The Squishy Save is a defensive mechanic that allows players to clear shots from awkward positions using the roof of their own goal. Bora helps break down exactly when to use this mechanic and why it can be useful in your own gameplay.
SquishyMuffinz is one of the most influential players to ever compete on the Rocket League pitch. With close to $500,000 in prize earnings, a world championship, and multiple major titles, he helped inspire the next generation of players. One of the most impactful and interesting defensive mechanics in Rocket League is the “Squishy Save.” Although he didn’t originally invent the move, Squishy popularized it by consistently using it at the highest level of competition.
So what exactly is a Squishy Save, and why should you learn it for your own gameplay? Today, we spoke with Bora “Bora” Sari of Team Dignitas about what the save does, why it’s effective, and how you can start utilizing it in your own matches.
Squishy Saves are mostly about anticipating and reading the play. You have to predict when your teammate is going to be beaten and position yourself to cover that space. This situation most commonly occurs in 2v2 matches.
A Squishy Save is not a difficult maneuver to execute, but it is a difficult maneuver to pull off cleanly. When the ball is heading toward your net and you’re facing your own goal, you drive through the goal, jump off the ceiling, adjust your car mid-air, and clear the ball out of danger.
A Squishy Save is when you go off the back of your goal and make the save upside down. It’s usually used when you’re in an awkward position or low on boost, since the back wall helps you maintain momentum. It’s not always necessary, but it can be really useful.
There are a few reasons why this move is so important. First, you may find yourself in an awkward position where a simple jump won’t clear the ball far enough, leaving an easy follow-up for your opponent. Second, in a 2v1 situation where an opponent is chasing you down, slowing down to adjust your car can lead to a demolition, a bump, or an even more awkward recovery.
In these scenarios, the best option is often to keep your momentum and attempt a Squishy Save, using the top of the goal to make a controlled and effective play.
Rocket League is very play-by-play, but the main time to attempt it is in a low-boost situation when an opponent is beating your teammate. That said, it’s hard to be exact, Rocket League is so play-by-play that you’ll usually recognize the moment when it happens.
The Squishy save mechanic is simple to execute, but it relies heavily on anticipating the ball’s trajectory. It’s similar to a penalty kick in football, if the goalie waits to react, they’re already too late and must instead predict where the shot is going. When you’re coming off the ceiling, reacting in the moment will slow you down, so the key is reading the shot on your way up the goal to position yourself for the save. It’s a simple mechanic that you can easily practice, but it should only be used in dire situations. A good squishy save can turn into counter pressure, especially in duos.
The best time to turn this move into reliable counter pressure is right after. Usually (especially in 2v2) your opponent will overcommit on the shot, allowing you to send a Squishy Save over them and use your momentum to beat them downfield for an open net. In 3v3, it’s much harder to convert it into a counterattack, since a third defender is typically positioned back near the goal.
The Squishy Save is an inconsistent mechanic, as it relies on accurately reading the shot to time your jump and angle your car off the roof of the goal. That said, there are still a few common mistakes players make when attempting this maneuver. Because it’s often used as a last-ditch defensive option, any mistake will likely result in conceding a goal.
The first mistake is approaching at the wrong angle. If you misread the shot, your car will fly past the ball, often leading to an unfortunate “What a Save!” in quick chat from both teammates and opponents.
Another common error is flipping too early when coming off the backboard. An early flip can disorient your car, and even if you make contact, it’s likely to be a weak touch that sets up an easy rebound for the other team. Bora also pointed out that positioning mistakes are another key issue players run into when attempting this mechanic.
The biggest mistake I’ve seen is players attempting the move when there’s no real reason to, when they could have simply stayed in net. Squishy Saves are highly situational and leave the entire bottom of the net open. For example, if someone goes for a Squishy Save against an opponent dribbling the ball, the opponent can often just carry it straight past them and score.
The best way to practice this mechanic is by using training packs dedicated to awkward defensive situations. One of the most effective packs for developing Squishy Save consistency is 94D8-A9D6-2581-17D9. Bora also mentions that he developed this mechanic primarily through in-game experience, as well as by refining the movement in Free Play.
Over time, combining structured training packs with real-match exposure helps you build the reading ability and mechanical control needed to attempt these saves more reliably.
To summarize, the Squishy Save is a last-ditch defensive option used when you’re caught in an awkward position. The move carries high risk, since mistiming your read or misexecuting the jump off the backboard can leave the net completely open for an easy goal. However, it also offers meaningful reward: in 3v3, it can prevent a guaranteed goal and reset the defensive play, while in 2v2 it can be even more impactful, as a strong clear often turns into immediate counter pressure or an open-net opportunity on the opposite end.
Thank you to Bora for taking the time to help new players get better at defense and understand this advanced mechanic. If you’re interested in seeing more of what Bora can bring to the scene, follow him on Twitter/X @borarl6 and wish him luck as he represents the United States during the FIFAe Rocket League Qualifiers.
