Timing is everything. You’re sprinting down the sideline with Saquon Barkley, the defender is closing in for a low hit, and you have about a quarter-second to decide if you’re going to truck, juke, or take flight. Most players play it safe. They slide or they go for the conservative stiff arm. But if you want to humiliate your opponent and actually clear that diving safety, you need to know exactly how to hurdle in Madden 25 without coughing up the rock.
It’s a high-stakes gamble. Honestly, hurdling in previous years felt like a suicide mission because the fumble chance was through the roof. This year? Things feel a little different with the revamped physics.
The Basic Buttons: How to Hurdle in Madden 25
Let’s get the mechanical stuff out of the way first. It’s simple, but your thumb needs to be ready before the animation trigger window closes. On PlayStation 5, you’re tapping the Triangle button. Over on Xbox Series X|S, it’s the Y button.
If you’re still on PC using a keyboard—bless your soul—the default is usually the R key.
But just tapping the button isn't enough. You have to be sprinting. If you aren't holding R2 or RT, your player kinda just does this awkward hop that doesn't clear any ground and leaves you completely exposed to a devastating hit. You’ve probably seen the "Hurdle Failed" logic kick in where your player gets flipped like a pancake. That happens when your timing is off or you're trying to leap over a defender who is still standing tall.
The game tracks the height of the defender’s tackle attempt. If they are going for a "Heat Seeker" dive or a low conservative tackle (A/X button), that’s your green light. If they are standing up trying to Hit Stick you? Don't do it. You will fumble. Almost every single time.
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Why BOOM Tech Changes the Math
Madden 25 introduced what EA calls "BOOM Tech." It’s basically a fancy marketing term for a physics-informed tackling system. In the past, animations were canned. You’d press hurdle, the game would play "Hurdle Animation A," and the defender would play "Tackle Animation B." Now, the points of contact actually matter.
This affects the hurdle significantly. If your back foot clips the defender's helmet during the jump, the physics engine calculates the momentum. Sometimes you’ll stumble but stay upright—a "stumble recovery"—which is new and much more fluid than the old days. To master how to hurdle in Madden 25, you have to look at the defender's feet. If they plant to dive, they are locked into that downward trajectory. That’s when you fly.
I’ve spent hours in the skills trainer and practice mode testing this with different archetypes. High-agility players like Christian McCaffrey or Jahmyr Gibbs have a much faster "lift-off" window. Big backs like Derrick Henry? They can hurdle, sure, but it looks like a cargo plane trying to take off. It’s slow. It’s heavy. It’s risky.
The Juke-Hurdle Combo
Most people don’t know you can actually steer the hurdle slightly. While you’re in the air, or just as you trigger it, flicking the Left Stick can give you a bit of lateral movement. It isn't a full juke, but it helps you clear the defender's shoulder rather than trying to go directly over their head.
There’s also the "Leap Frog" ability. If you’re playing Ultimate Team or Franchise mode, look for players with this specific Superstar Ability. It significantly reduces the fumble penalty while in the air. Without it, your carrying stat basically drops by half the moment your feet leave the turf. It’s brutal, but realistic.
When You Should Never Press That Button
Seriously. Stop hurdling into a crowd.
I see people try to hurdle over the offensive line in short-yardage situations. Unless you’re playing an arcade-style mode, this usually ends in a "pop-up" fumble where the ball goes flying twenty yards into the air. The "hurdle" mechanic in Madden 25 is designed for open-field 1-on-1 encounters.
- Avoid the Hit Stick: If a defender has a clear line of sight and is squared up, they are waiting to Hit Stick you. Hurdling makes you a massive target.
- Check the Fatigue: If your player icon is pulsing red, their carrying and jumping stats are tanked. You will not clear the defender.
- The Sideline Trap: Don’t hurdle near the boundary. The animation often carries you out of bounds even if you successfully clear the tackle.
The logic is simple: Hurdling is a tool for style and very specific situations where the defender is diving at your shoe strings. In any other scenario, a simple juke or a slide is the smarter play. But we aren't here for smart plays. We're here for the highlights.
Pro Tips for the Perfect Leap
If you want to get good at this, go into Practice Mode. Pick the Ravens. Put Lamar Jackson in. Why? Because his scramble speed forces defenders into desperate diving tackles. When you see that defender leave their feet, hit Triangle/Y.
Wait for the dip.
Defenders in Madden 25 have a specific "gathering" animation before they dive. Their shoulders drop. That is your cue. If you jump too early, you'll land right on top of them. If you jump too late, you're getting tackled mid-air. It’s a rhythmic thing. You’ll feel it after about ten tries.
Also, keep an eye on the "User" tag. If you’re playing against a human, they are way more likely to dive than the CPU. Most online players are terrified of being "broken" by a juke, so they lung at your feet. Capitalize on that fear. It's as much a mental game as it is a button press.
Actionable Steps for Your Next Game
Stop guessing and start executing. If you want to integrate this into your scheme without losing three fumbles a game, follow this progression:
- Check Your Personnel: Ensure your lead back has at least an 85+ Jumping and 88+ Agility. Anything lower is asking for a faceplant.
- Identify the Low Tackle: Watch the defender's hips. If they drop, they are diving. That is your window to how to hurdle in Madden 25.
- Hold Sprint: Never attempt a hurdle from a jog. You need the forward momentum to clear the defender's frame.
- Practice the Stumble Recovery: If you clip the defender, immediately flick the Right Stick up to help your player regain their balance.
- Limit Use: Use the hurdle no more than once or twice a game. If you become predictable, your opponent will just stop diving and wait for the easy Hit Stick fumble while you're helpless in the air.
Go into the "Skills Trainer" under the main menu. There is a specific gauntlet for ball carrier moves. Run it until the hurdle timing feels like second nature. Then, take it into a low-stakes Solo Challenge before you try to show off in Weekend League or your high-stakes CFM.