The tips below assume a right-footed player curling the ball from right to left with the inside of the foot (the classic far-post free kick). Left-footers: mirror everything.
Part 1: On the pitch
1. Strike off-centre
Spin comes from hitting the ball away from its middle. To curl it right to left, strike the lower right part of the ball (as you look at it) with the inside of your foot, around the big-toe joint. Hitting dead centre gives you a straight, knuckling shot; the further off-centre, the more spin, but the less power.
2. Approach from an angle
Start your run-up a few steps back and to the side, at roughly 30–45 degrees to the line of the shot. The angle lets your leg swing across the ball, which is what puts the spin on it. A straight run-up makes curl much harder.
3. Plant foot beside, slightly behind
Put your standing foot a little to the side of and slightly behind the ball, pointing roughly where you want the ball to start (not where it will end up). Too close and you can't swing through; too far ahead and you'll scuff it into the ground.
4. Lean back a touch for height
To get over a wall roughly 10 yards (9.15 m) away, lean back slightly and strike a little below the ball's equator. Leaning back too far sends it into the stand; staying over the ball keeps it low.
5. Wrap the foot and follow through across your body
Keep your ankle locked and let your foot "wrap" around the side of the ball, then finish with your kicking leg swinging across your body toward your left. A short, stabbing follow-through kills the spin.
6. Aim outside the target
Because the ball bends, you have to start it outside where you want it to finish: just outside the end of the wall or beyond the post. Learning how much to aim off is the whole skill, and it only comes from repetition.
7. Pick your side
The keeper usually guards the side not covered by the wall. Bending it around the wall toward the far post is the higher-percentage shot; going over the wall at the keeper's side is the surprise option.
8. Practise with a target
Put a cone or a bag where the wall would be and a marker in the top corner. Take 10 shots from the same spot, adjust only one thing at a time (contact point, lean, or follow-through), then move the ball and repeat. Practise with your weaker foot too.
9. Mind the conditions
A wet ball skids off the foot and spins less; wind pushes a slow, spinning ball much more than a fast one. Into the wind, hit it a little harder and flatter.
Safety note
Warm up before practising, especially your hips and the groin muscles that drive a curling strike. Many repetitions of a full-power kick on cold muscles is a common way to pull something.
Part 2: Curling free kicks in Efectazo
In the game your swipe stands in for your foot. The same ideas apply:
| On the pitch | In Efectazo |
|---|---|
| Strike off-centre for spin | Swipe in an arc: the bigger the curve, the more spin |
| Start the ball outside the target | The start of your swipe sets the initial direction, so aim it outside the post or wall |
| Lean back for height | Swipe further up the screen for a higher shot |
| Strike harder to beat the keeper | Swipe faster for more power (but less time for the curl to take effect) |
| Wind pushes the ball | From around career level 15, check the wind indicator and aim against it |
Common mistakes in the game
- Swiping too fast with a big arc: a very fast shot reaches the goal before the curl has bent it back, so it misses wide. Slow down slightly.
- Too short a swipe: the ball doesn't rise and smacks into the wall.
- Same shot every time: later-level keepers read curl better. Mix far-post benders with near-post shots over the wall.
Try it now: the first levels have no wall, so you can learn how much the ball bends before defenders arrive.
FAQ
Which part of the ball do you hit to curl a free kick?
For a right-footer curling right to left, strike the lower right part of the ball with the inside of the foot, then follow through across your body.
How far is the wall at a free kick?
Under the Laws of the Game the defending wall must be at least 9.15 m (10 yards) from the ball until it is in play.
How do you curl the ball in Efectazo?
Swipe in an arc. The start of the swipe sets direction, the arc sets curl, the length sets height and the speed sets power.
Ready to bend one top corner?
Efectazo runs right here in your browser. One swipe and you're taking free kicks.
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