How to Knuckle a Soccer Ball

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The "knuckleball" is when the ball does not spin as it flies through the air. Spin is what gives a ball stability as it at moves, and without it your shot will snake through the air, changing directions suddenly and making it nearly impossible for a keeper to predict. A good knuckleball is all in the follow-through, and with enough practice, you'll be hitting them like Gareth Bale or Cristiano Ronaldo in no time.

Mastering the Knuckleball

Set a good-quality soccer ball about 30 feet (10 meters) from the goal. Get a running start, and plant your standing foot even with the ball. Kick the ball with the laces of your shoe, just under the center. Don't follow through, and stop your kick as soon as you make contact.

Method 1
Method 1 of 2:

Hitting the Perfect Knuckle

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  1. You want it to be nice and hard, and it absolutely must be regulation size. Hitting a knuckle requires you hit the ball firmly near the center and resist following through -- a flat, small ball will be easy to hit off to the sides and it will stay on your foot for longer, causing a spin. A slightly deflated ball is also a good way to START off with a knuckleball, but later, it is unnecessary.
    • Perfecting this shot takes a lot of practice -- so having 5-10 balls to hit in a row will make your life much easier.
    • It doesn't matter what brand of ball you use to practice, as long as it is full-sized and well pumped.
  2. While you don't have to shoot at a goal, this is a good target to start with. Don't worry about the placement of your shot just yet -- you want to get the motion down first. As long as you hit in at the goal now you can work on accuracy later.
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  3. If you normally take four steps back and two to the left, you should use the same set-up here. The only difference would be to stand upright, keeping yourself balanced on the balls of both feet. As you hit the ball, you want to keep your chest up straight as much as possible, so it is best to start like this too.
    • Note how knuckleball experts Cristiano Ronaldo and Gareth Bale stand before a free-kick. They stand tall, with their chests almost puffed out. [1]
  4. Keep your torso up, but otherwise, approach the ball like you were taking a normal free-kick. You'll be hitting the ball with your laces for maximum power and to avoid spin. [2]
  5. After your run-up, you want to place your non-kicking foot as close to the ball as you can get it. Your instep (where the inside edge of your foot curves slightly) should be in the middle of the ball. Your plant toe needs to point in the direction you want the ball to go. [4]
  6. You want to hit the ball as close to dead center as possible, going just slightly lower than center to hit the ball higher in the air (to, for example, get the ball over a wall).
    • Keep your ankle locked firmly -- a wobbly ankle introduces spin.
    • You want your toes pointed straight down. You'll make contact by hitting the ball with the top of your foot, near the bottom of your laces. [5]
  7. This is the key to a good knuckle, and the hardest part to master. You do not want to follow through on the ball anymore than your momentum makes you. [6] As soon as you make contact, stop driving your leg. You'll feel your shin continue through the ball, but everything above the knee should be mostly quiet. Some players find this easiest if they hop after the strike. As you make contact, pop off your plant foot. Land on your shooting foot first, placing it right where the ball used to be.
    • This is why keeping your torso up, straight, and balanced is so important. It keeps your momentum straight, allowing you to pull off of the shot without adding spin.
    • You want to feel almost like you're slapping the ball. It will take conscience effort to pull your foot back, but the hard part is ensuring you only pull back after you hit the ball.
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Method 2
Method 2 of 2:

Troubleshooting

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  1. While not all knuckle-ballers take this hop-step, it is incredibly helpful to keep the ball from spinning, especially on free kicks. Think of it as a slight scissor kick. If you're kicking with your right foot, you'd approach and place the left near the ball. As your right leg comes down, pull your left foot up and back, leaving your torso up to stay balanced. You then kick the ball and land on your right foot, placing it almost where the left was. You'll look like your running in place, or snapping your feet past each other like a broken set of scissors. [7]
  2. Many players want to go out, learn the knuckle, and start ripping pro-level free kicks in the same afternoon. Most of those players won't be able to do it. Instead, start learning with a simple 1-step run up, only 10-20 yards away from the goal. Work on a comfortably plant foot distance and resisting your follow-through motion. The ball may not zig-zag much at this speed, but you'll be able tell if it is spinning or not. Once you can hit the ball without spin it's time to move on to full strikes.
  3. You want your kicking motion to be as economical as possible. Your plant foot and torso should be set comfortably, with your ankles and knees slightly bent. Your run-up should be well-contained and calm, without lots of twisting, moving, or adjusting. Your kicking leg needs to be strong from quad to ankle, without excess movement. Think about straight lines -- any curves or excess side-to-side movement makes it more likely you hit the ball at an angle, causing spin. [8]
  4. Aim to strike with the bone on the inside-top of your foot. The bone in between your laces and instep is the hardest area of your foot. You can feel it with your hand, running from your ankle to big toe. Once you have the basic kick down, work on turning your ankle out slightly to make contact with this rock-hard bone. However, you must keep the rest of your shooting motion straight, hitting the ball in the dead center.
  5. No matter how easy and effortless he makes it look, Gareth Bale is the first to admit that the shot took years to perfect. His advice? Start shooting on an open net, then add mannequins or a wall in front of you. Finally, add a keeper to work on accuracy. Above all, hit a few knuckleballs every day, focusing on perfecting the technique so that it becomes second nature. [9]
    Lionel Messi, Professional Soccer Player

    Achieve your dreams through effort and perseverance. "I always thought that if you want to be the best, you have to work harder than everyone else."

