A drop punt is the Australian rules football kick made by dropping the ball onto the foot without spinning it end over end.
The player holds the football vertically and releases it so that the ball strikes the boot shortly after being dropped. This produces a relatively predictable flight and bounce, making the kick useful for passing, set shots and kick-ins.
The drop punt became a central skill in modern Australian rules football because players can control its distance and direction more reliably than many older kicking methods. It is especially associated with the distinctive oval football used in the sport.
The term is sometimes confused with a drop kick. In a drop kick, the ball is dropped and allowed to bounce before being kicked; in a drop punt, the foot contacts the ball directly after the release.