How to Ping a Soccer Ball with Proper Technique

A "ping" is a low driven ball that can be used as a pass or shot. When pinging the ball, the ball stays on the ground or is in the air a foot or two off the ground. Manchester United Legend Paul Scholes is a former player who had a phenomenal ping on him! 

The purpose of pinging a ball is to get the ball to your target as quickly and as accurately as possible. Let's say you look up and have a teammate that is 30-40 yards away from you with no defenders between you and your teammate. A regular pass would take some time to get there. A lobbed, chip pass would take a lot of time to in the air to get there. This is a situation where you want to "ping" it in!

Key Points:

1. Stand five steps behind the ball, but a step to the side of it. 
2. Shoulders face your target. Do not come from an angle and turn your shoulders.
3. Run up to the ball smooth and your plant foot should be 6 inches next to the ball.
4. Turn your pining foot out and rotate it down showing your laces. You want to hit right below the middle of the ball with the hard part of your foot that is below the base of your big toe. 
5. Keep your swing low on your back swing all the way through to your follow through. Keep your foot turned out as long as possible on the follow through. It's not a big follow through. 

Also make sure your shoulders stay facing your target, don't turn them and swing sideways. 

Things to Note:

When I teach the ping in person to players I usually have them practice chipping a ball first since the technique is similar in terms of how your foot is turned out and the chip is easier. For tips on how to chip a ball watch my Online Soccer Academy training video titled "How to Chip a Soccer Ball".

Do not swing for power when you are pinging a ball. Swing for technique and once your technique is great, your will generate more power from your ping!

Your ping should have a bit of backspin on it. 

Equipment Needed: Ball and 4 cones

Exercise Player Can Do: 

First practice the ping technique without the ball and get your body use to the motion. Once comfortable set up four cones in the shape of a box 30-40 yards ahead of you. Ping the ball through the box on the ground or a foot or two off the ground. Jog and get your ball and then ping it from a different angle if your field space allows for it. If not, jog back to your starting point. Repeat until you master it or are tired. 

If you are feeling really confident with your technique, get out a clean trash can, open the top, lay it down and then ping the ball in the trash can from 30-40 yards away! 

What Player Could Be Doing Wrong: 

If your ping is going sideways and not going straight to your target it's because when you follow through you are turning your shoulders and swinging sideways. Make sure on your follow through your swing is low, stays straight and you keep your shoulders facing your target. Your shoulders are like a scope on a gun. If the scope isn't pointed at your target, you are not going to hit it. The same applies with your shoulders. 

If you are getting to much height on your ping you are hitting underneath the ball. Make sure to ping it right below the middle part of the ball, not underneath it. 

The hardest part to this technique is turning your foot out. If your foot is showing the inside of your foot like a pass, or toes straight down like a shot, you are doing it wrong. Remember to turn your foot out and rotate it down so your laces are showing. 

Bonus Tip!

The ping is one of the most difficult strikes out there so don't get discouraged if it takes you a while to master this technique. It's takes practice! Have fun improving! 

This Video Covers:
How to Kick a Soccer Ball - How to Kick a Soccer Ball with Power - How to Kick a Soccer Ball with Accuracy - Soccer Passing Drills - Soccer Passing - Soccer Pass - Soccer Drills for Passing - Soccer Video Passing Drills - Passing Drills for Soccer - Passing Soccer Drills - Passing in Soccer - Kicking a Soccer Ball Technique