Ball Hop Skill Move Guide - EA Sports FC 27

On PS5 and Xbox, stand still and press R3, which means clicking the right stick down. Your player must be stationary for the move to trigger, so take your thumb off the left stick first. Because the move uses only one button, it is the same on both consoles.

If you have changed your controller layout, R3 may be mapped to something else. Check the skill move list in the pause menu if the move does not trigger, and make sure your player has at least four skill move stars.

The Ball Hop is best when you have stopped with the ball and a defender is standing off you. The hop keeps the ball under control while you wait for a teammate to make a run, and it can draw a defender into stepping forward. Once they commit, you can play the ball past them or into the space they have left.

It is also useful as a set-up move. Because it is short and keeps your player balanced, it can be followed immediately by a Ball Roll, a Drag Back or a quick pass. Many players use it to reset the rhythm of an attack before trying a bigger move.

Avoid the Ball Hop when a defender is pressing you tightly. Standing still with the ball under pressure is risky, and the hop does not move the ball away from the defender. It is also a poor choice when you are running, because you must stop first, which gives the defender time to close in.

It is easy to overuse the Ball Hop because it looks good and is simple to perform. In most matches, one or two well-timed hops do more than repeated hops, which only slow your attack down.

A useful combination is a Ball Hop followed by a Ball Roll to either side, which moves the ball away from the defender after they have been drawn in. Another is Ball Hop followed by a quick through ball, using the hop to wait for a runner to time their move.

Some players use the Ball Hop before a Rainbow Flick or a Sombrero Flick to set the rhythm. Those combinations need more skill move stars and are riskier, so keep them for moments when you have space behind the defender.

Do not rush in when an attacker performs a Ball Hop. The move is often used to draw defenders forward, so stepping in can leave space behind you. Instead, hold jockey, keep your position and cover the passing lanes. If the attacker hops several times, they are wasting time, and you can use it to bring teammates back.

If you are confident, a well-timed press can win the ball while the attacker is standing still, but only when you have a covering player behind you.

Playmakers and attacking midfielders with four or more skill move stars and good composure get the most from the Ball Hop. Players who often stop with the ball and look for a pass, such as a central attacking midfielder in a 4-2-3-1, are an ideal fit.

Wingers can use it too, particularly when they stop on the touchline and wait for an overlapping full-back. Combine the hop with player roles that make runs beyond the ball, so you have options once the hop has drawn the defender.

The Ball Hop is not a move that beats defenders on its own, but it is a useful tool for controlling the rhythm of an attack. Used sparingly, it can draw defenders out of position and set up other moves. Used too often, it slows your play and gives your opponent time to organise. Treat it as a set-up move rather than a finishing move.

One of the best uses of the Ball Hop is buying time while teammates make runs. When you stop with the ball in the final third, your attackers need a moment to move into position. The hop keeps the ball under control and makes the defender hesitate, while a striker or overlapping full-back gets into a better position.

Watch the radar while you hop. As soon as a runner breaks free, play the pass. The hop is only useful if it leads to something.

In online modes, opponents often press aggressively, so the Ball Hop is risky unless the defender is standing off. Against the AI in Career Mode, defenders hold their shape more, which gives you more time for the hop. In Clubs, it is a good way for a playmaker to wait for teammates to move.

In all modes, the hop is most effective in the opposition half, where losing the ball is less dangerous.

Avoid chaining the Ball Hop with other stationary moves. Two or three slow moves in a row give the defender time to close in, and your teammates time to stop moving. If the first hop has not drawn the defender in, move the ball on rather than trying another trick. The best combinations pair the hop with a move that takes the ball away quickly.

Start by using the move once or twice per match, in the opposition half, when you have stopped with the ball and a defender is standing off. Use it to wait for a runner, then play the pass. Once it becomes automatic, try following it with a Ball Roll or a turn. Keep track of how often it leads to a chance. If it mainly slows your attacks, use it less often, or only when you clearly need time for your teammates to move forward. Like every skill move, it is a tool rather than a goal in itself.

Remember too that the hop works best when your opponent respects your other moves. If they know you can turn, roll or pass quickly, the hop becomes much harder to read and much more useful.