How to Learn to Kick a Curve Kick: How to Curve a Ball in Soccer

The skill of a spin kick is an important element in the arsenal of any football player, allowing him to surprise opponents and achieve success on the field. This technique requires from the player not only strength and accuracy, but also technical skill and special training. From our article you will learn  how to kick a spin kick  correctly, if your working leg is right or left, what mistakes to avoid.

What do you need to know about the spin shot?

In football, a twisted kick is considered one of the most powerful, since it is very difficult for the opponent’s goalkeeper to stop it. Its versatility allows you to hit the goal from both short and long distances, as well as during penalties and corners. You can twist the ball when hitting with the outside and inside of your foot. The technique will be slightly different.

Regardless of which side you hit, there are a few basic mechanics that differentiate this hit from others:

1. The run-up before the strike should be 2-3 steps.
2. To make the kick accurate, the supporting foot should be between 10 and 30 centimeters away from the ball. This varies depending on whether the kick is made with the outside or inside of the foot.
3. The kick is made at a tangent to the ball, which allows it to be spun. At first, the ball flies as if past the goal, but then changes its trajectory into the target.
4. The ankle is turned to the side by 40 degrees, which gives a twisting effect.

The kick requires a high level of skill. Learning to kick a curveball requires a lot of training and practice.

How to learn to kick a curveball in football?

To master a spin kick, you need to determine the supporting leg, the angle of movement and the run-up:

• The optimal option for the acceleration angle should not exceed an acute angle, that is, 45 degrees.
• Your supporting leg is opposite your working leg.
• It is advisable to use a non-straight run-up, since it gives the ball a weak spin, the accuracy of the strike decreases, and the speed of the ball’s flight also leaves much to be desired.

By increasing the distance, power and speed of your shot, you can give your ball a more twisted trajectory.

During your first training sessions, pay close attention to the distance between the ball and your foot. You need to find the golden mean, that is, not too far and not too close. You need to practice the kick constantly to learn how to maintain balance.

Algorithm of action when performing a spin strike:

• Kick the bottom of the soccer ball.
• Quickly move your foot to the top of the ball at the moment of impact. If done correctly, it will only take a couple of seconds to give the ball spin.
• Don’t hit it straight, but rather glancingly. This is how the ball will rotate around its own axis.
• If your knee immediately follows the blow, it will be powerful and the trajectory will be correct.

To give your spin accuracy, turn your chest and shoulders toward the target.

Spin Kick: A technique for striking with the outside of the foot

Step-by-step instructions on how to spin the ball in soccer when hitting with the outside of the foot:

1. If you are right-handed, you need to approach and aim to the left of the target. When your working leg is left, then do the opposite.
2. The supporting left leg, if you are right-handed, should be to the left of the ball, and vice versa. It does not move when hitting. Otherwise, you will not be able to hit with force.
3. Don’t press your arm to your body or lift it too high. To maintain balance and avoid falling, place it to the side.
4. Hit the lower left or middle part of the target if your working leg is the right, and vice versa when your working leg is the left. The blow itself is delivered across the body, that is, with a swing.

After the kick, the working leg rotates across the body. Right-footed players will spin the ball clockwise, moving the working leg across the body to the left, while left-footed players will do the opposite.

Curve Kick: Inside Foot Kick Technique

Step-by-step instructions on how to properly spin the ball when hitting with the inside of your foot:

1. Prepare to hit at a slight angle. Approach the ball as you normally would. If you are left-handed, your body will lean to the left in relation to the ball, and if you are right-handed, your body will lean to the right.
2. Place your supporting leg so that it is on the side you will be spinning. The legs are almost parallel to each other. The supporting leg is at such a distance that you do not have to reach for the ball and lose the power of the blow.
3. Keep your arm and supporting leg out for balance as your body bends slightly at the moment of impact. By keeping your arm out and then raising your arm up, you will not only maintain your balance, but also apply more force.
4. Hit the target with the part of the inside foot where the ball begins and the toe ends. If the contact point is correct, the ball will roll back slightly. Right-handers should hit the bottom right corner of the ball.
5. Keep your supporting leg still. It should remain still when you strike. Use your hands to maintain balance.
6. After the kick, the leg turns towards the goal and continues to move across the body.

To increase the height of the ball, tilt your shoulders back upon contact with the ball.

Tips for Beginners

To learn how to properly kick a spin kick in football, follow a few simple guidelines:

1. Don’t try to work on technique and strength at the same time. The latter will come after you’ve perfected every punching movement to the point of automatism. First learn how to punch correctly, and then develop strength.
2. Accuracy and power depend on how the ball moves on the surface of the foot. The playing equipment should reach the very end, and not the middle or a little further.
3. The closer you hit the ball to the edge and the longer it stays in the air, the more twisted the hit will be. If you hit it too close to the edge, the speed will be low. It is important to calculate the right point for the hit.
4. When throwing the wall, the body needs to be slightly tilted back to give the ball topspin.

Don’t forget about good stretching and warming up. If your joints and tendons do not move in an adequate range, this significantly restricts movement and increases the risk of injury. It is recommended to practice the kick in boots with studs, they provide excellent grip on the field surface.