banana kick

Arcing soccer strike

A banana kick is a kick that makes the ball curve through the air in an arc, bending around defenders or goalkeepers.

The name comes from the banana-shaped flight path.

Most associated with soccer free kicks: He bent a banana kick around the wall and into the net.

The technique requires striking the ball off-center with spin.

technique

curl

Spiral or loop form

swerveAbrupt directional change
bendCurve or flex
curveSmooth, angleless line

arc · trajectory · placement · accuracy · precision · strike · volley · chip · lob · instep

physics

spin

Rapid rotation around axis

rotationTurning on an axis
aerodynamicsPhysics of air motion
deflectionChange in trajectory

flight path · velocity · drag · curvature · deviation · air resistance · ball speed · movement · dip · float

unpredictability

deception

Intentional misleading of others

misdirectionIntentional focus manipulation
unexpectedNot anticipated beforehand
surpriseUnexpected event causing astonishment

unorthodox · disguise · wrong-foot · keeper · wall · variation · improvisation · creativity · flair · trickery

Categories

kicking termsplacekick, drop goal, conversion, field goal, kickoff
soccer techniquespenalty spot, throw-in, heading, dribbling, passing
spintopspin, backspin, sidespin, clockwise, counterclockwise

Opposites

trajectory curvature

banana kickstraight shot

Direct unimpeded trajectory

drive · knuckleball · line drive · bullet · daisy cutter

spin application

banana kickstraight shot

Direct unimpeded trajectory

power shot · knuckleball · driven shot · toe poke · push pass

technique complexity

banana kickpunt

Kick before landing

clearance · hoof

Family

banana, kick, bananas, kicks, kicked, kicking, kicker, kickers

Familiarity: Top 500,000
Profile: Used worldwide · Timeless · Concrete · Rated G