Ultimate guide to sex positions: Speed bump

Let’s talk about sex positions.

Whether you’re starting out with a new partner or looking to spice things up with an old flame, this series of guides is for you. 

Next up, we have one of the best humping positions out there: Speed Bump.

Speed Bump:

The Speed Bump is easy to master and promises profound pleasure without the risk of a pulled muscle or having to commit to intensive exercise.

In short, it's a simpler version of doggy style, and involves one partner lying on their stomach with a pillow under their hips while the other kneels behind them, poised for penetration.

The “Speed Bump” gets its name from the rise that’s created by the pillow wedged beneath the receiving partner’s pelvis. Much like a real speed bump, this position is designed to slow things down…mmmhmmm.

Really, the Speed Bump is widely understood as a pillow princess’s dream, because it’s a lot like doggy style, but without the added effort of staying up on your knees. The receiving partner just gets to lie there while the thrusting partner does all the work. 

Bonus: if you're looking for a sex position that lets you explore power dynamics, the Speed Bump is well-suited, as it puts the thrusting partner in control (albeit, with constant communication and consent, always!).

A note on terms:

When discussing penetration, we use the terms “thrusting partner” for the person with the penis (biological or synthetic), and “receiving partner” for the person accepting the act of penetration (vaginal or anal). In this piece, the receiver is also referred to as “the rider” for reasons that should be obvious. 

It is important to note that being a receiver is not a passive, subservient role. It is an active, enthusiastic role. There is power in choice, and by choosing to invite their partner inside them, the receiver is exercising that power.

Furthermore, the thrusting partner is not just a giver. Of course, they also receive pleasure during the act. But for the sake of clarity and consistency, we have selected these terms for the two sides of the dynamic.

How to do it:

The receiving partner lies on their front, face-down, with a pillow or bolster underneath the hips, while the thrusting partner kneels and enters them from behind. 

The receiving partner can choose to keep their legs spread apart or closer together, depending on personal preference. Having the legs spread apart will allow for deeper penetration—which can be pleasurable for some, but painful for others. Meanwhile, keeping the legs closer together creates more of a sensation of tightness, while allowing for less depth. 

Once the receiving partner is in position, the thrusting partner either kneels upright behind them, or else bends over so they're in a tabletop position with their hands placed on either side of their partner's chest. Either way, they are now positioned to explore penetration. The receiving partner can relax while their partner enters from behind while holding their hips for support.

The thrusting partner behind can, of course, also reach around to offer some manual clitoral stimulation, kiss their partner’s back and neck, or even rest their head on their partner to build slow, intimate tension—whatever helps both partners enjoy the bumpy ride.

The pillow propping the receiving partner’s booty up in the air provides a more accessible angle for the thrusting partner to penetrate—take note that this position works great for either vaginal or anal sex. In fact, it also makes for a delicious oral sex position, should the thrusting partner need a break from, well, thrusting. 

Reasons we love it:

- Close to effortless—the receiving partner gets to relax and still feel deeply

- Much more intimate than traditional doggy style, it is often compared to spooning, the cuddling position known to promote closeness

- The positioning of the pillow facilitates the stimulation of the g-spot on the front wall of the vagina

- Allows for deeper penetration, making it great for those who love depth—it’s also great for penetration with a smaller penis

- The thrusting partner gets a great view of the receiving partner's beautiful ass

- Perfect for partners who love the feeling of hard, “pounding” sex, as the pillow helps absorb some of the shock

Variations to try out

Speed bump with the thrusting partner lying flat

Rather than the thrusting partner kneeling upright or in tabletop, they can lay flat on top of their partner to allow for a different angle of penetration and maximal skin-to-skin contact. When done right, this one's seriously hot and steamy all over.

This variation is ideal for increased intimacy and may be more arousing for some. That said, it may not work for people who find the weight of their partner to be too much.

Spooning sex 

To try spooning sex, both partners lay on their sides, facing the same direction, in a spooning cuddling position, while the partner in front bends their knees, drawing them up toward their hips. The thrusting partner then enters from behind, wrapping their arms around the receiving partner in a warm embrace as they do, or else holding onto their hips.

A similarly low-effort variation of the Speed Bump, this one is perfect for those craving next-level intimacy and closeness without sacrificing deep stimulation.

Superwoman

For this variation, the top half of the receiving partner's body rests on the edge of the bed while the thrusting partner holds their legs and enters from behind.

Depending on your respective heights, your bed may be too high or low for this one, but the right pillow arrangement can make it perfect. This variation has a touch of quirky kink to it: the thrusting partner gets a fantastic view of their partner’s back body, and the receiving partner can pretend they're flying if that's their thing.

Other tips and tricks: 

- For a more stable straddle, the thrusting partner can make a point of placing their legs outside their partner’s legs.

- Integrate clit vibes to enhance clitoral stimulation by placing toys like the Bullet Soft Touch between the receiving partner and the pillow.

- For added clitoral stimulation without a toy or a reach-around, the receiving partner can move their hips around and rub their clit on the pillow.

- Particularly in the case of height discrepancies, you may want to stack multiple pillows so the receiving partner can be as comfortable as possible.

- For additional depth and stimulation, the receiving partner might hold their butt cheeks apart, allowing for greater access—and an enhanced view to boot. <3