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To increase the chances of the ball hitting the ground and increase your own personal safety, put one hand under the ball and the other hand over the ball.  As shown, stand back and lean forward as you prepare to drop the ball.  Move the top hand dramatically above the ball.  Get the players focused on that hand.  Start talking to them by saying, "Remember, the ball isn't in play until it hits the ground."  About halfway through that sentence, without moving the top hand, let the ball drop to the ground.  If you've done a good job of having the players focus on your upper hand or your voice, they won't notice the ball dropping and it gets to the ground before they react.