LuvPES, dude i wish i could man, i wish i could break it right down for you but it doesnt work like that if you know what i mean.............ill try to explain what i mean and give you as much info as i possibly can............here goes.
Mashing the button does not work, thats what i was doing and it wasnt happenin, the ball would bounce off the players chest, or hit them in the back, some funny looking sh*t, thats when i knew that wasnt the way go.
Also remember there are many factors to take into account to execute a successful header with power, player position, ball position, opponent position, timing of button press, direction of stick, player skill, wind direction..........forget that last one lol......as you can see a sh*t load of factors to think about, so taking all that into account it is no wonder headers are not easy.
Now we know all that, what is it you must do to get that head onto the ball with enough power and direction to beat that damn keeper? Ill tell you what i think, this isnt gospel or may not even be right but you may get somthing out of it and its what i have arrived at by playing this sweet game.
1st thing.........because this game requires your brain and not just quick reflexes mashing buttons and following plans you have worked out from AI weaknesses or flaws what i am going to say is relevant because this game does require you to use vision, tactics, and good execution and some luck which exists in the "real" game anyway to pull off your desired move..............ok lets rok.
Heading the ball to goal............from a cross, a lofted thru ball, a chipshot, if you plan to use a player to head the ball, ie thru your build up play and you "plan" on a headed shot ( now i find this bit important, becuase if you have a plan things tend to work better, meaning you are putting the ball to a player with the skills to do the job, you all know what i mean right? good) if you are going forward with the ball you have some sort of vision to your attacking move, meaning you are looking ahead of play, you are looking for that forward who has the space or who is making that run, you have a greater chance of a successful header by doing this 1 thing, give that forward a chance, by crossing in when he is surrounded you make it so much harder to get a clean header on target, the probability goes up the less sh*t he has to deal with, this is pretty obvious for most i think so nothing new in what im saying really, but this works for me in this game well.
Execution of the cross, ball flight, speed, direction, spin, will now influence how well that forward can put his nut to ball, once you take control of that forward with the ball in air his skill and your skill will determine a great goal, or the ball hitting him in the big ear.
Now that ball is inflight you have to keep your eye on it aswell as your player postioning and the defenders around him, i wish i could have saved a replay from a game i played last night, Marlin King from Watford, a striker for those who havnt heard of him made a great headed goal, watching the replay showed him getting great air and fighting off the defender at the same time with his elbow, because he jumped slightly before the defender did he had that advantage, using his arm to help him get up his elbow actually prevented the defender getting up to challenge him for the ball, when i saw this i was pretty chuffed i have to say and actually scoring with a hard hit header was the bonus, keeper didnt have a chance mate lol................
Because there are so many elements involved its hard to actually say do this now, then do that etc, its a very feely thing that you pick up on when you are really AWARE, i dont know you just seem to be on your game when you do and you pull off these great moves......................sorry enthusiasm is creeping in lol........so be very aware.
The time to press that button is your choice, watch your player he will give you clues, youll see him looking steady, looking toward ball, youll just know that he is ready to go for it, you have to watch him and the ball to find that perfect time to hit the button, stay aware.
As far as how long to press the button i dont know im still playing with that one, but if your player has the attribute, "POWER HEADER" i think thats what its called, only seen it last night, he headers the ball alot better, a good idea for defenders to have this attribute also, good for clearing your line, if i find out anymore ill let you guys know, just be very aware when you play it really helps, hope any of this blab helps you a little if atall, but im sure youll start to see success the more you play, goodluck men!