stimulate the shaft while the other explores the testicles, perineum, inner thighs or other areas that feel good. Your penis doesn't need to do all the work.

Add glide

Lubricant can reduce friction and create a smoother sensation, particularly if your normal technique relies on a firm grip.

For more techniques and sensitive areas worth exploring, our How to Pleasure a Penis: The Complete Guide goes into much more detail.

Can changing your position and senses make masturbation feel different?

Yes. Changing your body position, surroundings or sensory focus can make the same masturbation technique feel noticeably different. You don't always need a new technique when a new angle will do the job.

If you usually masturbate lying on your back, try sitting, standing or lying on your side. Changing how your legs are positioned can alter muscle tension and how stimulation feels. A pillow under the hips or behind the back can also make certain angles more comfortable.

Then think beyond touch. Solo pleasure can involve your whole sensory system:

• try erotic audio or your own imagination instead of your usual visual stimulation
• dim the lights or change the setting
• take your time in the shower before moving to more focused stimulation
• use massage on your thighs, stomach, chest or neck first
• close your eyes and concentrate on physical sensation rather than watching what you're doing

Novelty doesn't have to mean wild experimentation. Sometimes moving from the bedroom to the shower is enough to make your brain pay attention again.

Can edging make masturbation more intense?

Edging can make masturbation feel more intense by bringing you close to orgasm, reducing stimulation and then building arousal again. For some people, that longer build-up makes the eventual orgasm feel stronger. For others, the fun is simply staying in that highly aroused state for longer.

Start masturbating as usual, then slow down or stop when you feel yourself getting very close. Wait until the intensity drops slightly, then begin again. You can repeat the cycle once or several times depending on what feels enjoyable.

Changing stimulation during the pause can make it even more interesting. Move to another sensitive area, switch from fingers to a toy or change your rhythm completely.

And no, edging isn't a competition to see how long you can hold out. If stopping becomes frustrating rather than sexy, forget the technique and enjoy the orgasm. Your solo session doesn't need a personal best.

How can you enjoy masturbation without making orgasm the whole point?

Masturbation can feel more satisfying when orgasm becomes one possible outcome rather than the only measure of whether the session was successful. Taking away that finish-line mentality gives you more freedom to notice what actually feels good.

Try spending time touching areas you normally skip. Nipples, neck, inner thighs, stomach, perineum and plenty of other areas can be surprisingly responsive. Our guide to erogenous zones is a useful place to look if your usual routine rarely ventures beyond the obvious.

You can also experiment with sessions where you deliberately don't aim for orgasm. Focus on relaxation, fantasy, teasing or simply enjoying arousal for a while. Stop whenever you feel like it.

This approach can be especially useful if you've noticed yourself trying harder and harder to "make" an orgasm happen. Pleasure usually responds better to attention than pressure.

Which sex toys can make masturbation feel even better?

The best sex toy for masturbation is one that adds a sensation your current routine doesn't already provide. You don't need the most complicated toy in the drawer. Think about what you'd actually like to change.

If you want smoother, more comfortable touch

Start with lubricant. It is one of the simplest ways to change the sensation of hands, toys and masturbators.

If you want a different kind of clitoral stimulation

A clitoral vibrator can provide consistent vibration or other stimulation that fingers cannot reproduce in quite the same way. Small vibrators are easy to experiment with, while wands or air-pulse styles can offer a very different experience.

If you want new pressure and texture for the penis

Masturbators come in different shapes, textures and levels of intensity, making them an easy way to break out of the same hand technique. Some are simple sleeves, while others add vibration, suction or automatic movement.

If you want something completely different

G-spot toys, penis vibrators, prostate toys, wands and app-controlled toys can all introduce sensations that aren't part of a typical solo routine. If vibrators are new territory, our Vibrator Guide can help you work out which style suits what you actually enjoy.

Can masturbation make sex with a partner better too?

Yes. Masturbation can help you understand your own body, which can make it easier to communicate what feels good during sex with a partner. Knowing the pressure, rhythm or type of stimulation you enjoy gives you something much more useful than expecting your partner to magically guess.

Solo play also doesn't have to stay solo. Couples can masturbate beside each other, show each other favourite techniques or use a toy while one partner watches or joins in. Mutual masturbation can be particularly useful when you want intimacy without following the same routine you normally associate with sex.

There is also something reassuringly straightforward about showing rather than explaining. If saying "a little slower, slightly to the left, no, the other left" starts to feel like directing traffic, demonstrating what works can be much easier.

Masturbation and partnered sex don't need to compete. One can teach you things that make the other more enjoyable.

How do you know when it is time to change your masturbation habits?

It may be worth changing your masturbation habits if your usual technique causes discomfort, feels more compulsive than pleasurable or has become so specific that other types of stimulation are difficult to enjoy. The goal isn't to police how often or how you masturbate. It is simply to pay attention to what your body is telling you.

If you regularly feel sore afterwards, try gentler pressure, more lubricant or a short break. If you always need very intense stimulation, occasionally experimenting with slower or softer sensations may give your body more variety.

There isn't one "correct" frequency either. Some people masturbate often, others rarely, and both can be completely fine. It becomes worth paying attention when masturbation causes pain, repeatedly gets in the way of daily life or relationships, or no longer feels like something you're actively choosing.

If you experience persistent pain, numbness or sexual difficulties that concern you, speak with an appropriate healthcare professional rather than trying to push through discomfort.

What do people ask most about masturbation?

Is there a right way to masturbate?

No. There is no single correct masturbation technique. What feels good varies from person to person and can even change from one day to another. As long as what you're doing is comfortable and safe, experimenting with pressure, rhythm, positions, fantasies and toys is part of discovering what works for you.

How can I make masturbation feel better?

Start by changing one familiar part of your routine. Try a different pressure, rhythm, position, lubricant or type of stimulation. Slowing down and exploring other erogenous zones can also make masturbation more interesting without requiring you to abandon the techniques you already know work.

Is it normal to always masturbate the same way?

Yes. Most people naturally repeat techniques that reliably feel good. There is nothing wrong with having a favourite routine. If it starts feeling predictable, however, adding a different position, pace, toy or type of touch can introduce enough novelty to make solo play exciting again.

Should I use lube when masturbating?

You don't have to, but many people find that lubricant makes masturbation smoother and more comfortable by reducing friction. It can also change how familiar techniques feel. If you're using a sex toy, check that the lubricant you choose is compatible with the toy's material.

Can sex toys make masturbation better?

Sex toys can add sensations that hands alone may not provide, including vibration, suction, texture or automatic movement. They are not necessary for good masturbation, but they can be a fun way to vary a familiar routine or explore types of stimulation you haven't tried before.

Can masturbation improve sex with a partner?

It can. Masturbation helps you learn what kinds of touch, pressure and rhythm your body responds to, making it easier to communicate those preferences to a partner. You can also bring solo techniques into partnered play by demonstrating them, masturbating together or introducing a favourite toy.

How can you keep solo play fresh without overthinking it?

If you want to know how to masturbate better, curiosity is usually more useful than chasing the perfect technique. Keep what already works, then occasionally change the rhythm, pressure, position, fantasy or sensation and see what your body thinks.

Some days that might mean slowing down. Another day it might mean edging, exploring a neglected erogenous zone or adding a vibrator, masturbator or lube to the mix. And sometimes the old reliable technique is exactly what you're in the mood for.

You don't need to turn masturbation into homework. The whole point is pleasure, exploration and getting to know what feels good for you. When you feel like introducing something new, explore our clitoral vibrators or masturbators and let curiosity choose the next experiment.