Why do you need to know how to strike the ball with power? You might be thinking – I already know this Jeremie! But the truth is many players rely on leg muscle, velocity, strength & follow-through. However, if you want stronger passes, longer balls, and shots that are difficult for goalkeepers to save, you need proper technique.
How to Strike a Soccer Ball With Power
To strike a soccer ball with power, players must combine correct contact, body mechanics, and momentum. Power does not come from the leg alone — it comes from the entire body working together.
The three most important elements are:
- Using your full body weight
- Engaging your core
- Striking the correct part of the ball
Table of Contents
- Does size matter?
- Get both feet off the ground
- Use your core for power
- Correct foot contact
- Why players struggle
- Muscle memory
Does Size Help You Strike the Ball With Power?
Some of the smallest players I have ever played with [youth – adult] could strike the ball harder than bigger players.
It’s not about size — it’s about how you strike the ball and how your body moves through it. The key is how you strike the ball with your foot on the correct part of the ball. Then learn how you control your own body to strike through the ball using momentum, muscle and body & leg weight.
For younger players (ages 11 and under), having good form but less power is completely normal. This is not an issue at all, so parents and players need to be patient.
Power starts to increase around ages 12–13 as strength develops.
1. Get Both Feet Off the Ground for More Power
If you strike the ball using only your leg, you only use the weight of that leg.
When you get both feet off the ground, you transfer your entire body weight into the ball.
Learn how to get both feet off the ground.
Do you want to strike the ball like this every time? No, because using this technique can & should only be used at certain moments in training/games. There are so many techniques on how to follow through and if you watch video of pro players you will see how some use different techniques at different moments.
2. Tighten Your Core to Generate More Power
This is something that many coaches do not even know, so how are players going to know it?
Power comes from the core, hips, and thighs.
If players do not tighten their core when striking the ball, they lose a large percentage of their potential power.
Flex your stomach muscles as you strike to generate more force.
This is one of the most important and most overlooked techniques in soccer. Learning this is one of the best things a soccer player can learn. As they first learn it they start to smile because it all makes total sense. And then when they take their first kick they realize it’s a great moment in their life. It then makes sense to them that the power would not come from the back of the legs, as you perform this task.
Some players even ask how to tighten their muscles – which is a great question. To understand this, ask a player:
“If a ball is coming at your stomach, would you relax or tighten your muscles?”
This helps the kids understand HOW they can tighten their stomach muscles.
Learn how to shoot harder in soccer by combining these techniques.
3. Strike the Ball With the Correct Part of the Foot
Most players hear “use your laces” — but that is not specific enough.
You want to strike the ball with the middle to upper part of the laces for best results.
Too low = toe contact
Too high = weak connection
Middle = best power
Before striking, your first touch must also set you up correctly. If your touch is off, you lose power and control. Work on this with these first touch drills.
Most Players Don’t Know How to Strike With Power
Even top high school and college players don’t fully understand ball striking.
Why? Because it is too detailed to fully teach in team training.
This is why players must train outside of team practice.
Power matters, but creating chances matters more. That’s why players must also understand how to play through midfield.
In addition, players must be comfortable beating defenders. This comes from skill work like dribbling techniques.
Difference Between Bending vs Laces
To strike the ball with power you can use both of these styles. The difference in shooting with the laces compared to bending with the inside of the foot. You want to know how to get both feet off the ground, but to bend a ball you don’t get both feet off the ground. Both styles give you good power, but I am just explaining one example of how deep the teaching is.
Laces = straight power
Bending = spin and placement
Bending the ball allows you to get rid of it to the side of you. Laces is when you pass/shoot the ball where you are facing. So one goes the way your hips are showing and the other doesn’t.
Both are important.
Get my online ball control courses ⇓ 
Building Muscle Memory
Once you learn proper technique, you must repeat it consistently.
Build muscle memory so your body naturally performs under pressure.
This takes weeks or months — not days.
Depending on the situation depends on how you strike
Okay – so now I bet you want to hear the way to hit the ball with the correct part of the foot. It all depends on the moment in a game. It depends on if the ball is directly in front of you, to the right, left, under you or out in front, if you can use both feet or if you are a player that only uses the strong foot.
Read this blog post to learn the 4 best and most common ways to shoot.
There are even pro players like Argentina stars Messi & Di Maria who are both left footed players. Neither player passes very often with their right [weak] foot, especially Di Maria. Players like this have to be good with their strong foot, so that they can release the ball quick and at different directions. In a game you’ll need to be good at shooting in tight spaces.
Practice With Both Feet
A good way to practice both feet is simply get reps. You can first practice hitting a still ball, then moving.
See the video below ↓
It looks easy, but it’s not.
It’s important to become familiar because in a game you’ll have these chances.
Practicing both feet is critical because game situations won’t always allow you to use your dominant foot.
Training to Shoot While Fatigued
Before you read on first know that there are so many ways to strike a ball. By strike I mean kick, pass or shoot. For players that are already good at striking the ball properly and in different ways, add drills that force the player to be fatigued. In real games, you don’t shoot when fresh — you shoot when tired.
Training under fatigue prepares both your body and mind. In this drill, the purpose is to fatigue the player for approximately 7-10 seconds before they get their shot off… This prepares them both mentally and physically. The hardest part of this drill is by the time you shoot, your muscles are a little tired.
Can you keep your form when tired?
Remember: ugly goals count too. Sometimes you’re not going to hit the ball clean and that’s normal.
FAQ: How to Strike a Soccer Ball With Power
How do you kick a soccer ball with more power?
Power comes from using your entire body — not just your leg. Proper mechanics, core engagement, and follow-through are key.
What part of the foot gives the most power?
The middle to upper part of the laces provides the strongest and cleanest contact.
Does strength matter for shooting power?
Strength helps, but technique matters more. Smaller players can generate high power with correct mechanics.
Why do players get both feet off the ground?
This allows full body weight to transfer into the ball, increasing power.
How important is core strength in soccer shooting?
Core strength is critical. Without it, players lose a large portion of potential power.
How long does it take to improve ball striking?
It can take weeks to months of repetition to build consistent technique.
Should players practice shooting with both feet?
Yes. Game situations require players to shoot with either foot.
What is the biggest mistake players make?
Relying only on leg strength instead of using proper mechanics and body positioning.
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