Goal Kickers Thread

[DC]

Well, i am a goal kicker, and i know i am not the only one here on the forum that is, and well this would be a nice place to chat about, different techniques and give tips.

So my first question is how many run up steps do you guys use when you kick?

I have started using only 2 (right, left/plant) then kick.

I used to use the 3, but it seems that i get more power and more accuracy out of the two step approach. As of right now i am still getting used to the scheme of the 2 step run up, but once i get used to it i think this will be the best approach for me.

How about you?

[InsaneAsylum]

what's the best technique to kicking the ball. i've seen "average joe's" in local rugby knocking over 30+ metre place kicks with decent height too, then again i've seen guys in the same grade struggle to make 20 metre kicks. what separates the men from the boys here?

also how does the angle of the ball on the tee affect the type of kick, some people prefer straight up, some people angle the ball forward. is it just me or does angling the ball forward produce flatter kicks?

[EVOL]

supposedly angling the ball forward exposes more of "the sweet spot" on the ball for better connection power etc.

personally i can only kick by toe hack/punt ala mal meninga don clarke :D

[DC]

yea the tilt foreward exposes the sweet spot, but it's never really worked that well for me.

it seems that when i tilt it foreward, i hit the ball a lot flatter, and that just wont work for me.

i like to stand it up straight, take 3 steps back and then 2 to the left.. then the runup is right step, then plant foot being the left then kick, hit it with the upper inside of my foot and let it fly

the 2 step is really helpin me get more distance/accuracy/power.. just have to get used to the 2 step!

[EVOL]

what kind of kicking tee do you use?, or are you a sand man?

[dobrien7]

Until I blew out my right knee doing so, I was a goal kicker in every team I played in. Was normally a 4 back 2 left run up. First step was always backwards then a slow jog through to planting left foot and following through, with head down. Was a pretty good kicker, but said blow out stuffed me over the years to the point where I haven't place kicked for 3 years.

I preferred Gilbert tee, very slightly tilting ball forward, pretty much upright really.

[DC]

i use a tetleys tee, medium

[ALLBLACKS]

I use to super tee, 4 steps back 3 to the side, with the ball leaning foward and I walk up instead of running.

[allblacksfreak]

what's this!? the ladyboys at the back making their own thread! disgusting!

[fcukernaut]

what's this!? the ladyboys at the back making their own thread! disgusting!
[/b]

It's alright man we all that forwards win the game, it's the backs that determine by how many. And of course if it's a lost game it's their fault.

[DC]

and all of your hardwork would go unrewarded without us!

[fcukernaut]

and all of your hardwork would go unrewarded without us!
[/b]

Bullshit we only need two of you. One to kick it and the other to pass it to the kicker

[DC]

half back and fly half, two of the most important positions on the field..

[allblacksfreak]

half back and fly half, two of the most important positions on the field..
[/b]

My ass they are! Backrows are the most important.. without us, u aint gettin any ball!
:bleh!:


but anyway, all of the positions are important, just that forwards are a wee bit more important than backs...

[InsaneAsylum]

<div class='quotemain'>
half back and fly half, two of the most important positions on the field..
[/b]My ass they are! Backrows are the most important.. without us, u aint gettin any ball!
:bleh!: but anyway, all of the positions are important, just that forwards are a wee bit more important than backs...
[/b][/quote]

hey i thought this thread was about kicking, not the amount of pies you eat per day

[DC]

<div class='quotemain'>
<div class='quotemain'>
half back and fly half, two of the most important positions on the field..
[/b]My ass they are! Backrows are the most important.. without us, u aint gettin any ball!
:bleh!: but anyway, all of the positions are important, just that forwards are a wee bit more important than backs...
[/b][/quote]

hey i thought this thread was about kicking, not the amount of pies you eat per day
[/b][/quote]

:bravo: great post :bravo:

[dash13]

i just take 3 steps back, 1 to the right...because i&#39;m a left footed kicker. I use a generic tee and point the ball towards me when i kick...sort of like an NFL style kicker. My longest kick was a 60 yard penalty.

[fcukernaut]

i just take 3 steps back, 1 to the right...because i&#39;m a left footed kicker. I use a generic tee and point the ball towards me when i kick...sort of like an NFL style kicker. My longest kick was a 60 yard penalty.
[/b]

A 50 meter kick man? That&#39;s pushing the bullshit button my friend. You don&#39;t live in the bloody rockies.

As an aside: What school do you go to?

[dobrien7]

It&#39;s not entirely unbelievable, I knocked a couple of 50m&#39;s over back at school, before knee blew out.

[fcukernaut]

It&#39;s not entirely unbelievable, I knocked a couple of 50m&#39;s over back at school, before knee blew out.
[/b]

Except I play in the same province as him and for a top high school I might add, and there is very few, as in the low single digits, that can make it from 50m out.

[DC]

yea plus he has a shallow kicking motion

its probably only 1 or 2 step run up at most, im not sayin that is proof in the pudding, but still i live at fairly the same altitude as say canada, and my furthest to date is a 45m kick, i mean 60m thats what dan carter was kicking against south africa, and lets face it, no one on this forum is dan carter reincarnated with the boot..

[dobrien7]

And also there are probably descrepanaries (sp) with size of fields, eg school grounds aren&#39;t iternational standard size I&#39;ll bet...

