Long-range shots on the run

[nvan_football]

How many times you were watching top european leagues and during a game someone from one team recieved a ball near the centre circle, ran about 10-15 meters, then you saw a powerful shot from 30-35 meters and goal? The latest example I can remember is Real M.-Levante 5:0 when Figo and Beckham scored 2 tremendous goals like I described. Can you give me any tips? I'm mainly intrested in shooting technique which would be quite compatible with sprint.

[goalhappy27]

i think that is one of the hardest shots to do..my high school coach would always have us practice those by having someone roll a ball out towards the goal and then the person shooting would have to run it down and one touch it in..(very hard to do)

[Two Beasleys]

i think that is one of the hardest shots to do..my high school coach would always have us practice those by having someone roll a ball out towards the goal and then the person shooting would have to run it down and one touch it in..(very hard to do)

I like to hit these with a good bit of swerve on them. I'm right foot dominant and will strike through the ball with mr right foot - making first contact with my laces kind of center of the ball but slightly to the right - and then following through while having the ball roll back off my foot. So i start contact with the laces and end contact near the outside of the foot. I usually aim to the left of the keeper as the ball will pull back to the right. When you hit it hard enough, you'll knuckle the ball and the keeper will have difficulty in judging it until it is too late.

This shot is tough to get off and tough to get through though. If you're looking to build up your cannons, i'd suggest doing squats and low-weight, explosive leg extensions. and do a lot of stretching of your hamstrings. if you can swing your leg like an nfl punter, you'll be able to deliver rockets.

[Elninho]

Funny, I always found that kind of shot to be the easiest to hit with accuracy. I shoot best when I have a bit of space to get the ball rolling forward - that way there's a bit of topspin to keep the shot moving quickly.

I usually shoot with my right foot... I let the ball slide a little bit out to my right, and strike it while swiveling to the left. At the same time, I lean a bit to the left, so I have my leg near full extension when I actually strike the ball. Do the mirror image if shooting left-footed.

[nikesoccer9000]

yo i seen this amazing one....this guy got the ball at in his own half ran to the half way like and just ripped one right into the top left corner...that guy was me haha. but seriously that did happen to me no joke

[RhymesWithGosh]

our professional coach tells us to slow our bodies down when doing this. if you rush the shot, it wont go where you want it. He noted how Henry slows his body down when he shoots on the sprint, how Henry sort of "skips" before he shoots, he skips because hes slowing his body down.

[sidefootsitter]

our professional coach tells us to slow our bodies down when doing this. if you rush the shot, it wont go where you want it. He noted how Henry slows his body down when he shoots on the sprint, how Henry sort of "skips" before he shoots, he skips because hes slowing his body down.
Yes, this is like a golf swing. The most important thing is balance. That way you get both the power and the accuracy. The reason you don't see much of this in MLS is because players lack the proper balance, not the muscle mass.

BTW, most of the long outside shots are hit with the outside of the foot to give it a good "out" swerve, so you'd have to figure out where your swing can best meet the ball depending on where you're running. (See some Michael Tarnat kicks)

Or you can use your instep to give it a knuckle-ball type quality. If you get lucky, you can get a bounce right in front of a goalee and those are very hard to defend.

[goalhappy27]

I like to hit these with a good bit of swerve on them. I'm right foot dominant and will strike through the ball with mr right foot - making first contact with my laces kind of center of the ball but slightly to the right - and then following through while having the ball roll back off my foot. So i start contact with the laces and end contact near the outside of the foot. I usually aim to the left of the keeper as the ball will pull back to the right. When you hit it hard enough, you'll knuckle the ball and the keeper will have difficulty in judging it until it is too late.

This shot is tough to get off and tough to get through though. If you're looking to build up your cannons, i'd suggest doing squats and low-weight, explosive leg extensions. and do a lot of stretching of your hamstrings. if you can swing your leg like an nfl punter, you'll be able to deliver rockets.

my legs are definitely built..im in weight lifting class and all i do is leg press and squats..i squat 250lbs and leg press over 700lbs i think my problem is balance like rhymeswithgosh said

[astabooty]

Funny, I always found that kind of shot to be the easiest to hit with accuracy. I shoot best when I have a bit of space to get the ball rolling forward - that way there's a bit of topspin to keep the shot moving quickly.

