Free kicks are quite easy to score in FIFA 10, and much easier to practice with the new Practice Mode. It's easy to get the hang of close range free kicks, but ones from distance can be a bit tricky. Believe it or not, you'll only really need to know two methods of free kicks, but this article will also go more in-depth about other, less effective methods.

 

Dipping Free Kick (18-27 yards out)

The dipping free kick is useful for all close range free kicks. The stats you want to pay attention to when selecting your kick taker are Free Kick Accuracy and Curve, and also keep in mind that too much power can hurt you. Also notice that in FIFA 10, you can easily select your kick taker in-game by holding RT for Xbox or R2 for Playstation. Basically, the dipping free kick method is when you shoot over the wall, aiming for the far post not covered by the keeper, and apply enough dip for it to drop into the goal. Shooting regularly with no dip will make it nearly impossible to get over the wall without also hitting it over the net too. See the table below for information on aiming.

 

Preferred Foot of Kick-Taker Position of Wall and Goalkeeper Where to Aim
Right Wall: Right, Goalkeeper Left Aim towards the top right corner, maybe even a little bit to the right where it looks like it would hit the post.
Right Wall: Left, Goalkeeper: Right Aim just above the head of the last man in the left side of the wall, maybe a little bit to the right of his head.
Left Wall: Right, Goalkeeper: Left Aim just above the head of the last man in the right side of the wall, maybe a little bit to the left of his head.
Left Wall: Left, Goalkeeper: Right Aim towards the top left corner, maybe even a little bit to the left where it looks like it would hit the post.

 

Power Bar for Dipping Free Kicks:

 

Driven Curled Free Kick (27+ yards out)

The driven free kick is useful when taking a long distance shot from the free kick. Unlike FIFA 09, it is near impossible to hit a driven shot just over the wall and expect it to also go into the net, it will likely continue to rise over the net if you do manage to get enough power to beat the wall. And obviously, because we are shooting from a long distance, a more powerful driven shot would help. The good news is that in FIFA 10, you can now take a driven free kick and give your shot a considerable amount of curve too. Choose a free kick taker with high Power and Curve stats, and obviously Free Kick accuracy will help. If the wall is to the right and the goalkeeper is covering the left side of the goal, choose a right footed player and vice versa. Aim as close as possible to the side of the wall without hitting the wall. Power up your Power Meter to just where it has a tiny bit of yellow, and you can manage with a little more or less. Apply curve so that it bends around the wall.

Power Bar for Driven Curled Free Kicks:


 

Alternate Free Kicks

Although you really don't need to know how do these free kicks, they are nice to know for the curious FIFA player. The three that I will cover are the Curved Free Kick, and the two types of lay-off man shots.

 

Curved Free Kick (18-25 yards out)

Free kicks in FIFA 10 get curve curve that it is possible to curve around wall instead of over. This only works if you are a right footed player and the keeper is covering the left side of the goal, and vice versa. When choosing your kick taker for this method, pay attention to the Curve and Free Kick Accuracy stats. In terms of power, you should almost be tapping the shoot button, if you have any yellow then it probably will go over, but you might be able to manage with a tiny bit of yellow if you are close to 25 yards out. Use the left analog stick to apply curve.

 

2nd Man Driven Curled Free Kick (18-23 yards out)

I'd say that title is a bit lengthy, but it gets the point across! This one is actually quite useful when shooting from a close range. Hold down LT on Xbox or L2 on Playstation to call up the lay-off man. If you have the free kick from the left side of the goal and the keeper is covering the right side, your lay-off man will be right footed, and vice versa.

For aiming, I'm going to use right footed as the example, if shooting with a left footed player from the other side, just apply the same method, just switch the sides on everything. Aim just to the right of the goal, as close as possible without hitting the wall with the shot. Hold down both LT and LB for Xbox or L2 and L1 for Playstation, and power up the shot with a small amount of yellow, but not too much, and push the left analog stick left to apply the left curve. This should produce a low shot that curves away from the goalkeeper.

Power Bar for 2nd Man Driven Curled Free Kicks:

Don't be surprised if he gets a hand on it but just bats it into the goal, this is actually very common for this method. This method also works with the regular free kick taker, but I've found that it is far more effective with the lay-off man, somewhat surprisingly.

 

2nd Man Dipping Free Kick

This one is quite tough to pull off. Hold down LT on Xbox or L2 on Playstation to call up the lay-off man. Apply the same principles you used in the regular Dipping Free Kick, but hold down LT or L2 for Xbox or Playstation respectively as you power up for the shot to designate the lay-off man take the shot.

 

Practicing Free Kicks

A new feature of FIFA 10 that provides an excellent way to hone your free kick skills is the Practice mode. You can practice each of the free kicks listed above in Practice Mode, from all different distances until you get used to the power, aiming, etc. If you spend a good amount of time practicing these free kicks, you take advantage of the plentiful opportunities to score offered from free kicks during actual games. Click here for more information on the Practice Mode.

 

FIFA Version: 
Label(s):