Old PES6 player needs help heading in 2010

[Avelives]

Well the title gives you an idea of where this is going...

To clarify, i have played pes since the first ever incarnation way back on the original playstation and until recently plied my trade effectively on pes6.

I have never had any trouble defending and least of all heading. Yet here i find myself having now had 2010 for 2 weeks unable to head the ball properly.

Its completely baffling me, I have tried training and numerous different approaches but nothing seems to work, I shall do my best to give an example of defense and attack.
Previously on Pes6 If the ball went high simply hold down the header button (x) and run positioned you perfectly under the ball, of course whether you won the header came down to timing the x button press but 8 out 10 times id win it.

In 2010 I just cant figure out what im doing wrong, in attack if the ball gets hoofed high or crossed into my attackers i hold down x and run and more often than not i end up standing about 4 foot behind the AI player and seem unable to muscle past them or even move. Ive tried timing it with one press, spamming x, and everything inbetween but i lose so many headers i must be missing something important which happened to the gameplay between now and pes6.

Equally in defence even with towers of strength like terry and carvaliho whos only use is heading i struggle to beat even average players in the air.

I just played aston villa 3 times in a row and they scored a total of 4 goals in 3 games all from headers (suprisingly none by carew) from a whopping total of 7 shots on target.

Compare that to my 19 shots on target and 2 goals in the same games!!

The difference is theres where all headers, mine where all long shots or slotted home 1-on-1. Headers are deadly and not being able to do them really is killing me.

So can someone please explain what on earth im doing wrong (bear in mind i am used to pes6)

Im not suggesting the games at fault its clearly me, but im totally lost and cant find a guide anywhere.

Worth noting im playing on professional as the level down saw me winning by cricket score lines every game.

Please help me Obi-Wan your my only hope!!

 

[Sabatasso]

I have more or less the same problems, I manage fine defensively though but I struggle offensively. Especially on BAL, I have not yet headed a ball properly inside the box once and my player is 185cm :no:

Once in a while I manage to get my player to actually jump for the ball but if I hit it, the ball just bounces off my players head like it's without air or something. My players heading skill is 88, jumping 85.

If there is a good explanation how to head properly I'd like to hear it, but until now I just assumed it was one of those things KONAMI fucked up since last year.

 

[blazer89]

I find that positioning is the most important thing. You have to get yourself in good position before the ball gets there. If you get bodied up with an opposing player you can use R2 (on PS3) to release and jockey for position, or you can sometimes win the ball if you time it right.

If you get good positioning and still shank it, then you're not timing it right. Sometimes it's best to wait until the last possible moment and then quickly press the header button, and other times it's best to press the header button early on and hold it down for a bit.

Also, I play on Professional. I tried Top Player and the AI has some serious cheats going on, including headers. Top Player is more challenging, but it's cheap, with smaller players winning headers when they shouldn't (among other things).

 

[Avelives]

I find that positioning is the most important thing. You have to get yourself in good position before the ball gets there. If you get bodied up with an opposing player you can use R2 (on PS3) to release and jockey for position, or you can sometimes win the ball if you time it right.

If you get good positioning and still shank it, then you're not timing it right. Sometimes it's best to wait until the last possible moment and then quickly press the header button, and other times it's best to press the header button early on and hold it down for a bit.

Also, I play on Professional. I tried Top Player and the AI has some serious cheats going on, including headers. Top Player is more challenging, but it's cheap, with smaller players winning headers when they shouldn't (among other things).

I tried that R2 business but once released i find it nigh on impossible to reposition correctly in the split second you get to react and usually end up further away either to far in front or to the side.

Just dropped back down to average difficulty purely to experiment and I think im getting the hang of offensive headers now, seems the old style of pes6 crossing isnt so effective (from the byline) now its more realistic and you have to cross early and switch sides more to get room for a header (although im sure you know that already)

Defensively though I just cant win headers from quick break plays, your right it is positional, but as i said before to get into at least a decent position just required using X at the right time, now if the AI gets a cob on and starts pinging the ball round the box its nigh on impossible to win a header as you end up hopelessly out of position.

I will persevere however cause im thinking its probably most likely to be due to PES6 teaching me bad habits. I intend to stick to average for a week or two just to unlearn all the old tricks... through balls being a good example as they are not very useful now unless you have an obvious break where as on pes6 its virtually all i used in the opponents half.

 

[dkuhne]

Im having the same problem. I transfered from Pro 2009 on ps2 to pro 2010 on ps3. if anything, my previous knowledge of pro evo has hindered my play so far as they are completly different games in almost every aspect.

Surprisingly headers are not one of the areas im strugglying in. i can score from the byline if:

1. I do a step over or 2 with the player thats crossing just before i cross it.

2. Theres plenty of different ways to cross it, try triple tapping circle for a low hard cross if someones at the back post or double tap circle for a looped cross.

Even with using these, the computer will get there head on the ball 8 out of 10 times. Simply not fair!

 

[shaun7]

Winning headers in the defence is easier when you press square not X.

 

[bunnywhi7e]

^ What he said.

