Rocket League is changing, and if you don’t adapt, you’ll be left behind. I know this because just a few months ago, I was struggling to keep up at my rank. I had fallen down to Grand Champ 1 and was hardstuck for over a year. I knew I needed to improve my mechanics, consistency, and decision-making, but I felt stuck doing the same thing over and over with no clear direction.
That’s when I started coaching with pro player Shock, and in less than three months, I hit my new peak rank: Grand Champ 3. Since then, I’ve made 20 major changes to my approach, and I want to share them with you so you can stop making the same mistakes and get back to ranking up.
For those of you who are new here, I’m a Grand Champ 3 Rocket League coach and founder of TheGrandChampBootcamp.com, where Shock and my team of coaches provide free content and paid one-on-one coaching for players ranked Diamond and above (ages 18+). You can also join our free Discord community, which includes training routines, resources, and courses to help you improve. Click the first link below to join, and I’ll see you in the Discord server.
Now, let’s dive into the 20 outdated Rocket League tips you need to stop doing in 2024.
Outdated Tip #1: Ranked 3v3 is the Best Game Mode to Improve
Many players think 3v3 is the best mode for improvement, but it’s actually the slowest compared to 1v1 and 2v2. The heavy focus on rotations, demos, and off-ball play in 3v3 can waste valuable time if your goal is to improve raw mechanics and decision-making.
Instead, spend most of your time in ranked 1v1 and 2v2. These modes force you to focus on car control, ball control, and adaptability, which are key to rapid improvement.
Outdated Tip #2: Only Air Roll to Line Yourself Up
I used to believe you should only use air roll when absolutely necessary, but that’s outdated. Air rolling during your touches can confuse opponents and reduce knockback on your hits, allowing for smoother control and better momentum.
As one of our pro coaches, Freakii, puts it:
- “If you air roll while hitting the ball, you reduce recoil and maintain control, letting you transition momentum more effectively.”
Start incorporating air roll into your gameplay more often.
Outdated Tip #3: You Have to Solo Queue to Improve
Solo queuing in ranked, especially in 2v2 and 3v3, is often a waste of time. Most pros actually duo queue to reach their rank before switching to solo queue. Having a good teammate makes it easier to climb.
If you’re struggling to find teammates, join our free Discord community at TheGrandChampBootcamp.com, which now has over 40,000 players ranging from Gold to SSL.
Outdated Tip #4: Just Play Ranked to Rank Up
If you want to rank up faster than 99% of players, you need to do what most players aren’t willing to do: train the basics.
Focus on these essentials:
- Backward saves
- Bounce dribbles
- Power shots
- Simple fast aerials
- Recoveries
Master these, and you’ll climb to Champ or even Grand Champ in no time.
Outdated Tip #5: Just Flip More to Play Faster
Low-ranked players often think flipping constantly will make them faster, but pros actually minimize their flips.
Flipping locks your car into a specific direction, limiting your ability to adapt, grab boost, or respond to unexpected ball redirects. Instead, flip only for long distances and rely on smoother movement to maintain control.
Outdated Tip #6: Power Slide is Just for Freestylers
High-rank players use power slide for more than just style—it’s key for smooth recoveries and sharp turns.
If you don’t hold power slide when landing or turning, your car will spin out and lose momentum. Start using power slide consistently to improve your recoveries and overall speed.
Outdated Tip #7: Default Keybinds Are Good
Default keybinds might work, but they’re far from optimal in 2024. Here’s how to update your keybinds:
- Move boost off the face buttons.
- Bind power slide and air roll to the same button.
- Add at least one directional air roll bind.
Outdated Tip #8: In 2v2, Always Challenge First
Retired pro player Flakes demonstrated in his road to SSL series that fake challenging 90% of the time is more effective than diving in.
As the first man, avoid committing too early. Fake challenge, drive challenge, or single-jump challenge to maintain pressure without overcommitting.
Outdated Tip #9: Speed Flips Are a Champ+ Mechanic
If you’re not using speed flips in 2024, you’re falling behind. Even players in Diamond are now speed flipping. Spend a couple of days learning the speed flip—it’s worth the effort.
Outdated Tip #10: Tutorials Are Just for Beginners
You might think tutorials are only for lower ranks, but the truth is: the higher your rank, the more you need to learn.
Don’t stop watching tutorials at Platinum. The skills required at higher ranks only get harder, so keep studying and improving.
Outdated Tip #11: You Don’t Need Mechanics to Rank Up
In 2022, I believed you could reach Grand Champ without mechanics. I’ve since changed my mind.
You don’t need flashy mechanics, but the average player is now too skilled for you to ignore mechanics altogether. Focus on the fundamentals to stay competitive.
Outdated Tip #12: Higher Camera Stiffness Is Always Better
Camera stiffness controls how much your camera moves when accelerating. While 4–6 stiffness is good for most players, lowering it to 3 can help if you’re becoming more mechanical. Experiment to see what works best.
Outdated Tip #13: Always Center the Ball
At higher ranks, blindly centering the ball often backfires. Instead, focus on maintaining pressure, boost starving, and keeping possession. Only center the ball when your teammate is ready.
Outdated Tip #14: Go for Boost on Kickoff
In 2v2, especially in solo queue, grabbing boost on kickoff is often a mistake. Possession is more important than boost, so prioritize maintaining control of the ball.
Outdated Tip #15: Coaching Is Only for Pros
The best time to get coaching was a year ago. The second-best time is today. Coaching isn’t just for pros—it’s for anyone serious about improvement.
I personally worked with Shock, and in less than 10 weeks, I climbed from Grand Champ 1 to Grand Champ 3 while playing only an hour a day.
Outdated Tip #16: Just Hit the Ball Hard
Higher-ranked players value possession over power. Learn to control your touches instead of slamming the ball away, or you’ll get punished as you climb.
Outdated Tip #17: Warm-Ups Don’t Matter
The more mechanical you are, the more important warm-ups become. Spend 5 minutes warming up before ranked, and your consistency will improve significantly.
Outdated Tip #18: Training Packs Are Just for New Players
Training packs aren’t just for beginners. While pros spend more time in free play, most of them grinded training packs to get where they are. Use training packs to refine your mechanics.
Outdated Tip #19: Back Post Is Just for Low Ranks
Even at Champ and Grand Champ, rotating to back post is critical for effective defense. Stick to this fundamental to maintain stability and avoid chaos.
Outdated Tip #20: Delayed Kickoffs Are Better Than Normal Kickoffs
In 2v2 and 3v3, consistent, safe kickoffs are more effective than delayed or tricky kickoffs. Save mix-up strategies for 1v1 and focus on speed flips or diagonal flips in team modes.
That’s it—20 outdated Rocket League tips to stop doing in 2024. Great, now you know what to avoid, but what should you do instead?
If you want to learn the simplest way to get mechanical and rank up in 2024, check out my newest video here. Thanks for reading, and I’ll see you next time!