How to throw curveballs and land better catches in Pokémon GO

Practice the motion on ordinary encounters

Hold the ball and move it in a small circle until it spins, then release with an arc that compensates for the curve. The exact swipe depends on screen size and the target’s distance, so build a repeatable motion rather than copying another phone’s coordinates.

Watch the Pokémon’s movement before throwing. A jump or attack can spoil a well-aimed attempt. Waiting for an opening costs less than throwing straight into a repeated animation.

Understand the bonuses

Landing within the target ring can produce Nice, Great or Excellent throws according to its size. Curveballs and useful Berries can improve an attempt. None of those ordinary bonuses means a difficult target must stay in the ball.

If you cannot land the smaller circle consistently, practice a manageable size first. Several accurate throws are often a better use of supplies than spending every ball on a missed Excellent attempt.

Raid catches have a finite ball supply

After a raid, the catch opportunity uses the special balls awarded for that encounter. The official help guide recommends observing the boss’s attack pattern, using appropriate Berries and making deliberate throws.

Avoid rushing because the battle timer was stressful. The catch phase is its own task. Check your supplies and the boss’s behavior before the first release.

Diagnose the miss

If balls curve past the side, change the release direction. If they fall short, adjust distance. If the target bats them away, change timing. Work on one variable at a time so the next throw teaches you something.