Instep Drive

Beginnershooting

Angled approach, build momentum, eyes on the ball.

The classic power shot with the laces. Lock your ankle, strike through the centre, and follow through toward goal.

Key points

•Run up at a slight angle
•Plant foot alongside the ball
•Toes down, ankle locked
•Strike through the centre and follow through

Practice with Coach Diego

Camera setup tips

· Place the camera side-on to you, 2 to 3 metres away.
· Keep your whole body in frame, head to feet.
· Phone on a tripod or a laptop webcam both work.
· Perform the movement, pause, repeat. Your coach speaks every 15 seconds.

Theory & Technique

The instep drive is your bread-and-butter power shot. Approach the ball from a slight angle — about 30 degrees — to give your hips room to open. Plant your standing foot firmly alongside the ball, knee slightly bent to absorb impact. Your kicking foot should have the toes pointing down and the ankle completely locked — this turns your foot into a hard, flat surface. Strike through the very centre of the ball with the top of your foot (the laces area). Keep your head down and your body over the ball to keep the shot low. Follow through in the direction of the target.

Fun Fact

Cristiano Ronaldo's free kicks have been measured travelling at over 130 km/h — about the same speed as a fastball in baseball. His signature knuckleball uses a similar locked-ankle technique.

Watch the real thing

Learn from real coaches first. Your live scoring compares you to the reference figure above; these videos are for learning, and stay with their creators on YouTube.