Troubleshooting Common Rugby Kicking Errors

There’s nothing quite like the sound of a perfectly struck rugby ball spiralling through the air at Twickenham. Whether it’s a towering up-and-under to regain possession, a raking touch-finder to flip the field, or a pressure penalty to win the Six Nations Championship, a good kick can change a game in an instant. But for every moment of magic, there are countless shanks, slices, and mis-hits that leave players—and fans—frustrated.

Kicking is a complex skill, a blend of technique, timing, and nerve. It’s a discipline Steve Borthwick and his coaching team work on relentlessly. From Owen Farrell’s ice-cool game management to Marcus Smith’s inventive chips and grubbers, the England Rugby attack is built on a foundation of smart, accurate kicking.

If your kicks aren’t travelling true, don’t just shrug and blame the wind. Most errors are correctable. This guide will walk you through some of the most common kicking faults, how to diagnose them, and, most importantly, how to fix them. Think of it as your personal session with the RFU’s skills coaches.

Problem: The Dreaded Slice (Ball Curves Wildly to the Right for a Right-Footed Kicker)

Symptoms: You strike the ball cleanly, but instead of flying straight or with a gentle draw, it veers sharply off to the side. For a right-footed kicker, it slices to the right; for a leftie, it goes left. It’s the kick that finds the front-row spectator, not the open winger.

Causes: This is almost always a contact issue. The most common culprit is your foot striking the ball with an "open" face. Imagine your foot is a golf club; if the clubface is angled to the right at impact, the ball will spin right. This happens when you lean back too much, don’t follow through toward your target, or your plant foot is positioned incorrectly behind the ball.

Solution:

1. Check Your Stance: Place the ball on the tee or ground slightly tilted back toward you. Your plant foot (non-kicking foot) should be positioned beside or just behind the ball’s midpoint, not ahead of it.


2. Focus on the Sweet Spot: Aim to make contact with the ball using the hard bone on the inside of your foot, just above the big toe. Visualise striking through the ball’s centre.


3. The Towel Drill: Lay a towel on the ground about two feet in front of your kicking tee. Your only goal is to follow through so completely that your kicking foot lands on the towel. This promotes a straight, committed follow-through toward your target, keeping your foot "closed."

Problem: The Hook (Ball Curves Sharply to the Left for a Right-Footed Kicker)

Symptoms: The opposite of the slice. Your kick starts on target but then darts viciously left (for a right-footer). It’s the over-correction, often turning a promising attack into a loss of possession.

Causes: Again, contact is key. A hook occurs when you strike the ball with a "closed" foot face, often by wrapping your foot around the ball. This can be caused by an over-rotated upper body, a plant foot placed too far to the side, or trying to over-power the kick with your ankle rather than your core and leg.

Solution:

1. Re-align Your Hips: Your hips and shoulders should be square to your target line as you begin your run-up. Film yourself from behind to check for alignment.


2. Simplify the Swing: Don’t try to "swing across" the ball. Think of your leg swing as a straight pendulum. The power comes from a smooth, controlled motion, not a violent snap.


3. Practice Half-Pace Kicks: Go back to basics. Place the ball and, without a run-up, focus on a smooth, straight-leg swing that makes clean contact. Gradually add steps back in, prioritising technique over distance.

Problem: The Toe-Poke or Mis-Hit (Lack of Distance and Control)

Symptoms: The ball comes off your toe or the wrong part of your foot, resulting in a weak, wobbly, and inaccurate kick. It lacks the satisfying thump and spiral.

Causes: You’re not dropping the ball onto your foot correctly in place-kicking, or you’re rushing the entire process in punting. Your eyes come off the ball, or you’re trying to look at the target too early. For place-kickers, a inconsistent drop from the hands is the prime suspect.

Solution:
For Punters (Drop Kicks):
1. Eyes on the Ball: Your mantra should be "see the ball, see the foot, see the ball away." Don’t look up at the target until after contact.
2. The Drop is Everything: Hold the ball in front of you, seams pointing at your target. Let it fall straight down—don’t push or throw it. Your foot should meet it as it descends.
For Place-Kickers (Tees):
1. Consistent Set-Up: Develop a precise, repeatable routine like Owen Farrell. How many steps back? How many to the side? Same every time.
2. Spot-Kicking Drill: Don’t even kick a ball for a few minutes. Just practice your approach, your plant foot landing, and the smooth motion of your kicking leg. Muscle memory is your best friend under pressure, especially when going for the Calcutta Cup or Millennium Trophy.

