View Full Version : excersizes to increase shot power
loden
26 Apr 2007, 01:18 PM
So. My kicking technique is flawless. I can consistently strike a low drive on target from around 30 yards. What I want is more power. How do I improve?
hadmonster
26 Apr 2007, 01:22 PM
So. My kicking technique is flawless. I can consistently strike a low drive on target from around 30 yards. What I want is more power. How do I improve?
Hit the gym. Do squats, etc...
take up fencing. all the lunges will give you a crackin' shot.
loden
26 Apr 2007, 01:54 PM
take up fencing. all the lunges will give you a crackin' shot.
Maybe I should just start with the lunges?
MisplacedSpainard
26 Apr 2007, 02:02 PM
id agree wtih the squats since i have experienced the jump in shot power this season because of it. Also work on calves as well it will round out everything. and if you like cycling take that one since that works on all of the above at the same time.
loden
26 Apr 2007, 02:44 PM
I like those variable resistance stationary bikes they got at my gym!
MisplacedSpainard
26 Apr 2007, 05:22 PM
i live by those bikes and the squat machine :)
ALEX408
27 Apr 2007, 12:37 PM
Lift some leg weights.
Devil500
27 Apr 2007, 04:40 PM
i live by those bikes and the squat machine :)
Love the bikes gotta start using mine :p
loden
27 Apr 2007, 05:01 PM
So the bikes work for real? Because I have an awesome Trek mountain bike and a park with hills nearby..just no reason to use it really.l..
MisplacedSpainard
27 Apr 2007, 06:49 PM
you better believe it. on top of leg strength you will build stamina.
Devil500
28 Apr 2007, 06:22 PM
you better believe it. on top of leg strength you will build stamina.
Yeah I agree also push yourself hard like sprint and push for 30 seconds and then rest for 45 seconds and do another 30 second hard sprint works quite well!
thegeneral
01 May 2007, 12:52 AM
I'm not so sure about weights. It could be just me. I could leg press 800lbs when I first started and I didn't have a monster kick. I still don't and my legs are plenty strong.
In my opinion, there is an absolute dearth of good usable knowledge about kicking. The only DVD that addresses things somewhat is bend it like Beckham. I have about 7 soccer DVD's and none of them really go through kicking very well at all. The usual advice is be accurate first and the power will come. I play on a team of accurate people with weak kicks. We always lose.
nobody
02 May 2007, 10:30 AM
If your technique is really flawless, you should be getting plenty of power. I've seen many a really skinny legged fella blast the shit out of a ball by striking it properly.
Skizz
02 May 2007, 11:23 AM
Shot power comes more from technique than physical strength. I agree with no, once your technique is good and you're still not getting power behind your shots, then you can start exploring other avenues.
thegeneral
02 May 2007, 11:51 AM
I think you're all ignoring fast twitch vs slow twitch muscle fibers. There are reasons why some skinny people have strong kicks.
nobody
02 May 2007, 12:34 PM
Until you reach a very, very high level of skill, technique will mean much more than whatever kinda muscles you wanna talk about. I'm old, fat and have very little actual muscle left, but I can still blast the ******** outta the ball, frankly. Physically, I've lost a whole lot over the years, but have lost very little of the power from my shot. Meanwhile, I see young muscular guys hit weak shots regularly, and only occasionally get anything much on it when they get a lucky strike. I've seen out of shape kids with excellent technique hit dead balls 60-70 yards with a nice stroke while their fit counterparts barely hit 'em 40 and with little of the accuracey. Striking a ball is far more dependant on technique than on muscle.
It's no different than golf really. Pro golfers aren't generally much stronger than the average joe walking down the street. Yet, they can hit a ball a heck of a lot further. (I actually can't stand golf, but I think it does make a good comparison)
thegeneral
02 May 2007, 01:15 PM
Any ideas on how to learn the other kicks stronger then?
nobody
02 May 2007, 01:43 PM
Sadly, there are no short cuts. Practicing your technique over and over again is the only way to increase your skill.
Concentrate on getting a good strike and try to replicate the times the ball takes off well. Remember both the point you struck the ball and your body position.
And, when hitting a moving ball, timing is everything.
thegeneral
02 May 2007, 03:57 PM
I get the sentiment of what you're saying. David Covey would say that this would be going in the right direction on the wrong map. Practicing a bad golf swing will only lead to a well rehearsed bad golf swing. This is one of my pet peeves about soccer. The instruction is so focused towards kids that things like this for older players gets skipped over. I've found instructions that do a reasonable job at explaining the laces kick, but just a pure kick for distance is something else all together.