Where to aim a penalty kick to beat the keeper

If you want to beat the keeper in Penalty Shootout, aim toward a corner, but leave a little room between the ball and the post. A well-placed shot is usually more dependable than simply choosing maximum power. Watch where the keeper is set, then pick the side with the clearest path.

The game lets you adjust aim, power, and curl. Small, deliberate changes make it easier to see which shots work and repeat them when the score matters.

Aim for the corners, with a safety margin

A shot toward the middle gives the keeper less ground to cover, so aim into one of the goal's outer areas. Avoid aiming exactly at the post or the very edge of the goal. A tiny error can send the ball wide, while a shot just inside the post still makes the keeper reach.

Low shots toward a corner can be a useful starting point: the keeper has to get down as well as move sideways. If a low shot is repeatedly saved, change the height or direction slightly rather than repeating the same aim. The best target is not a fixed pixel or exact point. It depends on the keeper's position and how accurately you can place the shot.

Try both sides over several kicks. You may find one corner easier to hit consistently with your current aim and curl settings. Reliability matters: a shot that reaches the corner repeatedly is more useful than a risky attempt that only works occasionally.

Choose the side the keeper leaves open

Before kicking, check whether the keeper is centered or positioned closer to one side. If the keeper appears closer to one post, aim toward the other side. If the keeper is centered, choose either corner and commit to it instead of changing direction at the last moment.

Do not assume the same target will work every time. A bot may react differently from one kick to the next, and a shot that beat it once is not guaranteed to beat it again. Use what you can see in the current setup, not a guess about a hidden pattern.

• Keeper near the left side. Try the right side of the goal, leaving a margin inside the post.
• Keeper near the right side. Try the left side, again keeping the target inside the frame.
• Keeper in the middle. Pick a corner and aim far enough from the center to make the keeper move.

If you are unsure which side the keeper favors, start with the corner that feels easier to control. A consistent shot gives you a better baseline than changing sides and settings together.

Use power for pace, not as a substitute for aim

Power adds speed to the kick, but more speed does not automatically mean a better penalty. A hard shot that misses the target cannot score, and power can make precise placement harder. Begin with a controlled level of power that keeps the ball on target, then raise it in small steps if the keeper has time to reach your shot.

Think of placement and pace as separate choices. First, find an aim and power combination that lands in the chosen area. Then test whether a little more power improves the result without causing frequent misses. If your shots fly too wide or high, reduce power and rebuild your accuracy before increasing it again.

Keep your adjustments small. If you change aim, power, and curl all at once, you will not know which change helped. Adjust one setting, take a kick, and compare the result with the previous attempt.

Add curl when a straight path is predictable

Curl can bend the ball's path, which gives you another way to place a shot around the keeper. Use it to refine the direction, not to compensate for an aim that is far off. Start with a small amount of curl and check how much the ball moves. Too much can carry it beyond the post or make the shot less predictable.

Test the same corner with a straight shot and a curled shot. If the ball starts on target but bends away, reduce the curl or aim a little closer to the center. If it bends toward the keeper, adjust the starting aim so its path ends in the open part of the goal.

For an explanation of how these shot choices work together, see How to score penalties: aim, power and curl.

Practice a repeatable shot in Penalty Shootout

1. Open Penalty Shootout and take a few kicks to see how the keeper is positioned and how the ball responds.
2. Choose one corner as your target. Leave a small margin inside the post rather than aiming at the edge.
3. Use moderate power and little or no curl for your first attempts. Note whether the ball reaches the intended area.
4. Change one setting at a time. Try a slightly different aim, then compare a small curl adjustment, then test a little more power.
5. Repeat the combination that stays on target. Once it feels reliable, try the opposite corner so you are not dependent on one direction.

Do not judge a setting from a single kick. A shot can be saved because of its placement, pace, or the keeper's position. Several attempts with one variable changed help you tell whether the adjustment is improving your control.

When the keeper keeps saving your shots

The ball goes close to the post or wide

Your target may be too close to the edge, or the curl may be moving the ball farther than expected. Aim a little farther inside the goal and reduce curl. Keep the power steady until you can place the shot more reliably.

The keeper reaches the ball easily

Try a corner farther from the keeper's starting position, or add a modest amount of power after confirming your aim is accurate. Avoid responding by immediately maximizing both power and curl, since that can turn a save problem into a miss.

Your shots vary from kick to kick

Make smaller adjustments and change only one setting at a time. Use the same target for a short practice run, then switch corners. This shows whether the issue is inconsistent placement or a target the keeper can cover.

In the game, you can also practice the other side of a penalty by diving to save the bot's shots. Use each round to observe how direction, pace, and placement affect the result, then apply what you learn to your next kick.