Ever though it would be cool to bend it like Beckham?
His style of free kick is very unique which has made him one of the most renowned free kick practitioners around.
If you want to learn how to really kick like Beckham and leave the keeper standing at his post, follow this step by step guide and playback some of his freekicks.
Look at the close up footage of his freekicks, where he hits the ball and how he positions his body during the swing and movement to get the spin just right.
Read on to bend it like Beckham.
Step by Step
Put on your football/soccer boots and visit a wide open area.
Be sure there’s a goal around, take a net or take your entire goal with you, whatever suits you best.
Position the ball an appropriate amount from the goal, and turn it so the valve is facing you.
Position your shooting foot under the ball next to the valve of the ball.
Take a few steps backwards and 2 to the left if you are right footed (vicevirsa if you are left footed) and decide where you want the ball to end up (top corner etc).
Run up to the ball, as you kick it, think about where you are aiming, make sure your shooting foot hits the ball on the side, so it curls inwards. As you strike the ball, you will naturally lean back like Beckham, use your arm to help swing your body around to give power to your shot.
At first taking two steps to the side and having to look over your shoulder towards the goal may seem a little uncomfortable at first, but this helps tremendously when curling the ball at speed.
Keep practicing, once you get it right you can experiment by aiming at other parts of the goal to surprise the goal keeper and score every time.
Congratulations, you have bent it like Beckham!
Tips
Know that you can score. Beckham is a unique player but you can get close to his level if you keep on practicing the moves and watching his footage.
At first you can look at your target, but later you can try deceiving the goal keeper by looking somewhere else.
If you have no net, check there is no one that you will injure nearby.