How to Bend a Soccer Ball

Co-authored by Walter Merino

Last Updated: May 11, 2022 Approved

Amaze your teammates as you perform a feat of soccer magic! Watch the ball literally change direction in mid-flight. It is easiest to learn this technique with a stationary ball, for example, in a free kick position, although skilled soccer players can strike a bending ball even while in motion. If you want to master this essential soccer skill, look no further.

Method 1

Method 1 of 2:

Bending with the Inside of Your Foot

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1
Take your approach at a slight angle from the ball.^{[1]
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Expert Source

Walter Merino
Soccer Coach

Expert Interview. 29 January 2020.} Approach the ball as you would normally, except prepare to hit the ball with the inside of your striking foot.
- Generally, your body alignment will not be facing the goal. If you're kicking the ball with your inside right foot, your body will be faced slightly to the right of the target. If you're kicking the ball with your inside left foot, your body will be faced slightly to the left of the target.
Your plant foot is the foot that you aren't kicking with, the foot that will be the anchor to your kicking foot. Plant your non-kicking foot facing slightly towards the direction of the initial bend, so that when you strike the ball with the inside of your foot, both feet are almost parallel(~.3 m) away. Place it far enough away so that you can easily hit the ball with the inside of your foot, but close enough so that you don't have to strain to get there, taking power away from your shot.

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You're moving through the ball, and your body is curving slightly as it kicks the ball. Keeping your plant-side hand out and up while you kick will help add power to your shot and give you balance on the follow-through.
4
Hit the ball with the inside of your foot.^{[2]
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Expert Source

Walter Merino
Soccer Coach

Expert Interview. 29 January 2020.} This is just where your toe ends and your foot begins. The ball will roll back along the inside of your foot. You should be striking the ball in the bottom left corner if you're shooting the ball with your right foot.
- Look at the ball straight on as if it were a circle and imagine a cross (+) across the center of it. For a right-footed strike, hit the bottom right quadrant of the ball. For a left-footed strike, hit the bottom left quadrant of the ball.
This foot should still be pointing down. Keep it balanced and firm with the help of your arms.
Try to bring your kicking leg across your body, so that you exaggerate the outside-inside swinging motion and are sure to follow through with your kick.^{[3]
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Expert Source

Walter Merino
Soccer Coach

Expert Interview. 29 January 2020.}
7
Strike from under the ball to lift it. If you want lift on your ball, strike it from underneath it. There should be sufficient lift to take the ball up and over the wall. As your foot comes across and around, you create ball spin, which will make the ball bend and dip! You can increase the height at which the ball rises by leaning your shoulders back during contact. Remember to put enough spin and dip on it to bring it goal-wards again.
- Lean back if you want the ball to go up or lean forward if you want to curl the ball downwards. This technique can be performed using any kick with the same results.

Method 2

Method 2 of 2:

Bending with the Outside of your Foot

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For a right-footed kick, this means approaching the ball and aiming just to the left of your target.
2
Place your plant foot correctly. Aim your plant foot to the left of your target. Your plant foot is going to be farther back and farther away from the wall than you would be trying and inside-bend shot.
- Keep your plant foot stationary as you prepare to kick the ball and then eventually kick it. Moving your plant foot will interfere with the continuous motion of your kicking foot, leeching power from your shot.
Again, having a hand out for support and balance is important here. Your hand doesn't need to be all the way up in the air but it shouldn't be completely on the side of your body.
Bring your striking foot across your body as you do this. If you're putting a cross (+) on the ball and you're approaching to hit with the right foot, you're going to want to hit the bottom middle, or bottom left, of the ball.
5
Follow through by swinging your kicking leg across your body. You do this much like you would on an inside bend kick. The motion is similar, but the results are different because you're striking the ball with the outside of your foot.
- Right-footed players are trying to get the ball to spin clockwise by hitting it on the outside of their foot and then moving the foot left, across their body.
- Left-footed players are trying to get the ball to spin counter-clockwise by hitting it on the outside of their foot and then moving the foot right, across their body.

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How do you curve a soccer ball?

Walter Merino
Soccer Coach
Walter Merino is a Youth Soccer Coach and Co-Founder of Ole Soccer Club based out of the Los Angeles, California area. He has coached youth from the age of four to the high school and college levels. Walter has played collegiate soccer for Cal Poly Pomona and Los Angeles Mission College. His accomplishments include coaching Olé Soccer Club to win the 2017 Cal South State Cup Governors Boys 2007 Division title.

Walter Merino

Soccer Coach

Expert Answer

Try to start practice hitting passes using the internal part of your foot. Make sure to curve your legs, as the movement is all about your body and your follow through. As you're hitting the ball, try to swing your body in the shape of a J. The more you practice that, the more you will be able to manipulate the ball to curve certain ways.

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Question

What if you slice the ball on the outside, but you don't get enough power?

Misty Benson
Soccer Coach
Misty Benson is a Soccer Coach and Academic Specialist in Plano, Texas. She has been the head coach of high school soccer teams since 2003 and the Coordinator for US Soccer National Teams since 2013. She has a Master’s Degree in Educational Administration from Texas A&M-Commerce.

Misty Benson

Soccer Coach

Expert Answer

You have to build up to power. Work on the correct technique first and then focus on building power in your kick.

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Question

I've been practising spinning the ball with the outside of my foot for weeks now, however no matter how hard I try I always toe-hack the ball with terrible accuracy. What am I doing wrong?

Misty Benson
Soccer Coach
Misty Benson is a Soccer Coach and Academic Specialist in Plano, Texas. She has been the head coach of high school soccer teams since 2003 and the Coordinator for US Soccer National Teams since 2013. She has a Master’s Degree in Educational Administration from Texas A&M-Commerce.

Misty Benson

Soccer Coach

Expert Answer

It sounds like you are using the wrong part of your foot. For this kick, you should not be "toe punching," instead use either the inside or outside of your foot, not your laces.

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Tips

Perfect the technique first and then work on power and speed.

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Always follow through with your foot as it's essential to getting the right accuracy and power. Once you get better, you won't have to lift your foot that much.

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While shooting the ball, lean your body backwards to create top spin on the ball and clear the wall easily.

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Warnings

A proper follow through is needed to bend the ball.

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Helpful 51 Not Helpful 7
Wear cleats for better traction on the grass.

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Be sure to warm up and stretch before doing any exercises.

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