[fcukernaut]

And also there are probably descrepanaries (sp) with size of fields, eg school grounds aren&#39;t iternational standard size I&#39;ll bet...
[/b]

Again it depends where you go to school. I know top schools have their own specific rugby field or play at a local club which does have proper fields.

[Rugby_Cymru]

I find I kick in ways that i&#39;ve not seen anyone else do.
When placing the ball i&#39;ll tilt it back slightly, i feel i&#39;ve got a greater area to kick from.
Explaining this makes it sounds really amateurish, but except for pulling the kicks a few times i can average 40m kicks sometimes taking them from the half way line if the wind is with me.

As far as approaching the ball is concerned i&#39;ll stand diagonally from the ball and walk back 4 steps (ala Gavin Henson).

Can anyone tell me if leaning the ball back ends up creating more wind resistance when the ball travels through the air? Becuase obviously, torpedo-ing the ball is ideal to reduce wind resistance, but like hell can i kick the ball like that.

[DC]

it doesnt really make a big difference i think the only difference is the spin of the ball.. but im not 100% sure

i just stand it straight up, but ive been hookin a few from greater distances lately, i need to get that down..

[Gulli]

i tilt it slightly back, and always have one of the seams pointing towards the posts, take 5 steps back and one to the right. very rarely miss but im only our stand in kicker 100% record in 5 games this season (kicked one conversion :P)

[allblacksfreak]

ah.. gay backs...

ah.. gay backs...

ah.. gay backs...

[el_tk]

ah.. gay backs...

ah.. gay backs...

ah.. gay backs...
[/b]

Not all of them. I scored a conversion at the weekend and I&#39;m a hooker.

[DC]

scrum-halves role > flankers..

[Bullitt]

Although that statement almost shows an Openside Flankers mouth as he eats the scrum half for breakfast.

[DC]

they eat the non agile, slow, scrumhalves for breakfast ;)

[fcukernaut]

scrum-halves role > flankers..
[/b]

You&#39;ve gone right off your rocker. My god how fu.cking stupid are you DC? Flankers are more important than the first-fives, let alone halfbacks. You continually overestimate your importance to a game. Sure it&#39;s nice to have a top halfback, but you&#39;re far better off having good flankers. Honestly the grunt work, the tackling and the support play far exceed anything a halfback does in a game. You&#39;re nuts, and screw OSU.

[melon]

Flankers > than all positions apart from prop. Only a select few can play prop in a correct manner.

[DC]

i was being facetious... i know flankers are important, they protect me during a game, which is why i like them.

[snoopy snoopy dog dog]

My kicking style is a little different to most people here. I like to use a small tee (or some earth will do either). I&#39;ll tilt the ball backwards towards me about 15%. Then I plant my left foot about 12" to the left of the ball with my right big toe placed as close to the point of the ball as possible without the ball toppling over. My right foot is pointed towards the right upright. As I walk back I never take my eye off the sweet spot. I&#39;ll take 4 quick steps backwards and 4 fairly big steps arced to the left. This will result in your shoulder pointing towards the uprights. I take a slow deliberate walk up to the ball, firmly plant my left foot about 18" to the right of the ball and swing through bringing my kicking leg up about hip high. Then I look up and see that I&#39;ve missed!

The most effective way of kicking is to develop your own style. Just make sure to plant your non kicking leg firmly, have a large swing through and don&#39;t take your eyes off the ball.

[InsaneAsylum]

don&#39;t worry i got the joke :)

it&#39;s like when i tell kiwis that the all blacks are bunch of poofs

i reckon everyone on the field is equally important, well for the sake of diplomacy anyway. the argument could go on forever otherwise

[fcukernaut]

don&#39;t worry i got the joke :)

it&#39;s like when i tell kiwis that the all blacks are bunch of poofs

i reckon everyone on the field is equally important, well for the sake of diplomacy anyway. the argument could go on forever otherwise
[/b]

I know he was kidding but every time I can tell DC he&#39;s an idiot, I do it. :D

[DC]

jonny wilko > danny carter

[fcukernaut]

jonny wilko > danny carter
[/b]

go f.uck yourself and everything you stand for.

[InsaneAsylum]

matt dunning > johnny wilkinson > dan carter :P

[fcukernaut]

matt dunning > johnny wilkinson > dan carter :P
[/b]

Matt Dunning is a good old fashioned fat boy from Canada. :D

[DC]

that boy can eat

[nez]

and kick pretty handy dropgoals dont forget. :P

[fcukernaut]

and kick pretty handy dropgoals dont forget. :P
[/b]

You know if that didn&#39;t cost them the game, he&#39;d have been a hero to all props for years to come.

[allblacksfreak]

so we all agree that the most important position on the field is indeed flanker...

[nez]

oh i still remember the dunning drop like it was yesterday, the look of escasty on his face when he realised it was sailing through, then his world came shattering down when he thought "hey, i just cost my team a place in the semi&#39;s" :) ahhh good times.

[Matt750]

im 13 and i see all well mostly all the top kickers leean the ball forward i cant kick the ball that well like that im ok when it is leaned back though! but does it matter is i lean it back or is it better the lean it forword?

[DC]

nope dont worry about how the pro&#39;s do it.. i cant lean the ball foreward much either as when i do i hit it really flat and i dont get it up high at all

i also like to tilt the ball slightly to the right when i kick, it seems to help me hit it sweetly

[Matt750]

wot do you lean it forward or backwards????????

and any tips for getting distance