How To Take a Power Shot

For Beginners

Contrary to popular belief, taking a power shot isn’t something that you can do after trying once. It’s something you have to get used to, as it is a different way of kicking the ball. However, the difficulty of this important skill is worth the effort put into it, as it can almost guarantee you a goal.

A normal shot has two of being executed: a toe poke and a lace shot.

• Lace Shot
  A lace shot is a weaker, yet much more accurate shot tactic, and is the most common and “correct” way of kicking a soccer ball. As the title expresses, you make direct contact with the ball with the lace of your cleats. When shooting, you want to aim your foot slightly under the ball, giving it air time and more power behind it. If you didn’t do this, the friction of the ground would kill the momentum of the ball drastically.

• Toe Poke
  The toe Poke is considered the beginner kick. It is a powerful, yet inaccurate shot tactic. The only times you will see toe pokes are with beginner players, and defenders just trying to clear the ball as quick as possible. Toe pokes often result in you losing possession of the ball as well, since you cannot exactly control the direction it goes.

With that being said, here is how to properly take a power shot every time.

• practice your approach first. 9 times out of ten, you are taking a power shot from the corner, a free kick, or a penalty kick. So, it is very important on how you approach the ball. The best approach to take is taking 3 steps back and to the side. This way you can kick the ball in any direction, rather than just taking it straight on.

• Always kick with your laces. If you try to toe poke the ball, it will not go where you want it to go, and will actually kill the ball.

• Keep your leg straight all the way through. It is important to do this, because if you don’t, you will kill your own momentum, and not enough power will go to the ball.

• Use your entire body. Now, I don’t mean throw your entire body into the ball. I mean use your body’s momentum to strike more force into the ball, giving it even more power. IN order to do this though, you need position your body properly.

• When positioning your body, always take a strong stance, balancing your body out, and following through with your kick.