Thanks for letting me know about R1/2. I never knew it affected free-kicks and just used up/down.
I'd just like to add that the sooner you press your directional buttons (possibly R1 and R2, I'll have to try) after your first press of the shoot button :square: the more power you can use.
I was practicing free-kicks in training and I was taking a few from the same position each time.
I attempted one free-kick, the power display went just over half way, it went over the wall, and the keeper saved it (just). I attempted the same free-kick again and lined up so it pretty much went to the same spot but put it a little further into the corner. The power I used was exactly the same but my fingers on the directional butons was much faster and my kick hit the wall half-way down.
I have had free-kicks on target and in the back of the net from 25m with Rivaldo and Beckham (but any high level freekick taker will do, try Didu from Classic Brazil) where I had atleast 3/4 on the power display. When you get it right the ball just flies.
It works better for free-kicks when you need to press 'up', but it works ok sometimes when you press 'down'.
Be careful not to press the up/down button at the exact same time as your first press of the shoot button or even worse before you press it because it will ruin your shot.