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Position of shoulders at point of contact:
Shoulders should be level; since the ball is already raised by the tee, there is no need to dip your shoulders to get underneath the ball.  Dipping the kicking-side shoulder will cause you to undercut the ball, decreasing distance and “pushing” the ball to the right.  However, college and pro kickers do need to lower the kicking leg slightly because the ball is on the ground. 

Position of hips at contact:
Hips should face the holder.  Rotating your hips too soon will pull the ball to the left.
 
 

#20	#21	#22

What part of the ball to kick:
Kick the ball 1½” - 2” below the center.  Laces should face the goal posts for maximum distance and straight flight.  [See picture 23.]  If you kick the laces, the ball’s flight will be affected and the distance could be decreased.
 
 

#23

What part of the foot kicks the ball
Maximum distance is reached by kicking the “sweet spot” of the ball with the top 3 inside eyelets of the kicking shoe.  [See picture 24.]  College kickers must make contact with the top of the top side of the big toe joint.
 
 

#24

Position of laces, tilt and angle of the ball on contact:
The laces should face the goal posts.  [See pictures 25 and 26.]  The ball is held straight up and down and tilted 1" to1-1/2” to the right.  For a left-footed kicker, tilt the ball to the left the same distance.  Tilting the ball keeps it from fading in flight.  As an exercise, if you are a right-footed kicker, tilt the ball left 2” off center and kick it a few times.  The ball will fade left.  Now tilt the ball only 1” off center to the left and kick it; then don't tilt the ball at all and kick it; now tilt it 1” to the right and kick it.  The ball will fade less each time you tilt the ball from left to right.  I have found that about 1" to 1-1/2” from center to the right will produce a straight kick.  Moving the ball to the right will also lower the center of the ball.  If you keep kicking under the ball, tilt the ball back and angle it to the right 2", and you will hit closer to the sweet spot.  By increasing the angle of the ball, you lower the sweet spot.
 
 

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#25	#25