Madden 23 Passing: How to Throw a Touch Pass, Deep Pass, High Pass, Low Pass, and Tips & Tricks - Outsider Gaming (2024)

There are five ways to throw the ball in Madden 23 – Bullet, Lob, Touch, High, and Low. The user can decide on how they want to throw the ball based on the situation of the play.You probably don’t want to lob a pass on a quick slant, but you also probably don’t want to throw a bullet pass on a downfield play.

Below, you’ll find Outsider Gaming’s guide to passing in Madden 23. There will be an overview of each type of pass and how to throw them. Following the overview will be tips and tricks so you can become the virtual version of Patrick Mahomes (or your favorite quarterback).

Madden 23 allows you to throw the different types of passes based on the button inputs. You can also toggle if you want to use the perfect passing mechanic or one based just on pressing the buttons.

How to throw a Bullet pass

Hold down the receiver icon to throw a Bullet pass in Madden 23. Bullet passes are used to quickly get the ball to the receiver and should only be used when there is no defender in the clear path of the ball. Do not attempt to throw bullet passes over a defender’s head as they are usually thrown at chest level and can be easily intercepted.

How to throw a Lob pass

Tap the receiver icon to throw a Lob pass. Lob passes put the most air under the ball and allow you to drop the pass over a defender’s head. These are great for deep passes to give a receiver time to gain separation from the defender and track the football in the air.

How to throw a Madden Touch pass

Press and release the receiver icon to throw a medium-strength Madden Touch pass. A Madden Touch pass is a medium-strength pass that is used to drop the ball over the head of an underneath defender or in front of deeper coverage.

How to throw a High pass

Press the receiver icon while holding L1 on PS5, LB on Xbox, and ALT on PC. High passes put the most arc on the ball and are effective when your receiver has a height or agility advantage.

How to throw a Low pass

Press the receiver icon while holding L2 on PS5, LT on Xbox, and ALT on PC.

Low passes put the ball close to the ground where only your receiver can make a play on the ball.

Madden 23 passing tips and tricks

Below are some tips to help you in utilizing the five different types of passes to your advantage while playing the various modes in Madden 23. Don’t become too reliant on one or two, and instead become familiar with all five types.

1. Wait for the receiver to get open on fly routes

Lob passes hang in the air longer than normal passes. The longer the ball is in the air, the more time a defender has to track the ball and move in position to intercept or swat the ball. Make sure that your receiver has at least half a step on their defender with no over-the-top safety ball hawking the quarterback.

2. Lead receivers with Lob passes on breaking routes

Unlike fly and go routes, deep-breaking routes take longer to develop. It is hard to tell if a receiver will be open until they make their move.You want to get the lob pass out almost as soon as you see a clean break.

3. Use Touch passes to obliterate zone coverages

Every type of zone coverage has a weak spot. Cover 2 is weak in the middle of the field from sideline to sideline. Cover 3 covers the entire field, but is very soft and spreads the coverage thin. Use Touch passes to surgically place the pass in the exact spots that a zone does not cover. This will force your opponent to adjust their defense most likely into man coverage.

4. Touch passes are the most versatile

Lob passes are best for passes of 20+ or more as you need the ball to remain over the heads of the secondary until it reaches your receiver. Bullet passes are only effective over ten yards if a receiver is wide open. Touch passes can be used in deep and short situations as they have velocity and airtime. Some situations will still call for a Lob or Bullet Pass instead. Use your discretion and intuition.

5. Watch for lurkers before throwing Bullet passes

It is very easy to lock onto a receiver running across the middle or in the flats and throw it right into the hands of a lurking linebacker. Pay close attention to the formation of the defense pre-snap and what linebackers drop into coverage immediately after the snap. Bullet passes fit into tight windows but the football cannot travel through a defender. The low height of a bullet pass also can lead to a defensive lineman knocking the ball down.

6. Use Bullet passes for short passes (less than five yards)

Passes in the backfield or near the line of scrimmage heavily rely on the receiver to make a play after the catch. The most effective way to accomplish this is to catch the defense off guard. Screen passes, drags, and curls are quick routes and require the ball most times to be thrown in anticipation of being open. The extra zip on a bullet pass can give you just enough time to make a play before your defender has time to adjust.

7. Tall receivers are always open for High passes

Highlights of tall receivers like Plaxico Burress, Randy Moss, and “Megatron” Calvin Johnson usually featured their arms extended over a group of defenders. It didn’t matter if they could beat a defender or not. If you threw the ball over their heads, these types of receivers would typically be the only player on the field with a chance to catch the ball. It doesn’t mean throw the ball recklessly, but don’t be afraid to take risks when you have a huge height advantage. High passes are in the game for this reason.

8. Low passes help to prevent interceptions

Passing in tight windows creates a multitude of problems. Not only do you need to be extremely accurate. You also need to make sure your receiver can properly secure the ball. Placing the ball below the waist area makes it less likely for tipped passes and overthrows. Either your player catches the ball or it will end up in the dirt. The downside is the lack of opportunity for yards after the catch. Low passes are great for short yardage first downs.

So there you have the five different ways to throw the ball in Madden 23 as well as tips to best utilize these variations in different situations. As you experience the game you will become more intuitive and learn what pass to use when.

Looking for more Madden 23 guides?

Madden 23: Best Offensive Playbooks

Madden 23: Best Defensive Playbooks

Madden 23: Best Playbooks for Running QBs

Madden 23: Best Playbooks for 3-4 Defenses

Madden 23: Best Playbooks for 4-3 Defenses

Madden 23 Sliders: Realistic Gameplay Settings for Injuries and All-Pro Franchise Mode

Madden 23 Relocation Guide: All Team Uniforms, Teams, Logos, Cities and Stadiums

Madden 23: Best (and Worst) Teams to Rebuild

Madden 23 Defense: Interceptions, Controls, and Tips and Tricks to Crush Opposing Offenses

Madden 23 Running Tips: How to Hurdle, Jurdle, Juke, Spin, Truck, Sprint, Slide, Dead Leg and Tips

Madden 23 Stiff Arm Controls, Tips, Tricks, and Top Stiff Arm Players

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