Rocket League is not as black and white as simply hitting the ball whenever you get the opportunity to do so. Instead, the game requires strategy and intellectual decision-making in order to rank up at a fast pace.

An example might be whether a player should hit a ball or not. Another might be whether to let a nearby teammate take over ball control by passing to them, or just letting them hit the ball instead of you. Or perhaps where the best position on the field would be for you at any particular moment. The game is packed with opportunities to consider what you are going to do next, and can reward you or ruin your game through these decisions.

Ballchasing

The term ballchasing has had a very negative stigma surrounding it since it even became a term. This is where players chase the ball, nonsensically, with the aim of hitting it with no consideration of where the ball will go or what the outcome will be in general. This is commonly seen in the very low ranks of Bronze and perhaps even Silver, although it is much less frequent at this rank.

The reason this term has had such negative connotations is quite obvious when you come to think of it. Going for the ball constantly completely disregards the concept of working as a team top reach the objective; to score. In real sport such as football, for example, teamwork is essential as it requires smart players who would use strategies and intellectual plays in order to out-perform the other team, in order to overthrow them and win the games that they compete in.

Rocket League really is not much different. Sure, the game boils down to cars hitting balls, but climbing the ranks you will find that you have much more to think about than just hitting the ball, and this is where decision-making comes into play.

In a scenario where you are wanting to go for the ball, refrain from simply ballchasing and consider the players around you from both your own team and the other team. If the ball is easy to get to, for example if it is stationary on the ground, the chances are that you will not be the only player with the intent of hitting that ball. Therefore, you need to quickly examine where the other players are, especially those of the enemy team, and think of the following:

• 'Will I make it to the ball first?'
• 'What will happen if I don't make it to the ball first? Is my whole team at risk?'
• 'If I beat the other team to the ball, where do I want to hit it?'

If you confidently think that you will make it to the ball first, knock yourself out. However, if you are quite unsure and think that the other team have a strong chance of beating you to it, consider staying grounded in your area, preparing for an attack from the enemy team.

A third option is also available. You might believe that you and the other team will hit the ball simultaneously. If this is the case, you will want to make a whole new decision as you approach the ball at the same time as the other player who is going for it; how you will win the fifty-fifty.

Fifty-Fifties

If you are familiar with the term fifty-fifty, then you might believe that they come down to pure luck. Where the ball goes as two players hit it at the same time is based merely around who is having the better day. However, you would be wrong. In fact, your chances of winning a fifty-fifty boil down to a multitude of factors. To name a few:

• The angle of which you are hitting the ball at,
• Who hits the ball first, even if this is by nanoseconds of a difference,
• How your car is rotated as you hit the ball.

And funnily enough, two out of three of these examples arise from your own decisions, which just further justifies the importance of being smart in Rocket League.

If you and an enemy player are going for the ball at the same time, and you believe you are going to face a fifty-fifty scenario, you must decide how you are going to hit the ball. This comes from quickly having a look at how the other player is approaching the ball. Are they going for the ball at the same direction as you? Are they coming slightly more from the left or the right? All these questions should be racing through your mind.

The direction you hit the ball will be a huge factor in determining where the ball will go as you and the other player hit it. If the other player is coming slightly from the right, you could either hit the ball central or also slightly to the right in order for the ball to be hit to the left. This would almost work as a pinch, as you are both forcing the ball to go left. The same goes for hitting the ball to the right.

However, if you want the ball to come to a standstill or go into the opponent's half of the field, you will want to hit the ball at the exact opposite side of which the other player hits it. So, if they are coming at the ball straight forward, you would want to hit the ball straight forward from your side too.

Now, where the ball goes from here will be based on who hits it first, and how you hit it. If you hit the ball first, with a simple front flip, the ball could easily rebound off their carm back onto yours, back off theirs and into your own half, which would be the undesired option here. To avoid this, if you are unsure who will hit the ball first, you will want to cover as much space in the air as possible as you flip into the ball. This is so that you are more likely to block the rebounds off your and their cars, meaning the fifty-fifty will go in your favour. Here is a clip where I covered a large area in the air with a pre-jump to block the hit from the opponent.

<iframe src="//www.youtube.com/embed/6JdsK4YfLLE" width="560" height="314" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe>

To put it simply, in a fifty-fifty, you will need to make decisions regarding how you hit the ball, direction-wise and angle-wise, which can also be adapted through air roll if you want to take it that slight step further.

Positioning

Where you place yourself on the field is also a significant decision you will find yourself coming across. As you exit those low ranks, you will understand more and more the importance of positioning yourself in a sensible place at any given time.

Take, for example, defence. If you are the last player in defence and your teammates are coming back into your half of the field, you need to stall and make time for them to return. Again, you have the decision of where you will place your car to brace for a shot on your goal from the enemy team. A strong place to position yourself would be at either of the posts of your net, so that you can reach the ball and save any shot if you are fast enough to do so.

The backboard is also a reliable area to defend if you know that the enemy player will go fr a high shot. Always consider the backboard, as it can be very useful in defence at times. Here is a clip to reinforce this.

<iframe src="//www.youtube.com/embed/eCQC7cq0CfI" width="560" height="314" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe>

Another decision you might find in defence is whether to stay in the goal, waiting for a player to take a shot on your net, or if you should contest the enemy player with possession of the ball early enough so that they can't get a play formed in time.

Again, this depends on nearby players. If you see multiple players of the other team approaching you, then it is likely that a passing team-play will be created. This can be intimidating and difficult to defend, so it would be best to cut this off early by going for the ball to just clear it and waste time for your teammates to get back in defence.

If you find yourself in a one versus one, however, you could comfortably wait for the right moment to attack, such as as soon as the player pops the ball into the air and even slightly loses control. Be sure to keep a sharp eye on everything the player does.

Passing vs Maintaining Possession

Or perhaps it is you on the attack and a player or multiple players of the other team in defence. You, yet again, have decisions to make here. Study the area surrounding you, are you safe to keep possession of the ball or is there a player of the other team approaching you?

If you are safe to proceed towards the enemy half of the field, you would be safe to dribble the ball and keep complete possession over it. Now be sure to consider the number of enemy players in defence. Are there one? Two? Three? If there is simply one, you may want to take them on in a one-versus-one fashion, with a powerful flick over their head or a fake.

However, if there are multiple players in defence on their team, and there are teammates nearby you, a strong recommendation would be to pass the ball between you and your teammates. Passing the ball precisely is an effective way to throw off the opposing team, as they are not quite sure what to expect or what the outcome of the situation would be. If you can perform passing plays efficiently and well, then passing the ball is always a safe bet instead of hogging it to yourself.

Conclusion

Decision-making is scattered around Rocket League, coming in all shapes and sizes. A lot of the time, these decisions will be unconscious, meaning you won't even know you are making them, although you will be. It is important to be a smart player, overall, since if you can accurately predict the outcomes of situations, or where your teammates and enemies are on the field, or what is going to happen next, you are going to rank up at an incredible pace.

Remember, refrain from ballchasing and driving around the field without thought. Use your intellectual abilities, combine them with your mechanical skill, and you will certainly evolve into a remarkable player.

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