High Ball Trajectory Passing

High Ball Trajectory Passing in College Football 27. The Short Answer

Hold LB (Xbox) or L1 (PlayStation) while you press the receiver button. That's it. That throws a high ball.

You've got a defender sitting right in your passing lane. Touch pass gets picked. Bullet goes straight through him. High ball, thrown high, over the defender, hits your guy clean. That's what this does.

Want to make it even better? Hold down the receiver button while holding LB/L1. Now you've got a high ball AND a bullet on it. Not just arc - a dot. Up high where the defender can't get to it.

You can also pass lead it. Push your left stick in the direction you want the ball to go while throwing. Your receiver jumps, catches it at shoulder height or higher. Without the high ball on that same throw? Picked off. With it? Touchdown.

Works on streaks, corners, posts, in routes. Almost anything.

Two things to know before you run this into every play. One. The defense can still defend it. It's not a cheat code. Two. Your QB can miss it. Accuracy still matters. Don't expect it to be automatic every time. That's actually fine. It shouldn't be free. But when you hit it, it's clean.

What Is a High Ball Throw?

A high ball is a throw that sends the ball on a high trajectory. Not a flat line, not a looping touch pass. High. Up and over.

The difference between this and a touch pass matters. A touch pass adds arc. Sometimes that's fine. But arc means hang time. Hang time means the defense has time to react.

The high ball with a bullet on it? That's a high trajectory AND velocity. The ball gets up over the defender fast. And still gets there with heat on it. That's why it works where the touch pass doesn't.

How to Throw a High Ball in College Football 27

1. Pre-snap, read the coverage. Find your defender in the passing lane.
2. At the snap, hold LB (Xbox) / L1 (PlayStation).
3. While holding LB/L1, press your receiver's button to throw.
4. For a high ball bullet. Hold down the receiver button while holding LB/L1. Don't tap it. Hold it.
5. To add a pass lead. Push your left stick in the direction you want the ball to go while throwing.

That's the full input. LB/L1 held, receiver button held, left stick in the direction you want. Three things at once. Takes a few reps to get used to. Run it in practice mode before you try it in a game.

When Should You Use a High Ball?

Use it when a defender is sitting directly between you and your receiver.

That's the main situation. You've got an open receiver. There's a linebacker or safety in the throwing lane. Normal bullet. Defender bats it down or picks it. Touch pass. Too much hang time, defender reads it. High ball bullet. Goes up over him, lands in your guy's hands.

Also use it when you're throwing a pass lead out toward the sideline or up the field. A pass lead on a regular throw can put the ball in a bad spot. Too flat, too easy to jump. Add the high ball, and the receiver goes up and gets it at shoulder height. That's a completely different play.

Good routes to use it on:

• Streaks, cornerback is running with your guy, throw it up high
• Corners, pass lead toward the back pylon, high ball keeps it away from the safety
• Posts, safety is over the top, throw it before he arrives
• In routes, linebacker is sitting in the zone exactly where you're throwing

Why Does the High Ball Work Where a Touch Pass Doesn't?

Touch pass = arc. Arc = hang time. Hang time = the defense has a chance.

High ball bullet = goes up fast AND gets there with velocity. The defender is playing the throwing lane at normal height. The ball is already above him before he can react.

The pass lead makes it even more specific. You're telling the game exactly where you want the ball. The receiver attacks that spot. The high ball keeps it at a height where only he can get it: jumping, reaching up, catching it clean.

Without the high ball on that pass lead? The ball stays at a catchable height for everyone. Including the corner or safety right next to your receiver. That's the pick. The high ball is the difference between the interception and the dot.

What Counters the High Ball?

It's not automatic. The defense can still play it.

• Man coverage with a tall, athletic corner. A good corner in tight man coverage can still contest a high ball. He's right on your receiver. It's a jump ball.
• Your QB's accuracy. This is a tougher throw. Low-accuracy quarterbacks will miss it. If you're playing with a backup or a low-rated QB, expect misses.
• Defensive pursuit, if the defender reads the route fast enough and breaks on the ball early, he can still get up there for it.

It's not a broken mechanic. It's a tool. Use it in the right situation and it's wonderful. Spam it and the defense figures it out.

Common Mistakes With High Ball Passing

• Tapping instead of holding the receiver button. Tap gets you a regular throw or a touch pass. You have to hold it down while holding LB/L1 to get the bullet on it.
• Using it on a wide-open receiver. You don't need it if nobody's in the lane. Just throw a normal pass. Save it for when there's a defender in the way.
• Forgetting the pass lead. The high ball alone is good. High ball plus pass lead is better. Practice both.
• Expecting it to work every time. Your QB will miss some. That's part of the game. Don't abandon it after one bad throw.