Field goals and timeouts (NFL)

Very true. But on the flip side, pros miss free throws relatively often, so it isn’t like they have the distance and arc perfected. I’m guessing at least a few of them would want a chance to “find their range”.

Conditions can and do change.

And yet with those flags on the poles and the warmup/practice the kickers had before the game, the first kick was still missed by about 20 yards or more. Later in the game the kicks were far closer. The more game situation practice they had, the closer they came to making the field goals.

The first part I’ll grant you, but the second not so much. If I thought giving my kicker a practice shot gave me the best chance of winning, I wouldn’t think twice about the injury risk. So the question is still if the practice kick is a benefit to making the kick and by how much.

I do understand your points, though.