Discovering The Ultimate Impact Zone

     People ask all the time, "What is the Set & Pull technique anyway?"

       Do I need to start all over and use the Set & Pull immediately? Nope

       Is it a style that needs to be followed point by point? Nope. 

      Is it a style that every high school college and pro punter and/or kicker should use? Nope.

       Fact is the Set & Pull isn't a punting style or technique at all. 

      The' Set' is strictly a reminder of how to set your lower leg(knee) to 85-90 degrees while gliding into your plant foot placement. Setting the leg properly is vital in creating the much needed lag in order to create maximum foot speed.

    Once the leg is "Set" and as the plant foot 'posts' into the ground (hopefully pointing to the target line), the 'Pull' is a simple reminder of how to begin the downswing on the punt or kick.

    The final violent snap through the impact zone is the product of letting the lower leg swing freely.

    After speaking with my former team mate and 19yr NFL veteran kicker, Matt Stover, we both agree that putting any label on a punting, kicking or snapping style would only serve to confuse our athletes. Matt and I both know old habits are hard to break. In discussing our years working together. I explained the work I've done with many college players as well as current St Louis Rams punter Donnie Jones. And the consensus was - every punter and kicker that ever suited up on Sundays all had one thing in common -  a lower leg that snapped violently THROUGH the ball in the impact zone.

 And why is it so important to snap your lower leg/foot THROUGH the ball at impact?

 1) When you snap your foot THROUGH the impact zone, you are using maximum foot speed due to the fact the ball will accelerate OFF your foot while it is still moving with maximum velocity(on target).

 2) When you snap your foot THROUGH the impact zone, the ball will stay on your foot longer, hence creating better spin and direction control on the kick. When you make sure to accelerate THROUGH the impact zone, the ball will compress decompress and spin/turn over in the direction intended as well.

Your STYLE Is Yours!

Whatever posture, balance, stepping pattern, head position, grip on the ball  a punter chooses leading up until impact of the ball (when the foot hits the ball) is his 'STYLE'.

And after the ball is off his foot, any and all  feet, body, hip, arm  or head  posistion  along with their own follow-through  is his 'STYLE'

Our goal is not to change your STYLE.

Grip It and Rip It

With over 50 yrs of NFL experience, our goal is to share the All Pro Secret that  has known for decades, but never articulated. We want to show you the EXACT positioning of your feet, knees, hips, core, arms  and  body in order to maximize foot speed and accuracy.

     When you watch super slow motion of all the great ones, there are many discrepancies in their posture, hip stability and alignment, balance,  the timing of the setting of the ankle(pronation), the timing of the setting of the leg, foot placement on the plant foot and even on the impact on the ball itself. The athletes all have different STYLES. Landeta, Roby, Stark, UG, Bennett, Feagles, Guy, Jennings all had different STYLES..

      However, the most distinguishable constant with all these great punters was that  they all had identical lower leg action at the impact of the football.......  the actual upper and lower kicking  leg position during the milliseconds prior to ball contact.... all the way through impact..... and then to the release of the ball off their foot. At impact, all within a few milliseconds, the ball compresses and then decompresses off the kicking foot.

   The direction of the punt FG and or kickoff is directly related to:

 1) How long you can keep the ball on your accelerating foot and

2) While the ball is on your foot, maintaining the snapping motion through the ball towards  intended target.

   Post Script  -  We will teach you, bio-mechanically, the 'how and why' your body must be aligned and then unfold perfectly at impact. How the timing of the release the kicking leg is the most vital component in creating the consistent foot speed needed to punt and/or kick a football effectively.

'Set & Pull' are simple reminders  ..... The STYLE is up to you!

The Art of Punting

    

                  

                  When it comes to player analysis, the most important(and most difficult) thing to do is understand each players 'stroke' and know how to diagnose the inconsistencies. The exact  mechanics of the punting motion and leg action has to be defined to each and every punter. If the proper posture(neutral hips) is maintained throughout the entire punting motion(catch to kick), the steps, drop and leg snap will follow in harmony.

                  While working with Cincinnati Bengals punter, Kevin Huber, we really focused on proper posture, neutral hips, a consistent drop to Kevin's impact zone and accelerating 'through' the ball vs. 'at' the ball.

THE ART OF PUNTING

        Rhythm, timing and patience are the key elements required to execute an effective punt. From catch to kick, punting is one fluid motion. After all the work, after all the repetitions, after the mental  preparation, we must trust the process while in the heat of battle. A great punt is the product of trusting the process. An 11 yard block point is a product of trusting the process. A 1.2 second “catch to kick” is the product of trusting the process. A punt with 5.0 second hang time is a product of trusting the process. As in all aspects of life, we have to let go in order to gain control. We can’t squeeze it, white knuckle it or force it to happen. We have to let it happen. Less is More - Once a consistent rhythm is minimal physical effort by allowing your lower leg to properly release which will violently snap your foot through the hitting zone established, less effort actually produces better results.  We need to take a deep breath, relax, trust the process, and finish.

                                              INTRODUCTION

             

              Field position is one of the key ingredients to winning in the game of football.  An effective punter that can change field position is a priceless commodity. The process of punting has four major elements: 1) The Posture/ Body Angle, 2) The Footwork, 3) The Drop and 4) The Leg Snap. Mastering each element will be only made possible by being mentally and physically prepared to compete every time you step on the field. By following faithful daily routines of drill work and conditioning, the punter will be able to repeat the one fluid motion needed to achieve effective hang time, distance and placement.

        Maintaining the proper body angle, “letting your hands work” on the grip, “letting your get feet into the ground” on the approach, "floating the drop" to the hitting zone, the patience of  "waiting” on the leg snap and ”finishing” the kick will give you the best chance of becoming an efficient punter.

       Due to the aggressive nature of the game of football, patience and timing are skills that are only mastered through mental preparation, repetition and muscle memory. The philosophy of the “Set and Pull ” technique is to maximize foot speed with minimal physical effort by allowing your lower leg to properly release which will violently snap your foot through the hitting zone.