 

[THRILLA_CFC]

I don't really have problems with headers, its down to positioning and timing the ball properly. eg: if there is a cross coming in to ur sriker, position urself for the header then wait till the ball actually reaches to ur players head then just tap []. This works well with defending aswell. The problem that alot of people is having is because they are spamming the buttons and that just confuses the player.

 

[Rasmus]

As shaun i only use square or O buttun when heading in defence. And R2 of course (if you're on ps3)

Air balls at random places on the pitch i use mostly X button in order to pass the ball to a teammate.

However when heading in the opponents penalty area, it's all about learning when to use the R2 and when to use the super cancel (R1+R2) Last mentioned seems to be quite succesful from corners or free kicks, to get in front of the defender. But it takes time to master the art of heading properly

Use these tips, or play some friendlies/training matches to practice them.

 

[blazer89]

I tried that R2 business but once released i find it nigh on impossible to reposition correctly in the split second you get to react and usually end up further away either to far in front or to the side.

Just dropped back down to average difficulty purely to experiment and I think im getting the hang of offensive headers now, seems the old style of pes6 crossing isnt so effective (from the byline) now its more realistic and you have to cross early and switch sides more to get room for a header (although im sure you know that already)

Defensively though I just cant win headers from quick break plays, your right it is positional, but as i said before to get into at least a decent position just required using X at the right time, now if the AI gets a cob on and starts pinging the ball round the box its nigh on impossible to win a header as you end up hopelessly out of position.

I will persevere however cause im thinking its probably most likely to be due to PES6 teaching me bad habits. I intend to stick to average for a week or two just to unlearn all the old tricks... through balls being a good example as they are not very useful now unless you have an obvious break where as on pes6 its virtually all i used in the opponents half.

I think they did a really good job on this year's game, and there are a ton of subtleties to it than only reveal themselves after a good deal of play time.

1. When using R2 to reposition yourself you have to do so sparingly, or else you will get taken out of the play.

2. As you seem to have noticed, you can't just count on one type of crossing. If you have the time you have to look into the box and decide on what type of cross you're going to use. If you don't have the time because a defender is hounding you, just mix it up. The game will reward the right type of cross.

3. Positioning and timing is key with just about everything in this game. You pretty much have to keep your fingers on R1 and R2 (on PS3) all the time, so you can control your pace and cancel animations if you need to. And I find that you need to cancel a lot.

4. As far as through balls, I initially thought they kind of screwed them up this year, especially lofted ones. But I have come to learn that you have to watch the player you are passing to, and get your timing down right. Early on I was struggling with lofted through balls, and would often times send a pathetic little chip pass right to the defense. But now I watch my guys, and have learned how to be more in sync. It's mostly timing and positioning that you have to pay attention to, though a lot of the times you will see them go on a run too, expecting some type of through ball.

 

[Avelives]

Just an update more for people who may read this with similar issues than anything else.

First off thanks for all the advice I shall definately bear it in mind.

Things ive noticed since this post.

1) If you are used to older ps2 versions of the game, expect a hard deprogramming phase where you must unlearn all the old cheap tricks which persisted in older versions, as they simply dont work here at all.

2) Winning 50/50 air balls in the centre of the park most times your are better off just holding run and nothing else and letting the AI position your player then waiting till the very last second to press x.

3) Im obviously not using R2 correctly cause when i use it i give away fould about 80% of the time for 'shoving' the AI player before the header even happens.

4) crosses work much better early from a deeper area of the wings. I went from scoring maybe 1 header every 4th game at best to scoring at least 1 a game from heading using this theory. Oh and double tapping [] to header in the box seems to be rather effective as well.

So to summarise ive definately improved but defensively still have issues against taller forwards who dominate me on headers. I shall try using [] and see how that goes.
As an aside someone mentioned using O to header in defense... id like to know how they do that as when i try it, it usually results in my player aimlessly flailing his boot out while the AI power headers it into the net.

 

[iamcanadianeh]

On professional level I find winning headers for scoring goals way too easy. On top player it is much, much harder. If you're having trouble on top player my guess is that it has more to do with the way you are crossing. In the last few PES versions it is very important to consider which direction you are pointing when crossing the ball. For example, if you are on the left flank crossing in if you hold up the ball will go to the far post, way over most players heads more than likely. Try pressing no direction at all, towards goal, or angled crosses for better results, and watch to see where your players are. Not sure what else to say except that at least on Top Player mode they made heading much more difficult with the recent patch (late Dec 09), but they are still relatively effective.

 

[Sabatasso]

I've figured it out, you have to postion yourself and let go of the movement keys and press shoot button, if the "Power Bar" isn't showing, you've pressed too early. Placement of the header is simply decided by how close to the center of the "Power Bar", while power on the header seems to be decided by the timing when you release the shoot button. It may be vice versa, hard to tell really. Both are important.

Disclaimer: I have only figured this out by trial and error, this method works to a certain degree but gets better with practice, there may or may not be better methods to head crosses on goal, but this is the only method I've found to work for me.


PS. Low players (1.70 and lower) tends to use overhead kicks and flying volleys more than diving headers. There are huge drawbacks by playing such a small player though but the rewards are great if you make the sacrifice.