How to improve your shot in football?

When I'm on a football pitch, I notice the same thing in a lot of people - they get to goal with space to shoot but then waste it. The problem almost always comes down to two things: your approach and contact with the ball. In most cases the standing foot ends up either too far away or too close to the ball, and that kills all your stability. You've got to make sure that when you shoot, that foot is planted firmly, parallel to the goal line, and at a distance that gives you natural swing.

The technique itself is simple but it needs repetition. Your whole body has to be pointing at goal - shoulders, hips, everything aligned - not just your leg. A lot of people only move their leg and then act shocked because the ball goes wide. Contact with the ball has to be slightly in front of your body, with the instep (the area between the top of your foot and your toes), and your eyes have to stay on the target even after you've shot. There are people who stare so much at the goalkeeper that they end up looking up and the ball flies off to the side.

What really makes the difference is practice without pressure. Train alone by the goal, take shots from different angles and distances, always with the same routine: approach, standing foot well placed, body turned to the target, clean contact. Then when you're in a match and anxiety kicks in, your body already has the movement's memory. And try not to think too much at the moment - the calmer you can stay when you shoot, the better the result.

I disagree that it's mainly anxiety - you're missing more because you're probably looking at the goal too much the moment you shoot instead of keeping your eye on the ball and your supporting foot. Try making stationary shots first, always with your supporting foot well planted and your knee slightly bent, to gain stability and control. After you get comfortable with that, take it into training during movement - run, receive the ball, take two steps and shoot with the same mechanics, without losing focus on the contact. Your accuracy improves really quickly once you nail down that basic movement.

Don't just keep kicking away hoping it works out - that'll only frustrate you more. What actually works is practicing your shot while moving, like receiving the ball while you're running, because in a match you're never gonna be standing still with unlimited time. Plus, pay attention to your support foot (the one on the ground) - the closer it is to the ball, the more control you have. And there's something nobody mentioned: practicing under pressure. Set a timer, like 30 seconds, and try to land as many shots as you can - when your body's moving fast, you learn to nail it without overthinking.