Quade's kicking

[PhucNgo]

In the article it says its a new style but hes had it since the Autumn tour of the uk and he had the beginnings of the stance in this video in 2005,
1:20 Quade kicking

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Stjf9c8NOw

Side note: Interesting to see quite a few of these guys running around last weekend. Also interesting to note that Portley's tackling proficiency hasn't progressed (or alternatively from a positive perspective, it hasn't gone backwards).

 

[rugbywhisperer]

I am always amazed at how such simple things get all complicated.
Like Scotty and Gagger said, the only thing that determines direction of the ball is the direction the foot is travelling at point of contact - simple really.
Kick the black dot - shoulders and hips stable, head down, watch the ball.
Sounds like golf.

Actually, I never really understood why kickers went away from the oldstraight on kick, other than the design of boots changes which meant you broke you toes each time you kicked the ball, but generally back in the day directional accuracy was not a problem. F = M * A (read speed of foot). Doesn't matter which style you use, the ball is going to travel the same distance.

 

[Scotty]

Straight on kick must be valid with a high kicking tee so you can hit it like a drop kick AFL style. I'm sure they could also manufacture a special kicking boot that has a flatter top for kickers?!

 

[Bruce Ross]

I am always amazed at how such simple things get all complicated.
Like Scotty and Gagger said, the only thing that determines direction of the ball is the direction the foot is travelling at point of contact - simple really.

I looked and couldn't find any contribution by Gagger to this thread. I also read through Scotty's comments and can find no basis for paraphrasing him as saying: "the only thing that determines direction of the ball is the direction the foot is travelling at point of contact".

There is not really a "point of contact" because both boot and ball deform on impact meaning that there is a relatively large and asymmetrical area of contact through which the force of the leg swing is transmitted. Therefore there is no reason to assume a close predictable relationship between direction of the foot and direction of the ball.

Not simple at all really.

 

[Sully]

I think it is simple Bruce If it works it's right if it doesn't it's not.

 

[Bruce Ross]

I think it is simple Bruce If it works it's right if it doesn't it's not.

I'll drink to that, Sull.

 

[Scarfman]

So Bruce, not backing down on the haughty tone, then?

How would you teach the place kick? Knowing that you work in what might be braodly termed "sports science", I'm genuinely interested.

 

[Bruce Ross]

So Bruce, not backing down on the haughty tone, then?

How would you teach the place kick? Knowing that you work in what might be braodly termed "sports science", I'm genuinely interested.

What "haughty tone", Scarfman? I grew up in Wollongong. There was nothing haughty about Happy Valley when I was wandering around there bare footed.

I would not have a clue as to how to teach the place kick. Most of what has been written in this thread, including your own contributions, seem to make sense to me. I only took issue with rugbywhisperer over what I perceived as an over-simplification of what is a very difficult art.

Similarly, I can claim no expertise in sports science other than what I have picked up of biomechanics as a consequence of inventing some strength-increasing machines and a personal keen interest in scrummaging - another difficult but not particularly mysterious art form.

 

[Utility Back]

'His kicking style is retarded and biomechanically all over the place.'

Thats funnny thats pretty much what my biomechanics lecturer told me.
He also had an interesting story about the reason why johnny wilkinson does 'the prayer' stance is because he naturally has a shit kicking style but the prayer helps him keep his shoulders in on the follow through or some shit like that.

 

[Godfrey]

Does he define "shit" as kicking a "shit"-load of goals?

 

[matty_k]

Jim Carrey's - The Mask.
I've been trying to work it out all week.

 

[Moses]

That 3rd one is spot on matty_k

 

[RugbyReg]

fucking bang on.

Its been in my head since I first saw it. Wasn't sure if it was bugs bunny or some other cartoon. Great work!

 

[Scotty]

I looked and couldn't find any contribution by Gagger to this thread. I also read through Scotty's comments and can find no basis for paraphrasing him as saying: "the only thing that determines direction of the ball is the direction the foot is travelling at point of contact".

The physics are reasonably simple, the difficult thing is to repeat it time after time. We could make a robot foot/leg that would kick the ball over the black dot 99 out of 100 times (negating wind and ball issues).

There are two things that determine the direction of the ball:

1. The direction that the part of the foot that is impacting the foot is facing. (call it 'the face')
2. The plane on which the foot is travelling in relation to the target or face (call it 'the plane')

The 'face' more or less controls the initial direction of the ball, while the differential angle between the face and plane control the swing or sideways movement of the ball through the air. So someone that is kicking with a big hook (eg Thurston) would kick the ball with the foot facing a fair way right of his target, but his plane line (angle of attack) is even further to the right.

I would also assume that kickers would tend to have more sideways movement if they don't get 'over' the ball. Getting over the ball would help them create a more downward (or more likely less upward) strike, and cause more backspin on the ball, thus less side spin. Barnes is a good example of getting over the ball at the moment.

 

[Scarfman]

Yeah, but why do you think golfers worry about their hip rotation, or right-arm bowlers worry about the height of their left arm?

I'll say this one more time, then I'm out. His body rotation is deliberately working a hook, and his ball strike is deliberately working a slice. Somebody post a video of the fluffybunny!

 

[cyclopath]

Geez, and I thought my golfing mates over-complicated the golf-swing! :lmao: One of my good mates has lessons weekly with a top flight teaching pro. Knows all there is to know about the components of his swing (and mine, for that matter). Always telling me what my plane is, where my setup is all wrong, how "over the top" I am swinging and so on. His handicap has gone from 17-22 in the last 3 years. Mine went from 13-9 (now back to 10). My point? Don't over-complicate the bloody thing.
If I was a goal-kicker, I'd have the yips by now reading this stuff.
But entertaining, nonetheless.

 

[Scotty]

Yeah, but why do you think golfers worry about their hip rotation, or right-arm bowlers worry about the height of their left arm?

I'll say this one more time, then I'm out. His body rotation is deliberately working a hook, and his ball strike is deliberately working a slice. Somebody post a video of the fluffybunny!

I'm not sure where I talked about hips, unless you weren't responding to me?

Anyway, I agree with you. His natural shape is a big hook, and he is trying to counteract it with a striking it with a more 'open' foot to fight against this.

 

[Scotty]

Cyclo,

If your mate has a lesson each week and only hits off 22, tell him to give up. That is very poor for that much coaching/practising.

Either that or tell him to stay off the course until his swing has changed. Even go further and stay away from hitting balls all together and do some drills to change his mechanics first, or at least if he goes to the range, make sure he only hits chips and 1/2 swing shots.

He is doing something seriously wrong not to improve.

 

[cyclopath]

I know his problem. It's called a short game!! :lmao:

 

[Scotty]

So you play golf as well as cycling?

Reminds me of a quote I once heard from a leading european bike manufacturer.

Q: So, who is your biggest competitor?

A: Golf

It seems you would be one of the very few that would play golf as well as regularly cycle (if you do that is).