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Punting

The plant foot

Your plant foot takes the last step before the punt. If the steps leading up to the punt are properly executed but your plant foot is positioned incorrectly, the punt will not be executed properly. I call this the PLANT FOOT LUNGE. [See picture 41.] Your planting foot stride must be a little longer than the first two steps. If you lunge or jump into the last step, too much weight will be transferred to the plant foot and will result in a weak punt. Your body weight will force your left knee to take the weight of the entire body. Your knee will bend and prevent you from getting power into the ball. It is similar to throwing a ball while falling backwards--lack of forward thrust prevents power transfer. Your body goes down towards the ground as you try to raise your leg up into the air. You are working against yourself.

#41

Foot contact on sweet spot

The sweet spot is underneath the ball and unfortunately is not visible when you punt the ball. The sweet spot is the fattest part of the ball, on the underbelly of the ball. The next best thing to looking at the sweet spot is to look at a spot on top of the ball, opposite the sweet spot. You want to make contact on the center or even a little past the middle of the ball.

Notice that the top of your foot is a concave shape. [See picture 42.] This shape happens to be the opposite shape of the ball. The inward curve of the foot matches the outward curve of the ball. [See picture 43.]

#42

#43

Contact points on foot during contact with the ball

The top of your foot needs to make contact with the bottom of the ball. [See picture 43.]

Optimum contact of ball with the foot

The optimum point of contact on the ball is on the opposite side of the laces and on the seam.

Position of arms during contact with the ball

If you are a right-footed punter, your left arm (the arm opposite the punting foot) should be extended to the left for balance. Your right hand should be extended straight out as you lower the ball to your foot and as your foot comes up for the punt. [See pictures 44-47.]


#44	#45

#46	#47

Position of head during contact with the ball

Your head should be slightly bent [as in picture 45] and you should be looking directly at the ball.

Position of hips during contact with the ball

Hips remain up and should lead into the punt. [See picture 45.] Remain erect and your hips will stay in the proper position.

Position of shoulders during contact with the ball

Shoulders should be straight and pointed downfield. [See pictures 46 and 47.] They should not swivel or rotate while executing the punt. Remain fairly erect at all times or your shoulders will prevent a high follow-through.

Position of hips at point of contact with the ball

Hips should be pointed straight downfield and your body should be erect. Do not hunch over the ball. You need to be erect when you punt the ball.

Follow through with the punt foot

Your punt leg must follow a straight line through the swing. Follow through as high as possible. Try to make your punt knee come to your right eye. Keep your knee as straight as possible. Do not let your punting leg cross your body until it is well past your waist. To punt the ball straight downfield, you must swing your leg downfield. The spiral will be created by the upward swing of your leg making contact with a properly angled and tilted ball.

COMMON ERROR
Bringing the punting leg across the body to the left like a soccer-style placekicker to create a spiral.

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