Drop punting with accuracy, distance and pace is one of the most imperative Aussie rules skills to master. The drop punt is the game’s legendary kicking standard, a technique that you will employ thousands of times over your playing career.

This kicking style is essential for locating teammates, keeping possession and creating attacking situations, so it’s something you definitely want to have in your repertoire if you’re going to play like an AFLW footy pro!

Let’s find out the mechanisms behind this imperative kick:

How to master the drop punt

1. Your set up: Align your body with hips squared in the direction you want to kick the ball. Position your head in a slanted position just over the ball.
   

2. Gripping the ball: Hold the footy vertically with the cross or nose end of the ball facing the floor at a slight angle. Ensure your laces are facing forwards before spreading your hands evenly on either side of the Sherrin, with your thumbs facing the main seam (but separated from it). Grip is imperative to provide effective stability when you kick, so be sure to hold the ball without squeezing it tightly.
   

3. Guide the ball to your foot: Using your guiding hand (the one holding the ball as you go to kick it), position the Sherrin in front of your kicking leg, from around above-knee to thigh height.
   

4. Drop the ball: Hold the ball straight and drop when the kicking foot is raised and ready to swing. This will provide the time to create solid power before the big kick. Throughout this process, have your non-guiding arm swing up and out to the side in an arc style, whilst also keeping it in line with your shoulder to ensure your balance.
   

5. Impact: To kick the ball, produce a firm and stable kicking platform through fully extending ankle and foot upon impact. Try to make something of a “punching” impact on the ball to produce the best outcome. Impact should occur around the laces’ higher zone, with the lower part of the ball making contact with your boot. This reduces injury risk, creates an awesome sweet spot and makes your kick that much more accurate.
   

6. Your follow through: To follow through like an AFLW footy pro, fully extend your leg ahead of your body once you’ve made impact with the Sherrin. This will ensure optimal power, as well as total accuracy if you also follow through the path of the football with your toes pointing towards the intended target.

Typical errors made when drop punting

Problems with grip/set up:

1. The player fails to run in a straight line, causing the kicking leg to swing across the body and create a wayward kick;

2. Not keeping the ball stabilised and controlled throughout the run up;

3. A crooked or incorrect grip is stopping the ball from spinning backwards properly.

The ball drop

1. The player drops the ball from too high up the leg;

2. The player drops the ball centred to the body as opposed to aligned with their kicking leg, which causes the player to lose track of the ball or hook it in the wrong direction.

Impact

1. Putting much force into the kick, creating an inability to produce a proper impact;

2. Dropping the balancing arm at the time of impact, producing an inaccurate, unbalanced kick;

3. Kicking the ball with the toe pointed too far upwards throughout the impact as opposed to in the target’s direction, producing a kick that prioritises height as opposed to actual distance.

Following these handy football tips will ensure that your drop punt is one to be admired. Be sure to practise in your own time, and not just with the club, as extra training is what makes players the drop punt masters they truly are!