punt vs field goal?

Question

Why in football is the legnth of a punt measured from the line of scrimmage but the legnth of a field goal measured from the spot of the kick?

Answer 1

field goals are measured from the placement of the football on the kick to the goal posts. if the ball is placed on the 30, then that is a 47 yard FG, because the ball must travel at least 47 yards in order to be good. punts are measured from the line of scrimmage because the key stat here is not how far the punter punts the ball .... but rather, what the difference is in field position after the kick. in other words, if the ball is at midfield and the punter drops it out of bounds at the 5, the difference in field position is 45 yards, who gives a crap where the punter was standing when he kicked it? the fact of the matter is that the ball is now 45 yards further down the field.

incorrect michael - if the ball is at the 50 on a punt and the punter drops the snap onto the ground but still gets the punt off and it goes out at the 5, its a 45 yard punt .... it is not measured from where the punter picks the ball up, i guess there goes your ball on the ground theory, huh? POOF.

Answer 2

I'd suppose it's because a punt is important in how many yards it pushes the opponent back while a field goal is only important in reference to the game by if it can net the points the team wants.

Answer 3

It is where the ball last hits the ground. The punt does not hit the ground before it is kicked while the field goal is spotted on the ground before the kick. So the kick is measured from the last spot the ball hit the ground.

Answer 4

Dawgmeat pretty much got it right.