The groove - contoured probe discontinued by Doc Johnson - review by Azula

The Groove is an affordable, quality toy that's kind of a cross between graduated anal beads and a butt plug. The first few "beads" can be floppy and hard to insert, but it's not impossible. It does a good job of relaxing the muscles for progressively larger toys. It can be used in foreplay or as a fun way to explore anal play together, particularly for newbies. Personally, I enjoy fairly rough sex without much traditional foreplay, so I prefer using this on myself (in private or while another party watches) and then presenting my ass to a partner wielding a 1.5 inch dildo, which is slightly smaller than the largest bead. I think of it like running practice laps and stretching my hamstrings before a marathon. However, there's not really a right way to use this toy. Try it a few different ways and find what works best for you (and your partner/s, if applicable).

The charcoal color is a beautiful bluish-gray with lots of sparkles in it. The very first bead is roughly the shape, size, and color of a ripe (if sparkly) blueberry. There is an inch-long, untapered 'stem' between the last bead and the base, for those who intend to use this as a plug. The base is 7/8 of an inch tall and has "DOC JOHNSON" engraved into one side. The bottom of the base has a pretty, swirled marble look, and the widest and thinnest spots of each section almost have dark, sparkly lines streaking over them. The best way I can describe it is that it looks like someone crafted this toy on a pottery wheel. Aesthetically, I find it very pleasing.

The beads are the following diameters/circumferences (in inches):

.67/2 (smallest bead)
.80/2.5
.95/3
1.27/4
1.59/5 (largest bead)
1.03/3.25 (this is the stem/area just above base)

Unfortunately, the very last "bead" is so much larger than the one right before it that it usually hurts to pop it in. That makes no sense to me; it defeats the whole purpose of using the toy! There should be at least one more bead before the last one, in my opinion. I once had a partner force the last bead in before I was ready, and it hurt so badly that we had to stop playing for a while. To prevent this from happening to you, use plenty of water-based lube (not silicone!) and take your time. Don't be afraid to slide the last bead partway in and then pull out before it gets all the way in.

It does take a good amount of time to warm up to the last bead. If you're in a rush and already have a little experience with anal, I recommend forgoing The Groove and instead sliding in the Sedeux Glam or another smallish toy and relaxing with it inside for a few minutes. This isn't a good idea for complete novices, but it accomplishes pretty much the same end result as The Groove for me. After a few minutes of lying in bed holding a smallish toy inside me, I'm ready for my girlfriend to handcuff me and take me hard. There's an initial sting with larger toys, but it wears off fast.

The base means that the toy won't get lost inside you. Hurray for no expensive and embarrassing ER visits! It can technically be used in a harness, but I can't imagine that would be fun. This works best as a handheld toy, in my opinion, but feel free to experiment with it. You can also use it as a butt plug, but I wouldn't necessarily recommend it. It's very long, so you'll likely get some fecal matter on the top of it if you leave it in place for more than a few minutes. We occasionally had issues with that when using it just for a minute! But it's not a big deal-- after all, if you're playing with anal toys, you should already know that "shit happens!" Definitely not enough to deter us from moving on.

I like that it's an affordable 100% silicone toy. I feel safe inserting it into my most sensitive areas, or even a partner's (after proper sanitization). Just boil the toy for 3-4 minutes, or toss it in the dishwasher without soap. I have not personally tried this with this toy, but Doc Johnson has been making quality 100% silicone toys for a while, so you should be safe.

The Groove is a great introduction for anal newbies, and it's one of several great warm-up tools for experienced players. It's made of high quality silicone, and it looks fantastic. It's definitely a solid buy for anyone interested in exploring anal, or for those seeking a warm up toy before more vigorous play.