Beauden’s kicking stats - is it the ball?
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An inconvenient truth - The astounding difference in Beauden Barrett's goal kicking percentage based on ball brand
In exploring a left-field explanation for his up-and-down results, we looked at his goal-kicking statistics when considering the type of ball used and found an astounding difference.
Obviously doesn’t into account the difference in the difficulty of the kicks/weather/etc but I thought these were interesting stats.
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An inconvenient truth - The astounding difference in Beauden Barrett's goal kicking percentage based on ball brand
In exploring a left-field explanation for his up-and-down results, we looked at his goal-kicking statistics when considering the type of ball used and found an astounding difference.
The sample size is greater for the Gilbert in 2018, but there are enough home games with the Adidas ball to derive some conclusions. When using the Gilbert this year, Beauden Barrett has a world-class 81.8% goal-kicking success rate compared with a miserable 54.5% success rate with the Adidas ball.
Can someone tally the stats on a per-match basis, then compile ANOVA tests for each year and overall?
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He's a professional. Practice with all types of balls.
Solved.
Perhaps I should be taken on as the NZ 'Common Sense' Coach.
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@mikethesnow said in Beauden’s kicking stats - is it the ball?:
He's a professional. Practice with all types of balls.
Solved.
Perhaps I should be taken on as the NZ 'Common Sense' Coach.
Perhaps. I’m sure he does, although Super Rugby is a Gilbert ball so he’ll have much more practice with that ball.
The interesting question is do other kickers have a similar drop?
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It isn't simply a matter of practising with both balls. The balls themselves react slightly differently to the same style of kick. You would either have to change your one style to work on both or have different style for different balls.
It comes down to a couple of factors with the ball. One is slight shape variations which alter the sweet spot, the other is the aerodynamics from shape and grip dot pattern.
Some kickers have a very precise style that relies on doing the same motion and aim every time so if the ball they are kicking has a different 'need' to optimum strike then they have to find whether they can meet that need in the setup.
Another big difference is the tee. When trying to find a method that may work best with both balls it can potentially be achieved with a slight adjustment in ball presentation on the tee.That stats in that article look to highlight that BBs style does not suit the adidas ball which isn't hugely surprising as adidas balls in other sports have also attracted criticism regarding flight from some players. BBs style is also to kick the ball very low on the point (avoiding the traditional 'sweet spot'). Any flight variation is hugely noticeable with this style.
I have watched him closely over the last few years try different things to get better. He has changed tee from the one in the pic above to this golf tee style
He has experiment with using less force, stabbing low and also getting under the ball more.
The big trick is establishing a repeatable method that suits not only any ball being used but underfoot conditions (the plant foot is critical) and has predictable behaviour with various wind conditions. For some kickers, their natural style works, for others they have to decide on the one or various method approach.PS: my self proclaimed knowledge in this area was gained through hours and hours honing my son's technique as he was his team's kicker from age 5 right through his school years and he took an approach like perfecting a cricket shot.
I myself was a toe hacker with limited success. -
Still to little data to truly draw a conclusion but lets say it is the case (or at least if Barrett feels it is the case)...
Surely at that point you want Jordie or D Mac to do the goal kicking during the abridged home season next year and just let Beauden kick with the Gilbert for a year straight leading into RWC.
Still not convinced, we haven't seen overseas kickers with even less experience with the Adidas ball soil themselves when they come to NZ nor have any of our previous kickers had the same issues.
Oh and while we are at it bring back the neon yellow balls from '99.
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@rotated said in Beauden’s kicking stats - is it the ball?:
Still to little data to truly draw a conclusion but lets say it is the case (or at least if Barrett feels it is the case)...
Surely at that point you want Jordie or D Mac to do the goal kicking during the abridged home season next year and just let Beauden kick with the Gilbert for a year straight leading into RWC.
Still not convinced, we haven't seen overseas kickers with even less experience with the Adidas ball soil themselves when they come to NZ nor have any of our previous kickers had the same issues.
Oh and while we are at it bring back the neon yellow balls from '99.
The lemon? Fuck no! That thing randomly jumped sideways in flight like it was hitting air pockets. IIRC it performed amazingly for distance when spiral kicked though.
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@rotated said in Beauden’s kicking stats - is it the ball?:
Still to little data to truly draw a conclusion but lets say it is the case (or at least if Barrett feels it is the case)...
Surely at that point you want Jordie or D Mac to do the goal kicking during the abridged home season next year and just let Beauden kick with the Gilbert for a year straight leading into RWC.
Still not convinced, we haven't seen overseas kickers with even less experience with the Adidas ball soil themselves when they come to NZ nor have any of our previous kickers had the same issues.
Oh and while we are at it bring back the neon yellow balls from '99.
That colour was awesome for TV, now with players sometimes in white boots/headgear or even with strapping it can be hard to spot the ball in a ruck sometimes.
Or I'm just old.
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Makes sense given that he kicks like shit during the home season then barely misses in the NH tour.
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