We’ve all been there in Rocket League. It’s the end of the game and time is running out. Your team is down a goal and making one final push to force overtime. Then, it happens – your teammate slots a perfect pass across the middle of the field and it’s heading straight for the nose of your car. All you have to do is convert. Full of confidence, you strike the ball…and it launches off the crossbar. The other team kills the ball, you lose, and your teammate hits you with a dreaded “Nice shot!” in the chat. Probably three or four times for good measure.

On the bright side, pain is temporary and improvement is absolutely possible. With that being said, let’s examine a few ways to make those ground shots clinical, which will in turn make you the hero of the game.

What to Do With Your Car

In Rocket League, the thing you have the most control over is your own car. Putting yourself in position to fire off a ground shot is the first thing you have to do before worrying about whether the shot will go in. Remember to put yourself where you think the ball is most likely to end up so that you will be in the best position to make a play when the time comes.

When the ball does make its way to your car, you also have to know which part of the car to hit the ball with. If your goal is to shoot with your first touch, you want to make sure you’re hitting the ball with the nose of your car. If you find yourself closest to the left post, hit the ball with the right side of your nose, and if you’re on the right post, hit the ball with the left side of your nose. This will make your shot far more likely to not only end up on target, but to be more difficult to save.

Using your dodge is also imperative to ensuring an effective ground shot. Flipping in to the ball will generate a lot more power, which is especially useful if you don’t have time to set up a dribble. Adjusting your car with air roll can also help improve your accuracy. If you’re close to the left post, try tapping the jump button, air rolling slightly to the left, and then flipping to the right into the ball. This will force the ball more to the right side, which is where you need to hit the ball to score from the left-hand side. Of course, do the opposite if you are closer to the right post.

If you are able to control the ball before you take your ground shot, there are a couple of different shots you can try. A hook shot is a great tool to utilize if the defenders are giving you space. All you have to do is move your car slightly away from the ball and then swiftly hook back in. A cut shot is another useful shot that you can try. For this one, you need to use the side of your car to make the ball bounce, and right as it’s hitting the ground, flip into the ball. Both of these shots are simple and can generate a ton of power that will either result in a goal or force the defender to use their boost to make a save, though they do require some space in the midfield to accomplish.

Where to Hit the Ball

Now that you know what to do with your car, it is time to figure out what part of the ball to hit. This will make a huge difference in how high your shot goes, what direction it goes, and how fast it goes.

Similarly to the previous section, where to hit the ball has a lot to do with where on the field you are when the ball comes your way. If you hit the left side of the ball, momentum will naturally send it to the right, and vice versa. So, strike according to where the net is on your screen.

Where things can get a little tricky is being sure not to hit the ball too high or too low. If you strike the very top of the ball, momentum is going to keep the ball on the ground. Sometimes you’ll get a really fast pinch, but a lot of times it will roll to the defender for an easy save. If you get too far under the ball, you’re going to pop it up high. This can be dangerous for a defense to deal with, of course, but it doesn’t make for a particularly good ground shot. I like to hit the ball somewhere between the very middle and the bottom, that way it gets some height on it, but not enough to send it sailing over the net.

Placement

The final thing to take note of when setting up a ground shot is where the defenders are. A cleanly hit, powerful ground shot isn’t going to do a whole lot of good if it’s hit straight at the defender. In lower ranks, just slapping a shot on net will sometimes force defenders in to making mistakes, but as you climb, you will want to be very deliberate about where you send the ball.

Aiming for the top corner of the net is generally going to be your best friend. This will force the defender into the air to make a save, and if you hit it with enough power, they may have to fast aerial. In the heat of the moment, this can cause a lot of defenders to accidentally backflip, stopping their car in its tracks and allowing your shot to go straight in. A defender who is positioned on the far post is in the best position possible to make the save, but a powerful shot in the near upper corner is still going to be a very difficult save. If the defender is in the middle of the net or by the near post, aim for the far corner. This will be a nearly impossible save. If a defender is nowhere to be seen, go ahead and simply aim for the center of the net – you’ve earned it.

All things considered, ground shots are a simple mechanic on the surface, but mastering them can give you a serious leg up on the competition. The main idea here is to be aware – be aware of your car, be aware of how the ball behaves when hit, and be aware of the defender’s position. This can be practiced within free play or in training packs. Personally, my favorite ground shot training pack is 6EB1-79B2-33B8-681C, as it covers a bunch of different scenarios. Best of luck on the grind!