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Expert Q&A

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  • Question
    Can I do knuckleball by hitting the ball with the outside of my foot where the toe begins?
    Misty Benson
    Soccer Coach
    Misty Benson is a Soccer Coach and Academic Specialist in Plano, Texas. She has been the head coach of high school soccer teams since 2003 and the Coordinator for US Soccer National Teams since 2013. She has a Master’s Degree in Educational Administration from Texas A&M-Commerce.
    Misty Benson
    Soccer Coach
    Expert Answer
    No, because you will curve the ball.
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    Not Helpful 14 Helpful 66
  • Question
    I just started practicing the knuckleball and I get exhausted after 6 shots. What can I do?
    Misty Benson
    Soccer Coach
    Misty Benson is a Soccer Coach and Academic Specialist in Plano, Texas. She has been the head coach of high school soccer teams since 2003 and the Coordinator for US Soccer National Teams since 2013. She has a Master’s Degree in Educational Administration from Texas A&M-Commerce.
    Misty Benson
    Soccer Coach
    Expert Answer
    Keep practicing! Work towards 50 kicks a day.
    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
    Thank you for your feedback.
    If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
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    Not Helpful 18 Helpful 53
  • Question
    I accidentally hit a knuckleball on my first try. How can I continue to do that?
    Misty Benson
    Soccer Coach
    Misty Benson is a Soccer Coach and Academic Specialist in Plano, Texas. She has been the head coach of high school soccer teams since 2003 and the Coordinator for US Soccer National Teams since 2013. She has a Master’s Degree in Educational Administration from Texas A&M-Commerce.
    Misty Benson
    Soccer Coach
    Expert Answer
    Lucky you! Remember how it felt and visualize that as you continue to practice daily.
    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
    Thank you for your feedback.
    If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
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    Not Helpful 30 Helpful 54
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      Tips

      • This shot will drop/dip, so don't think its running out of power. This makes it harder to block.
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      • Recent studies have show that the ball dips because of changes in wind resistance and drag, not because of imperfections in the ball or kicking motion.
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      • You can kick it straight or bend your foot to the side a little.
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      Tips from our Readers

      The advice in this section is based on the lived experiences of wikiHow readers like you. If you have a helpful tip you’d like to share on wikiHow, please submit it in the field below.
      • The more you practice the easier it becomes. I perfected the knuckle ball on the age of 15, you just have to be stable confident and relaxed, without thinking too much about the technique.
      • Try ducking as soon as you strike the ball to reduce your follow-through. This is a technique Cristiano Ronaldo uses but is rarely picked up on.
      • Keep your eye on the ball for a more solid hit.
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      Warnings

      • Make a straight follow through, keeping your foot perpendicular to the ground.
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      • Kick the ball in its valve(the place from where you blow the air inside the ball)which will give your shot more power and will help the ball to knuckle.
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      Things You'll Need

      • Football/soccer ball

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      References

      1. ↑ http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/watch-real-madrid-superstar-gareth-4782288
      2. ↑ http://www.ronaldo7.net/news/2013/05/672-learn-the-cristiano-ronaldo-free-kick-knuckleball-technique.html
      3. ↑ Walter Merino. Soccer Coach. Expert Interview. 29 January 2020.
      4. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/redirect?q=http%3A%2F%2Fbit.ly%2F1Cy5reK&redir_token=emLaR-ZgM__8W1cZ3-H9VxIzWLp8MTQ0NjY3MzU0NUAxNDQ2NTg3MTQ1
      5. ↑ Walter Merino. Soccer Coach. Expert Interview. 29 January 2020.
      6. ↑ Walter Merino. Soccer Coach. Expert Interview. 29 January 2020.
      7. ↑ http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/watch-real-madrid-superstar-gareth-4782288
      8. ↑ http://www.ronaldo7.net/news/2013/05/672-learn-the-cristiano-ronaldo-free-kick-knuckleball-technique.html
      9. ↑ http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/watch-real-madrid-superstar-gareth-4782288

      About This Article

      Article Summary X

      If you want to knuckle a soccer ball, place your ball about 30 feet away from the goal. Step back to kick the ball, keeping your chest up as much as possible. When you’re ready, run up and place your plant foot even with the ball, roughly 6 inches to the side, with your toes pointing in the direction you want the ball to go. Strike the ball with your laces, right below the very center of the ball, but stop your follow-through as soon as you make contact to get the perfect knuckleball. Keep reading to learn how turning out your foot can give your kick more power!

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      • Carter W.

        Jun 22, 2023

        "I couldn't hit a knuckleball before reading this article. After reading the steps and practicing, I've ..." more
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