When a ball is struck off-center with spin, airflow moves faster across one hemisphere, generating low pressure that bends trajectory mid-flight. Striking with inside curve allows set-piece specialists to bypass 4-man defensive walls and curl inside the postage stamp.
A 95 km/h strike from 22 meters arrives at the goal line in roughly 830 milliseconds. Human neural reaction latency takes ~200ms, leaving keepers under 630ms to identify trajectory, plant footwork, and execute an explosive lateral dive.
Standard historical Premier League spot kicks convert at approximately 78% (0.78 xG), whereas direct free kicks over a wall yield ~0.06 xG. Power and corner placement directly reduce keeper reach probability.