Taeku Taeku Football Kick Trainer – adjustable waist practice belt for solo ball control
Reviews
Product description
What it is and why people buy it
The Taeku Football Kick Trainer is a solo-training aid designed to help you keep the ball under control without needing a partner to constantly pass it back. You wear the adjustable waist belt, attach the elastic cord, and the setup creates a controlled way for the ball to return as you practise kicking, striking, passing, trapping and even juggling.
On paper, the appeal is simple: it reduces the “chasing the ball” problem that comes with freestyle reps and many basic solo drills. Instead of having to run after every rebound, the elastic return keeps the session moving, so you can repeat the same movement pattern and work on touch.
The essentials: adjustment and ball return behaviour
A big part of the design is the adjustable elastic cord. The cord can stretch up to 5m, and the seller specifies different target settings depending on what you’re training. For shooting practice, you’re meant to set the elastic to 2m at rest, for ball control work, adjust to 1m at rest. That’s a clear, practical way to shift how quickly and how far the ball can come back.
The waist strap itself is also adjustable, with a stated range of 56cm–78cm. If you’ve ever struggled to get training gear to sit comfortably and consistently, this range matters because it’s directly linked to how stable the belt feels while you move.
There’s also mention of the belt band design using four nylon bands, with two of them described as adjustable for elasticity. The idea is that you can fine-tune the stretch rather than leaving everything to the cord alone.
What you can practise (and a realistic mini session)
The Taeku belt is positioned for individual practice across several skills: shooting, striking, passing, trapping, juggling and launching the ball. In practical terms, it can be useful for drills like:
- Set your elastic to the control setting, start with easier first touches, then kick gently so the ball returns predictably.
- Move your receiving position slightly left and right, so your control improves under mild variation.
It’s also described as suitable for football as well as other ball types such as volleyball and rugby, which broadens the “use it for more than one sport” appeal.
Where it fits best (and where it may not)
This is aimed at solo sessions, so if your training plan relies heavily on partner drills or team tactics, you may still need other training formats. Also, while the product is said to be usable indoors and outdoors, the description comes with a caveat: it’s not recommended to train indoors at home, jokingly framed as “you’ll be considered a nuisance”. That’s not a technical spec, but it’s a pretty strong hint about noise, movement and general space requirements.
Another limitation to keep in mind: it “flexibly” suits ball sizes 3, 4 and 5, but the cord and belt settings will still change how the ball behaves. If you want perfectly repeatable returns every time, you may need a bit of trial-and-error to find the exact elastic and belt tension that suits your space and your kicking power.
Tech summary (only what’s stated)
Technical details
- Elastic cord stretch: up to 5m
- Elastic settings at rest: 2m (shooting) and 1m (ball control)
- Waist strap adjustment range: 56cm–78cm
- Belt construction: 4 nylon bands, with two described as adjustable for elasticity
- Suggested ball sizes: football size 3, 4 and 5
- Also mentioned as suitable for: volleyball and rugby
Should you buy it?
A solid pick if you want to practise football touches and kicks on your own, especially if you’re tired of retrieving balls constantly during reps. It makes sense if you like the idea of adjusting the elastic length to match the session (control vs shooting) and you can work with the setup in an outdoor space.
It might not suit you if you only have indoor space at home and you’re likely to worry about disruptions. It may also be a less attractive choice if you mainly train with a partner or you expect a “set-and-forget” training return without any adjustment.
If you prioritise quick, repeatable solo ball touches and you’re happy to tune the elastic length and belt tension as you go, this is the type of training aid that can earn its place.
FAQs
Quick questions before you commit
Is it designed for solo practice? Yes. The whole setup is described as suitable for individual training so you can work skills like control, passing, kicking and juggling without a partner.
What elastic setting should I use for ball control? The description suggests adjusting to 1m at rest for ball control.
Will it fit different body sizes? It’s adjustable at the waist strap level, with a stated range of 56cm–78cm.
Can I use it with different ball sports? It’s stated as suitable for football balls sized 3, 4 and 5, and also mentioned for volleyball and rugby.
Is indoor use at home recommended? It can be used indoors in general, but the description specifically warns against training at home, implying space/noise concerns.