Talking Point - Ronaldo's free kick

[Bryanmufc]

Yes I know its 1 out of a 100 but its still a good talking point.
- Did he mean to do it?
- Was it Andy Gray's theory( low air pressure in ball )
- And anything else.

[Motterman]

It was the best one I've ever seen him it.

Of course, this one wasn't that long after him ballooning the first one, and then the one after the goal that went straight into the wall....

[Achtung]

It wasn't anything ridiculously mysterious, though I'm sure it was hard to pull off. Ronaldo essentially kicked a knuckleball. If you watch the replay, there is very little spin on the ball. Similar to a baseball which has stitches that affect airflow and the trailing wake, a soccer ball also has seams and stitches that do the same thing. A lack of air pressure in the ball may have had some effect, since the ball wouldn't have been as spherical. But mostly it was the technique. Hopefully it was something he did on purpose.

[Motterman]

Yeah, a guy in my indoor league taught me how to hit one like that a few years ago. It's useful for shots from greater than 20 yards or so from goal.

[Bluto11]

total knuckleball. i used to be able to serve a vollyball like that when i was in junior high. the ball looks like it is moving from side to side if it is coming right at you. very hard to pick up.

[Vermont Red]

Boy I hope he did it on purpose. Otherwise, :eek:

[GrodZilla]

Boy I hope he did it on purpose. Otherwise, :eek:

Of course it was on purpose, he's not the first one to pull it of. It's not even that uncommon, even if it was a fine example of it. I have a guy in my football team that shoots 'em like that all the time. Hard clean hit and no spin and you'll get that effect.

[Motterman]

Of course it was on purpose, he's not the first one to pull it of. It's not even that uncommon, even if it was a fine example of it. I have a guy in my football team that shoots 'em like that all the time. Hard clean hit and no spin and you'll get that effect.

Yeah, it's almost like hitting a billiards ball with English on it...

[SouLeao]

Yeah, it's almost like hitting a billiards ball with English on it...

No, he put some Portuguese on it! Only kidding. It was an interesting shot. I want to say he did it on purpose but judging by his inconsistency at taking those, perhaps some luck played a part in it. Although, considering the difficulty level, I know I can't hit a ball like that so maybe it's one of those 1-in-4 shots and he was due.

[johno]

Its not simply hitting the ball without spin. Juninho routinely hits balls without swerve, just placing them where he wants and they don't do that, so there must be a bit something else... maybe slight rotation and a tilt to that rotation wherby gravity might affect it?

[StrikerCW]

Whatever it was I jumped up and screamed really loudly when it happened.

[Motterman]

Its not simply hitting the ball without spin. Juninho routinely hits balls without swerve, just placing them where he wants and they don't do that, so there must be a bit something else... maybe slight rotation and a tilt to that rotation wherby gravity might affect it?

Of course it's not that simple, it's just difficult to explain without live demonstration. But yes, hit it flush, higher on the ball with a bit of "magic" on it. Hint: the contact point and how and where you follow through with the shot have an effect as well.

[johno]

lol... i wasn't being combative or anything, but i'd noticed awhile back that Juninho hits many freekicks without any rotation or very little, so it could be just that... it may be that and something else...

[StrikerCW]

Or maybe its the god given talent to hit a perfect ball. Or in David Beckham's case, hours upon hours of repeated practice.

[Motterman]

Or maybe its the god given talent to hit a perfect ball. Or in David Beckham's case, hours upon hours of repeated practice.

Beckham's technique is classic. He wraps his foot around the outside curve of the ball and uses a downward spin at launch point to combine the lift and bend and drop to get the ball over/around the wall and into the corner of the net. If you study his approach, you can see him swivel his hips to accelerate the downward top-spin.... it's impressive.

[Teso Dos Bichos]

Or maybe its the god given talent to hit a perfect ball. Or in David Beckham's case, hours upon hours of repeated practice in front of a mirror.

FYP

[johno]

Beckham's technique is classic. He wraps his foot around the outside curve of the ball and uses a downward spin at launch point to combine the lift and bend and drop to get the ball over/around the wall and into the corner of the net. If you study his approach, you can see him swivel his hips to accelerate the downward top-spin.... it's impressive.

yes, for all his detractors he's still rediculously dangerous at the things he does well... if Ronaldo can become half as accurate as Becks is with freekicks and corners this league will be in trouble.

[benni...]

=Ronaldo's Free kick...

When you hit the air valve of the ball with so much power, its swerves in three different directions. First it curves from left to right, like a normal bending ball, but it curves back to the left...

Ive been practicing that myself.

[benni...]

Pirlo does it as well. Anyone who has goal TV , when they show those goals on commercials, and he has a free kick against Chievo I think.

[JC7rox]

http://s32.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=2I5OIR9X9BG6U12946BWGLQOQL