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People that aren’t quite familiar with soccer will often ask themselves ‘How Hard do Soccer Players Kick?’.
Well, many different variables may affect how strong a soccer player will kick the ball. Some techniques don’t require that much power and would only make their shot inaccurate.
Today’s article will showcase several things that affect the power of a soccer player’s kick.
- How Hard do Soccer Players Kick?
- How can Soccer Players Improve their Shot Power?
- Different Kicking Techniques
How much Power is in a Soccer Player’s Kick?
Most people who don’t play soccer or have only played it several times will know that kicking a soccer ball is unnatural for us as it requires lots of practice.
It’s safe to say that technique is crucial when kicking a soccer ball with your feet.
It’s already hard to kick a soccer ball with our stronger foot, but being able to have a powerful weak foot is an incredible trait to have in soccer.
How Hard do soccer players kick?
So, how strong does an average soccer player kick the ball?
- 60 Mph (95KMph)
This is an average speed of a soccer kick during the game, while 70 Mph is the average speed of a soccer penalty kick.
This is due to the controlled condition in which you take a penalty.
Since this is the average for professional soccer plays, what would the speed be when youth players kick the ball?
Logically, the speed goes down quite a bit to an average of 30-40 Mph.
These are some average numbers, but what are some of the most powerful kicks in professional soccer matches?
We’ll list some of the strongest soccer kicks experts have claimed, although you should know that the accuracy is questionable.
Top Soccer Kicks of All Time
- Ronny Heberson 131.11 Mph (211 KMph)
- Arjen Robben 118.06 Mph (190 KMph)
- Steven Reid 117.439 (189 KMph)
- Ronald Koeman 116.82 Mph (188 KMph)
- 5. David Hirst 113.71 Mph (183 KMph)
You can notice that Roberto Carlos’ shot has quite a lower speed than the top four on this list. That’s actually because it’s the most famous shot out of these.
Brazil played against France, and he scored a free-kick from long-range with an excellent curve, and it’s one of the most memorable goals in soccer.
What can we do to Improve Shot Power?
We can do quite a few things to improve our shot power in soccer, and it will definitely take some strength and technique training.
Main things to do to improve show power
- Practice Technique
- Strengthen Core and Leg Muscles
- Positioning
Practice Technique
The shooting technique is the most important factor in improving your kicking power in soccer. There are lots of players that look skinny but still have significant shot power.
Some of the most important things to keep in mind when kicking a soccer ball:
- Take shorter steps
- Place your non-striking foot right next to the ball
- Lean forward when kicking
- Lock your ankles
- Get a clean follow-through
Of course, we can’t talk about where you should be striking the ball exactly since this depends on the type of shot you want to take.
Some shots will want a hit straight at the middle of the ball and some will work if you hit the ball from the side to get a nice little curve.
Although, we’ll get over the technique part in a bit.
Strengthen Core and Leg Muscles
Even though shooting technique is probably the most important thing if we’re talking about having a strong shot power, but strengthening some of your muscle groups can help you massively.
Some of the exercises you can do to improve kicking power in soccer are:
- Front Squat (Focuses on your Core and Quadriceps muscles which both focus directly on your kicking power)
- Ab-Wheel Rollouts (A lot of athletes use these types of exercises as they’re bread and butter for improving your Core strength)
- Low-Back Extensions (Having a strong posterior chain will help you in increasing your shot power)
Positioning
Positioning is something that gets overlooked a lot of the time when you’re trying to get more power.
Having a short run-up will significantly decrease your shot power which is important to keep in mind. You should also know that a run-up will depend on your striking foot.
If you’re a left-footer, you’ll approach the ball from your right side, and if you’re a right-footer you will do so from the left side so you can get a clean strike of the ball.
Kicking Techniques
Kicking power will usually depend on the shooting technique you’re using. Various types of shots either don’t require that much power or can’t generate enough due to physics.
These are the fundamental kicking techniques in soccer:
Placement Kick
Accuracy is key with this one, aiming for all the corners of the goal is important when using a placement shot.
You can also apply a curve to the ball, this will lower your shot power but keep the ball away from the keeper.
Power Kick
This is the one that will generate the most power in general. You’ll use your laces to try and hit the ball in the center just below the middle half.
These two factors are crucial if you want to kick the ball as hard as you want. You’re sacrificing accuracy for the power.)
Knuckle Ball Kick
This is a very difficult shot to pull off and Cristiano Ronaldo is famous for it. He used to do it all the time in his Manchester United days.
You’ll be able to generate a lot of power while making the ball swerve in the air. This kicking technique is very hard for the keeper to deal with.)
Outside of the Foot Kick
This type of shot is also called a Trivela and Ricardo Quaresma mastered this shot throughout his career.
It’s the opposite of a regular shot as if you’re shooting with your right you want to be standing on the right side of the ball before approaching it.
Hitting the ball on the outside of your foot will generate the least power of all the shots but the curve you’re able to get is incredible.
Volleys
This is also a fundamental type of shot where you’ll be trying to hit the ball with your laces just like the power shot, but the ball will already be in the air upon striking it
These are the fundamental shots in soccer, but there are also some interesting that can come in handy in different situations like a back-heel or a Rabona.
Sources:
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Joel is a seasoned soccer journalist and analyst with many years of experience in the field. Joel specializes in game analysis, player profiles, transfer news, and has a keen eye for the tactical nuances of the game. He played at various levels in the game and coached teams - he is happy to share his insight with you.
