NFL Field Goal Ballistics & Clutch Trajectory Lab

Kick Configuration

LOS & Holder Setup

Iconic Clutch Presets

FG Distance (Yards) 65 yds (Line of Scrimmage: Opp 47)

Ball spotted 7 yards behind line of scrimmage + 10 yds endzone.

Spot Alignment (NFL Hashes: 18'6" apart)

Launch Exit Speed (mph) 84.5 mph (124.0 ft/s)

Launch Elevation Angle (deg) 32.5°

Must exceed ~31° to clear 10.5 ft rush penetration 7 yds downfield.

Strike Azimuth (Push / Pull Angle) 0.6° Left

Crosswind (mph) 3.0 mph R → L

Headwind (-) / Tailwind (+) +4.0 mph Tailwind

Stadium Altitude / Air Density Sea Level (1.225 kg/m³)

FLIGHT TIME: 2.38s

APEX: 48.2 FT (LOS +7Y: 11.4 FT)

← WIND: 3.0 MPH R→L | +4.0 MPH TAIL

Crossbar Clearance +3.4 ft Crossbar height: 10.0 ft

Horizontal Margin L +2.1 ft Uprights span: 18.5 ft

LOS Block Clearance +0.9 ft Rush jump ceiling: 10.5 ft

Carry Distance 67.2 yds Arrival vel: 46.1 mph

Simulation computed with 4th-order aerodynamic drag and crosswind drift. Ready

Physics Assumptions & NFL Next Gen Stats Standards

Uprights & Hash Marks: In the NFL, goalpost uprights are exactly 18 feet 6 inches wide (6.17 yards / 5.64 meters) with a 10-foot crossbar. NFL hash marks are also spaced exactly 18 feet 6 inches apart, aligning directly with each upright.

Rush Penetration & Trajectory Angle: The field goal unit spots the ball 7 yards behind the line of scrimmage (LOS). Defensive interior rushers leap up to ~10.5 ft with hands raised at the LOS. A launch elevation below ~30.5° risks a tipped ball at the 7-yard mark.

Aerodynamics: End-over-end kicked footballs experience an average drag coefficient of $C_d \approx 0.38$ with tumbling air resistance, magnified or reduced by local atmospheric density (Denver ~1.01 kg/m³ vs Sea Level ~1.225 kg/m³).