When most men settle in for a good masturbation session, they tend to fall into a bit of a rut – a pleasurable rut, but a rut nonetheless. If they decide to vary things a little, they may make some small changes to the way they grip their penis – a little tighter, a little looser, perhaps switching hands. These are viable and effective ways of changing up the masturbation game (and without affecting penis health in the process). Still, guys may want to occasionally look beyond the grip when considering ways of expanding their masturbation repertoire.

What are some simple changes a guy can explore to up his masturbation experience?

• Relaxing. Often, when guys masturbate, it’s all about being tensed up. They may be operating under a time limit or they may simply be used to pulling one off quickly. Instead, try allowing ample time – an hour or more – for masturbation. (That doesn’t necessarily mean a guy has to take the full hour, but he should set aside that much time.) Instead of immediately wrapping the fist around the hard penis in a death grip, a guy can lie back on his bed and let his fingers gently stroke and fondle his penis and balls in a relaxed manner. Breathing deeply, he can explore himself, rubbing, stroking, gently slapping – but taking his time. And he can spend time on other parts of his body – the nipples, thighs, anus, etc. As he becomes more aroused, he’ll start stroking more quickly – and that’s fine. But try to remain more relaxed than usual when masturbating to see if it feels different.

• Talking. Aside from moaning and groaning a little, and perhaps panting, most guys are pretty quiet when masturbating. Assuming that privacy is not an issue, this doesn’t have to be the case.  Men should try talking during masturbation, imagining there is someone else in the room with them and bragging about how awesome their penis is or how incredible it feels to stroke themselves – whatever is on their minds. Sometimes just narrating what they are doing or feeling adds a special “oomph” to the proceedings.

• Dispense with the grip. If a man always masturbates by wrapping his fist around his penis, he should occasionally switch things up by finding other ways to stimulate. Many men like to lie on the bed and rub their penis against the sheets, for example. Penis sleeves, whether homemade or store-bought, also offer another stimulatory experience. Running a pair of nylon stockings or a scarf back and forth across an erect penis is a favorite for many guys. Or, rather than wrapping one hand around the penis, take the penis in both hands and rub it back and forth quickly.

These are just a few of the ways in which a man can move beyond using a basic grip in his masturbation – if he feels the need to do so. (There’s nothing wrong with continuing with his current routine if it works and makes him happy.)

Sometimes, whether using a basic grip or some other technique, a guy gets so into his masturbation that he comes out of the experience with a red, raw penis. Regular application of a first rate penis health crème (health professionals recommend Man1 Man Oil, which is clinically proven mild and safe for skin) can help when the penis has been handled a bit too roughly. Be sure the selected crème contains sufficient moisturizing capability to help revitalize the sore skin. A combination of a high-end emollient (Shea butter, for example) and a natural hydrator (like vitamin E) in the crème is necessary. If the rough handling reduces penis sensitivity, a crème with L-carnitine is handy to use; this ingredient is neuroprotective and helps restore diminished sensation in the penis.