By 
The set shot is essential to any AFL forward’s game. Whether you win a free on the fifty, or take a mark right in front of goal, you want to ensure that your set shot is going to soar through the big sticks and win your team another six points. After all, set shots account for more goals than open play, so every one of your forwards should develop their skills in this imperative element!
We have all seen teams falter because of forwards failing with their set shots. And, yes, even the pros have seasons where the accuracy is below average. This is because the set shot isn’t easy and it is something that can easily go astray if not regularly developed and maintained in training.
What’s more, players should work on developing their set shot when finding themselves on difficult angles, and this especially goes for half-forward flanks and forward pockets, who find themselves taking set shots from tighter angles than their teammates in the half and full-forward positions.
With all this in mind, grab your best AFL merchandise and head down to your local footy pitch, because we are going to share five essential tips for mastering your set shot:
Your run up is essential to accuracy
Think about it: when was the last time you saw a top goal scorer with a zig-zag run up? Literally never in the history of footy! A direct and balanced run up is absolutely essential to creating the power and accuracy you need to pierce the big sticks. A well-developed run up allows you to set your body (and especially your legs) up for the shot to come.
What’s more, it allows you to focus on where you need to put the ball, as opposed to thinking about where you are going to step in the lead up. So, be sure to focus on your run up before you work on the kick itself, as this will ensure you can then focus on your actual kicking motion!
Your plant foot helps you stay balanced
Sure, you might find yourself jumping a little when roosting a free kick from beyond the 50, but you should focus on keeping your non-kicking foot planted to the ground for more reachable distances. This is because your plant foot is essential to helping you maintain your balance throughout the shot. And, as we all know very well, balance is absolutely essential to ensuring accuracy. So, be sure to focus on bending your planted leg as you shoot, and transfer your weight onto it as you follow through with the shot.
Keep your kicking leg straight
Obviously, your kicking leg is for kicking the ball, but it is also key to generating the power you need to boot it from further away. Therefore, you have to generate power through using your body weight whilst maintaining a straight-legged follow through that optimises power.
Follow through with your kick
Your follow through is also essential to ensuring that you generate enough power to boot the ball a further distance. It is also essential to ensure you direct the ball right where you want it to go and not hoist it in the wrong direction. Therefore, you should focus on developing a straight and consistent follow through that optimises power and accuracy.
Practice different styles
Of course, you might find yourself taking a set shot from the forward pocket, in which case you might have to switch it up for a banana or snap. So, whilst it is most important to focus on your direct shot, it’s also a good idea to add a few turns of the less-frequent shooting styles into your training, too!
Comments