I usually shoot with my right foot... I let the ball slide a little bit out to my right, and strike it while swiveling to the left. At the same time, I lean a bit to the left, so I have my leg near full extension when I actually strike the ball. Do the mirror image if shooting left-footed.

same for me elninho, it is the easiest way for me to hit a hard shot.

one really ez tip is to not exaggerate the motions. dont think that you are runnign full speed and just hit it. you do need one or two steps just to set yourself and slow down a bit, even though you are still running.
i say this only because when i was young and would try and immitate a fade away jump shot i grossly overdid the fade away.

i also think this shot is the easiest when the ball is pretty close to you. you hit it early into your swing, keep your ankle at a pretty obtuse angle, and make sure it is locked.

where i differ from elninho is the top spin. most of my top spin shots do come from being on the run, but most of my running shots are usually low line screamers that actually have backspin.

just remember to hit it early (dont really need to tho), keep your ankle locked (most important probably), better to hit it closer to your ankle than your toe, follow through, and you dont need to hit it that hard.

[astabooty]

our professional coach tells us to slow our bodies down when doing this. if you rush the shot, it wont go where you want it. He noted how Henry slows his body down when he shoots on the sprint, how Henry sort of "skips" before he shoots, he skips because hes slowing his body down.

i agree with this.


If you're looking to build up your cannons, i'd suggest doing squats and low-weight, explosive leg extensions. and do a lot of stretching of your hamstrings. if you can swing your leg like an nfl punter, you'll be able to deliver rockets.

i disagree with this. its not about how strong you are, its form. no matter how hard you kick it, it means jack if you dont hit it properly.

as for the comparison to the kick of a punter... :confused:

[Elninho]

one really ez tip is to not exaggerate the motions. dont think that you are runnign full speed and just hit it. you do need one or two steps just to set yourself and slow down a bit, even though you are still running.


This is important! In the last one or two steps before shooting, you need to slow down a bit.

I tend to try to shoot for upper corners, hence the preference for topspin shots. That's also why I usually push the ball a bit out to the side - I can then swing my leg through at more of an angle, and avoid getting too much under the ball.
One more tip: the one thing you absolutely don't want to do is lean backward when shooting. Nine times out of ten, that's going to send your shot high over the crossbar.

[astabooty]

One more tip: the one thing you absolutely don't want to do is lean backward when shooting. Nine times out of ten, that's going to send your shot high over the crossbar.

ya i didnt mention this, but even though it is obvious it does need to be said.
one tip is to keep your head down.

you also have to experiment to see how you perform best.
my friend with the nicest shot pushes the ball to the side most of the time, whereas i prefer to kick straight ahead while running.

if you practice long enough, learn the best angle to have your ankle at, are good at keeping your ankle locked, and find the right spot on your foot and ball to hit the ball, then you will learn how to kick a ball with no spin...my favorite.

[Bleacherbutt]

It is all about timing, weight transfer and topspin/no spin. A topspin or no spin ball is heavy a ball. Even if a goalie gets a deflection, those balls have a much greater tendency to continue forward movement.

Check out MLS goal of the year. DeRosario does not strike this ball particularly hard--his timing and technique is impeccable. That's what makes the ball scream off of his foot and practically rip the goal and the nets from their stantions.

http://www.mlsnet.com/MLS/mls/awards/2004/sierra/

[Two Beasleys]

my legs are definitely built..im in weight lifting class and all i do is leg press and squats..i squat 250lbs and leg press over 700lbs i think my problem is balance like rhymeswithgosh said


balance comes with flexibility - if you have access to one of those mini-trampolines, try standing on one leg while holding your other foot (kinda like you're doing a quadricep stretch) and then doing dips. Exercises like this will increase your flexibility and develop all the stabilizer muscles.

[Nutmeg_23]

i find that it's easiest to get a good shot off when u think about it as little as possible... just let ur instincts take over and let her rip

[nvan_football]

Real pros like Roberto Carlos or Beckham usually end up with their body completely in the air. I still can't pull away my non-kickin' foot in this shots.

[sunburnt]

i agree with slowing down. i do it in indoor and get off the hardest shots.

in that one mls link though, check out the edson buddle free kick

[astabooty]

Real pros like Roberto Carlos or Beckham usually end up with their body completely in the air. I still can't pull away my non-kickin' foot in this shots.


ahh i forgot about this.

my hardest shots usually come with me landing on the foot i shot with.

idk how to describe how to do it, as when i 1st heard about it i would almost fall from trying it.

[sidefootsitter]

Real pros like Roberto Carlos or Beckham usually end up with their body completely in the air. I still can't pull away my non-kickin' foot in this shots.
Follow through on your shot. The momentum should take you in the air.

But be careful not to land on your butt.

[goalhappy27]

oh yeah i forgot about that...it really does work great landing on the same foot you shot with..keeps the shot down