19. Poke Ball basics
The iconic red-and-white ball will become your best friend while playing Pokemon GO. You need Poke Balls to capture Pokemon, as the name generally implies.
The game starts you off with a small stock of them, and you do get more from PokeStops as well as level up rewards. However, it’s best to use your supplies wisely, and that means getting better at catching Pokemon.
Here are some basic tips. As we’ve written before, it’s all in the wrist. Yeah, you really do need to flick the Poke Ball at your target to have a chance of catching it. Personally, I prefer using my index finger for additional dexterity.
Getting a curveball and bonus XP just entails circling the Poke Ball with your finger or pressing down on it before you throw. The Poke Ball should spin. You’ll also see a distinct curve in the arc of the ball when it’s thrown. Curveballs give you 10 XP.
For Nice, Good, and Excellent throws, you need to throw the Poke Ball within the colored circle, according to Reddit’s TheSilphRoad subreddit. The smaller the circle, the bigger the bonus to your XP for catching the Pokemon. That same thread reports that quality throws increase the chance of a catch as well.
A Nice throw nets you 10 extra XP; Good, 50 XP; and Excellent, 100 XP.
