Topic: Euro / Front toe shot-- How is it done?

[rradjabi]

The subject says it all. I've heard of this shot, and I've even seen it in a few videos, but I can't understand how the shot is done. Can someone give a good description of it for me, please?

[grandmaster]

 Let's back up a little, say to 1961. A guy named Adrian Hoines in Mitchell SD starts fooling around with foosball. Eventually the ball gets trapped or "pinned" by the heel (not the toe) and he pulls on top of the ball to roll it sideways and then whack it towards goal using the Costa Rican Rollshot. Bingo, the front pin pullshot was born. Now let's move forward to the 1970's when Jim Zellick from Montana went to Europe as the Demo Team forward for Tournament Soccer. Big "Red" Zellick blew everyone away with the front pin pull shot. Rumour had it at the time that no one ever blocked his long in  Europe. Jim had a scary shot that made a big noise. Does this sound familiar? Is the famed Euro pin really Red Zellick's big boomer reprised? I believe it is. As for how it's done, all pins start with the ball trapped between the man and the surface. Friction grip the ball and roll it sideways and let'r have it. Any questions?

[rradjabi]

Is it different from the Rollover because you don't actually roll the rod? Instead you recoil and shoot?

[grandmaster]

I don't call it "recoil off" the ball. You grab the top of the ball with the back of the foot. That's what a front pin set is. In order to move the ball either way you must pull or push the bar whilst applying the correct amount of tension or trapping force downward on the ball so as to have enough friction to move the ball sideways. Once you impart a lateral motion to the ball release the downward tension, come around behind the ball in order to strike it in,and BLAST it! Keep in mind there are three ways in the modern game to BLAST it. The rollover, the wrist and the roll are the three strokes in use in the modern game to propell the ball to the right so as to score a goal. Any of these can be used with the FRONT PIN HEEL set shot. Are you familar with all three? Can you execute all three on a ball standing still? Then go on to shots in motion with more complexity. A very usefull thing to have is a real soccer ball. Try some of these things for real with a soccer ball. Actually place the ball in front of you and place your heel on it. Roll it sideways and try to kick it so as to score on a real goalie. This exercise should help one understand how to do it on the table soccer table.