The Stutter Penalty Technique: A Questionable Advantage?

During the recent World Cup, one of the most striking aspects of penalty kicks has been the ‘stutter’ technique employed by several players. This involves a brief pause or hesitation in the run-up to the ball, often accompanied by a glance at the goalkeeper. The question on everyone’s mind is: does this technique truly provide an advantage, or is it simply a psychological ploy?

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One of the most high-profile instances of a stutter penalty miss was Kylian Mbappe’s failed attempt against Morocco. The French captain stuttered in his run-up, looked up at goalkeeper Yassine Bounou, and saw his tame penalty easily saved. However, Mbappe made amends later in the game with a sensational curling effort, and his earlier blunder was largely forgotten.

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But Mbappe’s penalty miss raises an interesting question: is it time for players to abandon the stutter technique? According to FIFA rules, a player is allowed to stop or feint during the run-up as long as they don’t do it directly before kicking the ball. However, this has led to a number of high-profile misses, with several players, including Mbappe, missing penalties after stuttering in the run-up.

So, is the stutter technique a reliable way to gain an advantage, or is it simply a recipe for disaster? The statistics suggest that players who use the stutter technique are less likely to score. In the list of things football traditionalists hate about the modern game, stuttering run-ups are high up alongside players wearing gloves with short sleeve shirts, diving, and of course, the video assistant referee (VAR).

According to the data, 11 out of 26 stutter penalties taken during this World Cup have not been scored, which leads to a conversion rate of 57%. In contrast, 24 out of 35 non-stutter penalties taken have been scored, a conversion rate of 68%. It’s clear that players who abandon the stutter technique are more likely to score.

So, why do players continue to use the stutter technique? According to former Scotland winger Pat Nevin, it’s all about the goalkeepers. ‘If your keeper goes the right way, you must hit the side netting with pace, even then it still might be saved,’ he said. ‘A very good penalty is no longer a certainty, so you have to re-think it. I need to make sure he goes the wrong way, hence the stutter, you try to send them the wrong way.’

However, Nevin also notes that goalkeepers have the data, and they know what players are likely to do. ‘There is a constant running battle to figure out how you get the advantage,’ he said. ‘Mbappe knows what his advantage is: preparation. He has a set up [placing the ball before taking the penalty], he went through it twice today but problem is that he had to go through it three times, and the third time [he missed].’

Despite the statistics, many players continue to use the stutter technique. Marko Arnautovic, Raul Jimenez, Neymar, Mbappe, Cristiano Ronaldo, Yoane Wissa, and Kai Havertz have all used the technique successfully. However, with the conversion rates as they are, it’s clear that the stutter technique is no longer a reliable way to gain an advantage.

In fact, the stutter technique has become a double-edged sword. While it may provide a psychological advantage for some players, it can also backfire spectacularly if the goalkeeper doesn’t commit to diving early. As French football journalist Julien Laurens noted, ‘Mbappe’s failure to score was down to the breakdown of his usual routine and it is just a terrible penalty.’

Laurens added, ‘Routines are so important in football. That clearly distracted Mbappe. I thought he went very quickly once he was given the go-ahead.’

So, is it time for players to abandon the stutter technique? With the statistics as they are, it’s clear that players who abandon the stutter technique are more likely to score. Perhaps it’s time for players to re-think their approach to penalty kicks and leave the stutter technique in the past.

In the meantime, goalkeepers will continue to study the data and try to outsmart their opponents. As Pat Nevin noted, ‘There is an arms race going on. It is definitely harder to score a penalty now. The reason being, the goalkeepers are bigger now, more athletic.’

As the World Cup continues, one thing is certain: the stutter technique is no longer a reliable way to gain an advantage. It’s time for players to re-think their approach to penalty kicks and leave the stutter technique in the past.