It should come as no surprise that a shot on goal is much more likely to go in if you pick the corners, particularly the top ones:
If we restrict the dataset to only shots taken inside the 18-yard box, we see how much more dangerous close shots are in exactly the same parts of the net. This table shows over what percentage of the net the goalkeeper is able to keep the shooting percentage below 20%:
| Location | Pct<20% |
| Inside Box | 14.9 |
| Outside Box | 75.1 |
Represented graphically:
If you're outside the box, the threat of scoring is very low unless you can put the ball just inside the post:
On shots from outside the box, the keeper's coverage area is literally five times larger than on closer shots.
