Factores biomecánicos que determinan el éxito en el tiro penal de fútbol: Una revisión sistemática

Abstract

The objective of this systematic review was to identify the biomechanical factors that determine success in the football penalty kick. A systematic review was conducted following the PRISMA guidelines. A search was performed in the Scopus and Web of Science databases up to august 2025. The process included duplicate removal, screening by title and abstract, and a full-text review of eligible articles to determine their final inclusion. From 210 initial records, seven empirical studies were included. The narrative analysis revealed three key findings: 1) The stability and kinematics of the support leg (e.g., knee angle) are significantly correlated with shot accuracy. 2) The kicker's kinematics (e.g., pelvic rotation, foot angle) provide reliable predictors for the lateral direction of the shot but are notably ineffective in predicting its height. 3) The execution is constrained by a critical temporal threshold of approximately 245 ms, which represents the point of no return for a kicker to modify their motor plan in response to the goalkeeper's action. No studies reporting kinetic variables were identified. Success in the penalty kick does not depend on an isolated biomechanical factor but on a complex interplay between the stabilizing platform (support leg), the predictive kinematic patterns of the execution, and severe temporal constraints. These findings challenge the exclusive reliance on the kicking leg and suggest a more holistic and evidence-based training approach.