Straight Through the Uprights

History As field goal percentages at the pro level have risen in the last 10 years, kickers’approach angles have become narrower and the steps back shorter. Soccer-style kicking took the sport by storm in the 1960s because it utilized torque to create added power. But it wasn’t until kickers began to “manage” their torque properly that soccer-style kickers’ field goal percentages soared into the mid- and high 90s. Kicking schools were onto something as early as the mid-1980s: If you could distribute your weight up the field instead of spinning in place on the follow-through, accuracy and power would improve dramatically. Statement of the Problem When the kicker’s approach angle is wide, it opens them up to several pitfalls. One is the amount of speed generated. When kickers “cut” on their instep to drive to the ball, they are not taking the most direct path possible.