Brainstorm vs. Spitball — What's the Difference?

A collaborative effort to explore and expand upon ideas to uncover innovative solutions.

The act of throwing out random ideas or suggestions to see what might stick, without serious consideration.

A method to solve problems by gathering a list of ideas spontaneously contributed by its members.

An approach to creativity that values spontaneous and diverse contributions.

A creative group activity focused on generating a large number of solutions to a specific problem.

The process of casual ideation without the constraints of practicality or relevance.

An organized approach to idea generation, often involving specific techniques and exercises.

A way to initiate conversation and thought exchange without the expectation of immediate solutions.

The process of freely expressing and recording ideas without judgment or evaluation.

An informal discussion where participants suggest any thoughts that come to mind.

A sudden clever plan or idea.

A spitball is an illegal baseball pitch in which the ball has been altered by the application of a foreign substance such as saliva or petroleum jelly. This technique alters the wind resistance and weight on one side of the ball, causing it to move in an atypical manner.

A sudden, violent disturbance of the mind.

A piece of paper chewed and shaped into a lump for use as a projectile.

To engage in or organize brainstorming.

(Baseball) An illegal pitch in which a foreign substance, such as saliva, is applied to the ball before it is thrown. Also called spitter.

To consider or investigate (an issue, for example) by brainstorming.

(baseball) A pitch of a baseball that has been partly covered with saliva, illegal at most levels.

To think of or produce (a solution to a problem, for example) by brainstorming.

A balled-up piece of paper, moistened with saliva (by chewing) and shot through a drinking straw.

To investigate something, or solve a problem using brainstorming.

(baseball) To moisten the ball with saliva before pitching it.

To participate in a brainstorming session.

To brainstorm ideas.

(US) A sudden thought, particularly one that solves a long-standing problem.

Paper chewed, and rolled into a ball, to be thrown as a missile; - a childish prank.

A session of brainstorming, investigating a problem to try to find solutions.

A pitched ball in throwing which the pitcher grips the ball between two, or three, fingers on one side (which is made slippery, as by saliva) and the thumb on the other side, and delivers it so that it slips off the fingers with the least possible friction; - also called spitter. When pitched directly overhand a spit ball darts downward, when pitched with the arm extended sidewise it darts down and out. The use of such a pitch is against the rules of professional baseball.

(British) An unexpected mental error.

A projectile made by chewing a piece of paper and shaping it into a sphere

The clear (and often sudden) understanding of a complex situation; a sudden brilliant insight.

An illegal pitch in which a foreign substance (spit or Vaseline) is applied to the ball by the pitcher before he throws it

To try to solve a problem by discussing it exhaustively in an intense group meeting encouraging uninhibited and spontaneous contributions from all members.

The clear (and often sudden) understanding of a complex situation

Try to solve a problem by thinking intensely about it

While there's no strict limit, too many participants can hinder productivity. A typical session has between 4 to 8 people.

Yes, they can complement each other, with spitballing providing a broad range of ideas that can be refined through brainstorming.

Ideas are often recorded on sticky notes, whiteboards, or digital documents for later review and refinement.

Yes, it's a form of creative thinking that encourages the free flow of ideas without constraints.

While commonly a group activity, individuals can also use brainstorming techniques for personal idea generation.

By reviewing collected ideas, identifying themes, and planning next steps for evaluation and implementation.

Yes, despite its informal nature, spitballing can occasionally produce practical and innovative solutions.

Sessions are most effective when kept between 15 to 60 minutes, to maintain focus and energy.

Yes, with proper facilitation that ensures everyone's ideas are heard, introverts can contribute significantly.

While spitballing is more informal, criticism is still generally discouraged to maintain a free flow of ideas.

Numerous digital tools and platforms facilitate both activities, especially for remote teams.

They often are, especially in a corporate setting, to protect the originality of ideas and encourage open participation.

It can vary, but many find that mornings or after a break, when energy levels are higher, are optimal times.

Absolutely, both techniques are valuable in educational, artistic, and personal decision-making contexts.

While it's inherently less structured, some level of organization can be applied to spitballing sessions for specific purposes.