Question: is it considered an advantage one way or the other to be a PK outside on grass vs. outside on turf? Recently saw a post elsewhere that suggests there is for turf kickers, but I'm not sure about that.
Thanks for your thoughts.
kicking on turf vs grass outside?
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superbowlfanatic
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- Joined: Mon Oct 13, 2014 7:22 am
Re: kicking on turf vs grass outside?
As a former (and still somtimes) Kicker, I can tell you that there are many variables regarding turf vs. grass. The old astroturf was like kicking on a tight carpet over cement, so the bottom nose of the ball was not lost in the grass. The new field-turf surfaces are something in-between the old flat turf and real grass.
Probably even more important than how the kicker sees the ball placement differently on the surfaces, is the grip of the plant foot on each. Grass has give, depending on the condition of the field, where as the new field turf provides a consistent grippable surface for a kicker's plant foot - even when wet! That is of paramount importance for a Kicker who is going full-bore into his kick and never has to be concerned with slipping - He can go all out. So the new field-turf fields provide the kickers with optimum conditions, regardless of the weather. Pay attention to late-season games on grass fields in LA, Denver, Washington, Pittsburgh, Kansas City, where sometimes kickers have to make some adjustments for beat up surfaces. You'll see the kickers and holders look for a good surface for the placement. And in end-game situations savvy coaches will have the prior play end at the hash or middle where the kicker prefers it.
Probably the worst current scenario for an NFL kicker is kicking off the infield dirt in Oakland, a remnant of what used to be commonplace in Miami, San Francisco, Anaheim, San Diego, and the old Met & Shea Stadiums, etc...
Probably even more important than how the kicker sees the ball placement differently on the surfaces, is the grip of the plant foot on each. Grass has give, depending on the condition of the field, where as the new field turf provides a consistent grippable surface for a kicker's plant foot - even when wet! That is of paramount importance for a Kicker who is going full-bore into his kick and never has to be concerned with slipping - He can go all out. So the new field-turf fields provide the kickers with optimum conditions, regardless of the weather. Pay attention to late-season games on grass fields in LA, Denver, Washington, Pittsburgh, Kansas City, where sometimes kickers have to make some adjustments for beat up surfaces. You'll see the kickers and holders look for a good surface for the placement. And in end-game situations savvy coaches will have the prior play end at the hash or middle where the kicker prefers it.
Probably the worst current scenario for an NFL kicker is kicking off the infield dirt in Oakland, a remnant of what used to be commonplace in Miami, San Francisco, Anaheim, San Diego, and the old Met & Shea Stadiums, etc...
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JohnTurney
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Re: kicking on turf vs grass outside?
bachslunch wrote:Question: is it considered an advantage one way or the other to be a PK outside on grass vs. outside on turf? Recently saw a post elsewhere that suggests there is for turf kickers, but I'm not sure about that.
Thanks for your thoughts.
Pro Football Reference has splits for indoor and outdoor, but not for turf and grass. They also have breaks downs by month and other stuff for all kickers...
here is Morten A
https://www.pro-football-reference.com/ ... 01/splits/