Well, after a month or so of practice on the instep drive I am still having problems. Unfortunately in my even younger years no coach really went out of his way to show me how to do the drive (I was a toeballer) and now I am having trouble in figuring out if I am on the right track and what I need to improve on. I'm kinda embarrassed to ask but the request is really something or a simple one. After looking at numerous websites on the drive I have seen few pictures of a player in great form with the drive...I have tried to watch old tapes I have and look at slow-motion vids of players doing the drive but it's still tough. This is what I basically know you are supposed to do (pending you want to keep the shot hard and low) Head down over the ball, kicking knee over the ball when you actually hit it (this is something of a problem), hit the center of the ball with the instep (I know what the instep is and where it is at), lock the ankle downwards by curling the toes into the bottom of your shoes, have a good clean swing and follow through with all of your momemtum leaving the ground and landing on your original kicking foot. Right now I am having problems with the kicking knee over the ball...is it supposed to be slightly bent or is it a little to the left of the ball (pending you are a right-footed player) with basically no bend at all? Because I notice when players are following through this is the form their leg takes on and it is very straight. Oh boy I am confused...and I read that if you foot is too big you can lean to the side and twist your ankle outwards. I am trying the whole leaning thing and it helps a little I suppose. I just can't get the power I am looking for. Truthfully I just keep the foot locked down and limp up to the ball trying to keep good form but I know I would get more power if I could do the whole follow up. I'm sorry if you actually read through that whole irrelevant mess of a post. HERE IS THE REQUEST REALLY: I would really appreciate it if you could post some slow-mo type videos of players doing the instep drive. I would prefer it to be a close-up type slow-mo either from the side or the back I suppose. Hopefully a good video of a good player doing the drive perfectly would help me get on the right track... If you can't help at all oh well, thanks for reading this ridiculous post anyway.
Take your ball. go to wall. strike the ball at the wall. repeat. that is a good way to improve on your own with making good contact with the ball. aim for a section of wall, and strike it. you seem to know what to do. it is different for everyone so just keep training at it so that you will develop the technique soon. do not concentrate on power, only clean contact and some accuracy. power comes from good technique. just keep using the wall as your "training companion" it never misses, and it will allow for more repititions. worked for me.
^ As I said I do not have the full windup so I do not expect it to go that far but sometimes I feel I am not even hitting it with my instep even though I am really going slow. Recently I have just been trying to work out the totally correct form then I'd practice second hand. So no power (although I can't expect much) and most of the time it just doesn't feel like I am hitting that sweetspot on the ball. One problem being I do not lock the ankle down totally throughout the shot I feel...(just a matter of practice with curling the toes doen I guess would be correct) I think I am just expecting too much power and I am trying to take it too fast. I should get the totally correct form first and then stay in that position draw the leg back to hit the ball with the instep 9 out of 10 times and then work on the whole windup...
One suggestion is to concentrate on keeping your head down during the shot. As in a golf swing or tennis serve there is a tendency to move the head during the stroke and you can lose both power and control that way. One way to check this is to practice so you can see your shadow in front of you and watch the shadow of your head while you hit to make sure it doesn't move.
^ Yeah I could work on that as well, when kicking you are apparently supposed to watch your foot hit a panel of the ball. Just focus on it intently.
Replying to my own question I want the ball to stay low (about 3-4 feet off of the ground), have the whole knuckle thing and to have a great speed. I think the problem (one of them at least) is that I am not even hitting the freaking ball in the center. I am hitting it about 2-3 inches above the center. That is what I should now revolve the rest of my form around, hitting the instep on the center of course.
Well, these things are alot to do with muscle memory, so if u can get sum1 to literally walk ur leg thru it, it may become alot clearer. Or tie ur self, leg to leg, with sum1 who can successfully perform this action, and play like siamese twins joined butt-to-crotch. Im being serious here, this is how I intend to coach should I get that job with the U19 womens national team.....
I'm wondering how old you are. You need a pretty strong shot to knuckle it. If you're 13 not many that age can do it.
Yeah that is a good idea and thank you to everyone for your suggestions...unfortunately I do not have any serious friends that play soccer w/me or could teach me. I probably am just being impatient and am getting too frustrated in just having some minor setbacks in attempting to hit it with my instep. And I'm 15 to be totally honest, I do not consider myself strong by any means, so maybe a knuckle ball is not that possible...but I could still improve my normal kicks a lot if I improved my drive.
OK, first, don't curl your toes when driving the ball, because that's taking some power and accuracy off your drive. Also, just point your toes down and swing and don't think to much about it. With some time and practice you should have it down I'm sure.
Try leaning over the ball and planting your foot right next to the ball then in that position strike the ball. Also try placing the ball so a logo or tradmark is where u want to hit it so u can see clearly where you want to hit it. I have to get a good run up to hit it hard. Tho i am 15 also and i have a decent speed on the kick. You will get it. Good luck -Justin