Rocket League is one of the best competitive games in the past decade. With the community bigger than it has even been, new and returning players are committed to climbing the ranks to become a champion. One of the most important aspects of Rocket League gameplay is ball control.
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Advanced ball control techniques separate the champs from the platinum and diamond players. Inexperienced and veteran Rocket League players will benefit from the following professional tips to control vehicles better and possess the ball masterfully.
While it may seem like an obvious tip, backflipping is one of the best ways to win and keep possession of the ball. Most opponents will not expect the backflip hit, and gamers that can turn the hit into possession will have an advantage over the opposing team. At first, players need to master the half-flip, which is performed by pressing up on the thumbstick after performing a backflip with ball cam off. Gamers can combine the half-flip or flip cancel with an air roll to immediately face the opposite direction and maintain possession of the ball.
Landing straight is another simple tip that even experienced players forget about. Before a player even has possession of the ball, it is imperative that they position themselves for the first touch. Any time a car in Rocket League is in the air, gamers should focus on landing in the direction they would like to go. By positioning the right way, players will have a much easier time contesting an opponent's next hit.
In Rocket League, there are six different hitboxes. Each car has a rectangular hitbox that extends beyond the visible contours of the car. Players that want to improve their control need to understand the hitbox of the car they use and focus on how the hitbox will contact the ball. A good way to identify where the hitbox is to spend some time in training. Gamers will notice that the ball does not actually contact the car itself. Once Rocket League players have a feel for a car's hitbox, they can begin to learn more advanced tactics.
Many players at an intermediate and advanced level do not toggle their ball cam enough. When players try to dribble and control the ball on the ground, they should have ball cam off. Turning off ball cam provides the player with two advantages. The first is improved mobility and control while moving forward. The second is that gamers can align their car in a straight line. Ball cam will provide players with an easier view to balance and direct the ball. When players are not dribbling, they should have ball cam on to identify the positioning of players and track the ball's trajectory.
One of the most important steps when learning to dribble and control the ball is popping it onto the roof of the car. Professionals appear to seamlessly get the ball onto the hood of their car and control it. However, there are a number of steps gamers need to practice before they can dribble the ball like a pro. The easiest way to pop up the ball is to boost toward it and tap the left trigger to slow down before hitting the ball. The key to getting control of the ball in Rocket League is going fast enough to pick up the ball, but at the right pace to balance it. A quick session in training will help new players develop a sense for how fast to travel before contacting the ball.
Whether a player pops the ball up or traps it out of the air, balancing it is the next step gamers need to learn to become elite dribblers. Players should visualize the hitbox and imagine that they are attempting to balance a ball on a book. As the ball falls to the left, players need to move to the left to regain balance. To test the theory, players can drive in circles as the ball is tilting either to the left or to the right. If players drive in a perfect circle in the direction the ball is tilting, it will stay suspended on the edge of the car. Rocket League players trying to improve their control need to develop an understanding of the hitbox and physics before they can perform the balance in practice. Again, becoming a top-tier dribbler does not happen overnight, and players need to practice to be adept at balancing the ball.
After Rocket League players are comfortable balancing the ball, they can begin to attempt flicking the ball to pass, shoot, and get around defenders. The simplest flick can be performed if the ball is on top of the center of the car. Players merely have to front flip to propel the ball. Much like balancing the ball, if the ball is on one side of the car, the player should side flip to that side of the car to perform a controlled flick. If the ball is on the front of the car it will travel at a higher trajectory, and if it is near the spoiler it will fly at a lower trajectory.
One of the most effective intermediate dribbling tactics is to use the side of the car to scoop the ball one way and then the other. Gamers can perform the tactic by driving alongside the ball and turning into it. The ball will either scoop or roll to the other side of the car. Rocket League players can have success performing the tactic in lower divisions, and it is one of the better ways to learn car control in Rocket League.
When entering or exiting the wall, players can perform an air roll to stick all four wheels on a surface after every hit. Performing an air roll will allow gamers to have a more controlled approach to their next hit. At the same time, landing on any surface in Rocket League will reset the car's double jump. Players that have already scooped the ball off of the sidewall should also be using air roll to align the car before their next hit or aerial.
Few players even notice, but when ball cam is off there is a white circle that indicates where the ball will hit the ground. The indicator will also display how far away the ball is from hitting the field. Players that want to trap and dribble the ball can use the indicator right before their first touch for a precise hit or trap. The indicator is also helpful when the ball is directly above a player.