How to Kick a Ball Harder

Adding power to your kick allows you to excel in many foot-oriented sports, such as kickball, soccer and even football. When attempting to kick a ball far, many people believe that leg strength is the most important tool for success. However, the secret to kicking far lies primarily in your technique. Smaller players who kick the ball with the proper technique can easily launch the ball farther than more muscular players who kick without proper technique.

Things You'll Need

  • Soccer ball
  • Cleats or athletic shoes
  • Large field
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Instructions

    • 1

      Place the ball on the grass and stand about 10 yards away from it. Determine which foot you kick with, and keep this in mind as your prepare to approach the ball.

    • 2

      Move toward the ball, accelerating quickly as you approach. Build as much speed as possible (more momentum gives you more power), but be cautious about going too fast. Too much speed makes it difficult to kick the ball with good technique.

    • 3

      Plant your non-kicking foot on the ground alongside the ball (if you are right-footed, your left foot should land to the left of the ball on the approach). Pull your kicking leg back as far as you can and use your momentum to swing it forward as hard as you can. Keep your eye on the ball and make solid contact with it (chipping the ball will turn all of your power into spin). As your kicking leg swings forward, slightly twist it so that you strike the ball with the inside of your foot, around halfway between the tip of your toes and the middle of your foot. This allows you to hit the ball with greater surface area, and therefore more power.

    • 4

      Follow through with your kick by continuing your kicking motion even after the ball has been struck. This means allowing your leg to finish its motion. If you have kicked the ball with a proper motion, your leg should continue in a sweeping path that leads it across your body, ending with your knee raised in the air. Many players do not finish their kicking motions and pull out of their kick early, which causes a loss of power.