Action Verbs:
* Hit: The most common and obvious choice.
* Kicked: For a soccer or football context.
* Threw: For throwing a baseball, frisbee, or other object.
* Punched: For a boxing or fighting scene.
* Caught: For catching a ball.
* Touched: For a gentle interaction with the ball.
* Struck: Similar to "hit," but often implies more force.
* Smashed: For hitting the ball with great force.
* Batted: For baseball or other bat-and-ball sports.
* Launched: For throwing the ball with a lot of power.
* Dribbles: For a basketball context.
* Passed: For a team sport like soccer or basketball.
* Fielded: For a baseball or softball context.
Other Verbs:
* Held: For simply holding a ball.
* Looked at: For simply observing the ball.
* Picked up: For retrieving a ball.
* Dropped: For letting go of the ball.
* Lost: For losing track of the ball.
* Found: For finding a lost ball.
Figurative Verbs:
* Imagined: John imagined hitting a ball.
* Dreamed about: John dreamed about hitting a ball.
This list gives you a good range of possibilities! The best verb to use will depend on the specific context and meaning you want to convey.