Good for 3: Punting

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Other factors affecting the flight and distance of the ball after the punt

Wind direction.
Wind can be a punter’s nightmare. Wind will almost always be factor unless you are in a dome. How you adjust to the wind will determine your success. The wind can come at your face, at your back, from your left, from your right and swirl around so you cannot tell where the wind is coming from.

You do not need to look at the uprights for a punt because you are more concerned with what happens to the ball near you, not downfield, as with a field goal.

As with kicking, the wind conditions require you to make small adjustments as to how high you punt the ball.

Wind at your back will increase the distance of the punt. Wind in your face will decrease the distance. Wind from right to left, for a right-footed punter, is the most troublesome. Getting spirals and turnovers is the most difficult with the wind from right to left which will also cause the ball to go left.

Temperature
The colder the ball, the shorter the distance the ball will travel. Cold air will make leather hard, and as a result, the ball will not carry as far. If at all possible and you can select the ball to be punted (which some schools permit), keep the ball warm the best you can.

Seam vs. panel vs. laces
I have found that punting the seam opposite the laces is not only less painful but also the ball travels farthest. Punting the panel you will get a little less distance and punting the laces you get the least.

Height
Height is a function of how high you hold the ball when you punt it. The higher you hold the ball, the higher the ball will travel. The reason for this is that you are meeting the ball at a higher point as your leg completes its arc. If you meet the ball high enough, the ball will go backwards. Conversely if you hold the ball very low, your foot is still swinging forward through the arc and the ball will go forward. The higher you hold the ball, the more complete the arc of the your becomes. After punting the ball, bring your punting leg up towards your right eye (for a right-footed punter) and conversley, to the left eye for a left-footed punter.

Out of end-zone punts
Another variation is to take the first step backwards about 3”. This has the effect of a three-step punt but not bringing you any closer to the line of scrimmage.

For a two-step punter: The basic reason for the two-step punt is to decrease the total time it takes from the snap to the punt. I recommend the use of a “skip step” when taking the first step. The Fake Step is actually going backwards. So the first step you take is backwards. The second step is a normal stride. You now have taken two steps, but are not any closer to the line of scrimmage than if you had taken one step in the two step approach. The backward skip step is also taken quickly (skipped into), to not add precious time to the punt. If the coach wants you to be a two-step punter you must start the steps after catching the ball. If you step before you catch the ball (to get a head start) you will not have enough time to execute the punt properly.


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