Problem: The Skied Kick (Too Much Height, Not Enough Distance)

Symptoms: The ball goes straight up in the air like a Maro Itoje lineout take, but it only travels 20 metres downfield. It gives the chasing Red Rose forwards no time to get there and gifts the opposition an easy catch.

Causes: You are striking underneath the ball too much. Your foot is contacting too low on the ball, effectively scooping it up instead of driving it forward. This is often due to leaning back excessively or having your plant foot too far behind the ball.

Solution:

1. Adjust Your Lean: Your body should be slightly forward or upright at the point of contact, not leaning back. Imagine you’re trying to jump forward off your plant foot.


2. Contact Point: Aim to strike the ball at its midpoint or just below. For a spiral punt, you want to make contact on the lower quarter of the ball to generate forward roll and distance.


3. Low-Flight Target Practice: Set up a barrier (a bag, a teammate holding a tackle shield) about 10 metres away and 3 metres high. Practice driving kicks under this barrier. This trains you to keep the ball on a lower, more penetrating trajectory.

Problem: The Wobbly, Non-Spiral Pass

Symptoms: The ball flies end-over-end or with an unstable, wobbly motion. It’s harder to catch, less aerodynamic, and loses distance and accuracy.

Causes: You’re not striking the ball cleanly off its long axis. For a spiral, your foot must brush down the side of the ball as you make contact, imparting spin. A wobbly kick means your foot hit the ball’s centre, or you made contact with your laces instead of the hard inner bone of your foot.

Solution:

1. Seam Alignment: Always point the ball’s seams toward your target. Your foot should brush along this seam line.


2. The "Brush and Push" Feeling: Don’t think hit, think brush and push. Your foot should slide down the side of the ball for a fraction of a second as you make contact, generating the spin, before pushing it forward.


3. Close-Range Spin Drills: Stand only 10 metres from a teammate. Don’t worry about power. Focus solely on making clean contact on the seam and producing a tight, fast spiral. Accuracy and spin first, power later.

Problem: Inconsistent Contact Under Pressure

Symptoms: You nail your kicks in practice but your technique deserts you in a game situation—the classic case of "game-day yips."

Causes: This is mental, not physical. Your focus shifts from the process (your technique) to the outcome ("I must find touch!" or "Don't miss!"). Anxiety changes your breathing, tightens your muscles, and rushes your routine.

Solution:

1. Develop an Iron-Clad Routine: This is non-negotiable. Your routine is your anchor. Whether it’s three deep breaths, two practice swings, or a specific visualisation, it must be identical every single time. Watch Marcus Smith or Ellis Genge preparing for a shot at goal—it’s a ritual.


2. Process Over Outcome: In the moment, your only job is to execute your routine and your technique. The result is a by-product. Tell yourself: "Smooth run-up. Plant foot. See the ball."


3. Create Pressure in Practice: Don’t just kick 100 balls in a row. Set high-stakes scenarios. "This kick to win the Autumn Nations Series." Have teammates yell and wave arms. Train the nervous system to perform when it counts.

Prevention Tips: Building a Robust Kicking Game

Fixing errors is great, but preventing them is better. Integrate these habits:
Film Yourself: Use your phone. What you feel you’re doing and what you’re actually doing are often different.
Kick Off Both Feet: It doesn’t have to be perfect, but being competent off your weak foot is a huge asset. Look at how it benefits the England national rugby union team in broken-field play.
Condition Your Kicking Leg: Strength and flexibility in your hips, glutes, and core are crucial for a powerful, stable swing. It’s not just about leg strength.
Practice in All Conditions: Wind, rain, a muddy ball—this is rugby. If you only practice on calm, sunny days, you’re not preparing for a Six Nations rugby clash at Murrayfield.

When to Seek Professional Help

Sometimes, you need a fresh pair of expert eyes. Consider seeking a qualified coach if:
You’ve consistently worked on these fixes but see no improvement.
You’re experiencing persistent pain during or after kicking.
* You’re a young player looking to specialise as a kicker and want to build technically sound foundations from the start.

The best in the world, from Farrell to Smith, are constantly tweaking and refining their craft with coaches. There’s no shame in asking for guidance. After all, the pursuit of the perfect kick is what drives the game forward.

For more on how the pros prepare, check out our latest squad analysis in the /england-rugby-squad-announcement-latest, or delve into our broader tactical discussions in our /latest-news section. You can also see how a polished kicking game played its part in our /rugby-world-cup-2023-england-review. Now, grab a ball and get to work—HQ awaits your next perfect spiral.