Blogs
Rocket League: Slowing Down the Game - when to catch versus when to boom the ball
In order to bring yourself to the next level in Rocket League, it is important to understand the concept of possession. Possession is one of the primary factors that determines your control of the game. The team that is winning is typically the team that has the most control of the ball.
Just like in any other sport, giving away possession is the last thing you want to do, as it forfeits your team’s ability to pose a scoring threat by forcing you be dependent on the opposing team’s actions with the ball. An incredibly common mistake that players from every rank (even Grand Champion) make is simply giving away possession too often.
One situation that I have frequently found myself in is when I am on my team’s side of the pitch, and the ball is floating down to me for a possible boomer down the field, as seen here:
This situation has two main options:
- Boom the ball down the pitch
- Catch the ball and begin to dribble
The correct decision can change depending on a few factors that may open or block certain options. Let me take you through an evaluation of what to do in these kinds of situations.
Your Opponent’s Position on the Field
As I have mentioned in previous articles, knowing your opponent’s position is just as important as your own position. Watch what the potential attacker is doing. The attacker will usually be doing one of three things:
- Pre-jumping to try to dunk a boomer
In this example, you can see that "Dinosaur Fantastique" has pre-jumped in an attempt to block the boomer.
If your opponent has already committed to jumping in the air towards you, it is near impossible for them to stop their momentum in the committed direction. In this situation, depending on how much boost you have, you can either boom the ball to the side (not into the pre-jumper), or if the attacker pre-jumped high enough, you can catch the ball on your car and begin to dribble, resulting in the attacker flying over your head.
- Advancing towards you, but not committing yet
In this example, attacker "nh_flame" has not left the ground and is awaiting my hit.
When your opponent is in this position, they are at their most unpredictable state because they have not committed to any action yet. Your decision in this situation greatly depends on the attacker’s distance from you, and how much boost you have. If the attacker is still a sizeable distance from you, wait for the ball to bounce and hit a boomer.
Catching the ball in this situation would result in the attacker simply jumping and knocking the ball off of your car.
- Retreating to regroup
If the opposing team is retreating to midfield or back to their own end, this is an ideal situation that allows for maximum flexibility in your options. There is no one near you, and you have the freedom to do whatever you want with the ball. This set of circumstances is when you consider the other factors that will be discussed next: Your Team’s Position, and your Boost Amount. Depending on these two variables, the best possible decision will change. For example, if you have low boost and your teammates are upfield, booming the ball towards them would be the best choice. Inversely, if you have full boost and your teammates are all behind you, catching the ball and going for a dribble would be the best choice.
You/Your Team’s Position on the Field
Your team’s positioning relative to yours during defensive situations is another important factor to consider in your decision-making. Although the final decision does mostly depend on the other variables mentioned, your team’s positioning can add purpose to your actions with the ball.
If your teammates are pushed up around midfield and you are the last player back, you should boom the ball either in a direct pass towards them or in their general direction. If you were to catch the ball and dribble in this situation, an opposing player could possibly 50/50 you, leaving your net wide open with no defenders back.
On the other hand, if your teammates are both behind you, booming the ball would only give away possession to the other team. Depending on the other variables, catching and controlling the ball will typically be the best decision in this situation. If you lose a 50/50 here, then your teammates would be defending and ready to back you up.
Boost Amount
The last thing to primarily consider is your boost amount. Catching the ball with zero boost is more often than not a bad situation to be in, as catching the ball halts all of its momentum, and limits it only to the power your car exerts on it. With no boost, it is incredibly difficult to get the ball moving from a dribble, and it leaves you wide open for a losing 50/50. So, if you have little to no boost and the situation allows, try to boom the ball towards your teammates. This will maintain possession at the very least and will not give away the ball to the opposing team.
If you have a full tank of boost, your decision depends on the other factors mentioned earlier. You could catch the ball, boom it, or even go up for an air dribble. Just make sure you fully evaluate your situation and all possible options.
Final Notes
Slowing down the game is an important skill to add to your skill set for Rocket League. However, it is not always the best decision to stop the momentum of the ball. So, using the guide above, I hope you can come to understand how this all relates to possession of the ball and what those possibilities can hold for you.
Lastly, make sure that you have a plan on what you are going to do with the ball ahead of time. Evaluate your situation, consider the factors presented above, and craft a plan before setting it in motion. Good luck!
Like our content? Support us by getting our merchandise in our shop
