ABSTRACT
This chapter aims to illustrate the unique ball impact characteristics of a knuckle shot using examples of two top international footballers, and to verify the effect coaching has on performing the knuckle shot, derived from ball impact characteristics. Keisuke Honda plays for AC MILAN in Italy, and the Japan national squad. He is also well known as the leading Japanese exponent of a knuckle shot since he became professional. One of the world's most famous kickers of the knuckle shot is Cristiano Ronaldo. He is a player for Real Madrid in Spain, and at the time of press was also Portuguese national squad captain. Cristiano Ronaldo dos Santos Aveiro was tested as part of a media investigation into his elite sporting capacity. The unique ball impact technique of top professional players can provide useful information for amateur players who are training to acquire this new technique of producing the knuckle shot.
