How to Air Dribble in Rocket League

The physics in Rocket League are as amazing as they are challenging. But that’s part of the fun. Pulling off some of the more advanced mechanics is sometimes as rewarding as winning a match.

Playing the game in its simplest form can be entertaining for a while. With that in mind, this only gets you so far against skilled players. Using complex mechanics can help you make the ball’s flight path almost unpredictable to defenders.

And who doesn’t want to do that, especially in ranked play? In this article, we’ll cover one of the most exciting ball-handling techniques in Rocket League – the air dribble.

How to Air Dribble

The air dribble can be one of the flashiest moves in the game. But is it an effective mechanic? Yes, it actually is. Regardless of what rank you’re playing at, becoming a skilled air dribbler can add a new layer to your game. Controlling the ball on the ground and in the air can give you many advantages over your opponents.

It’s a power move that can, at the very least, level the playing field.

There are two elements to air dribbling in Rocket League. You have the setup and the in-air control. Obviously, the setup is crucial to pulling off a successful dribble.

Think of your first touch as the most important thing to master. If you can’t get the timing right when rolling the ball up the wall, you won’t get anywhere with this mechanic.

Rocket League Air Dribble Setup Key Mechanics

When practicing your technique, focus on the following steps.

1. Maintain the same pace as the ball.
   
2. Hit the ball from the underside to get it high.
   
3. After that, jump so you can stay close to the ball.
   
4. Don’t fly too close to the ball because you’ll risk pushing it too far when you boost.
5. Use the boost to control your car in mid-air.
   

These are the same principles that any pro Rocket League player worth their salt follows. Everything else comes from practice and consistency.

How to Air Dribble From a Wall in Rocket League

The easiest way to do an air dribble off the wall is to start with the ball on the ground. For the setup to work, you’ll need to roll the ball up the curve.

A non-bouncing ball is much easier to control. Advanced players, meanwhile, have enough hours of practice to follow the ball even when it bounces.

1. Push the ball towards the wall. Going slower helps avoid the ball bouncing hard towards the center of the field or rolling towards the ceiling.
   
2. Aim your car at the underside of the ball to make it go up.
3. Wait for the ball to roll up the curvature of the wall and create some space.
   
4. Hit the underside of the ball. This will make it go towards the field.
   
5. Jump right after hitting the ball for an easy follow-up.
   
6. Tap the booster to hit the ball and control its flight trajectory.
   

How to Air Dribble From the Ground in Rocket League

Unlike air dribbles from the wall, the ground-to-air dribble needs a different setup. This time you’ll want a bouncing ball.

1. Get in a position to hit a bouncing ball from underneath.
   
2. Hit it and jump with your car at the same time. Do this immediately after the ball bounces for perfect timing. It will create enough momentum for the ball to go high up and for your car to easily follow from behind.
   
   
3. Keep boosting your car into the ball as it starts to come down to maintain mid-air control and dribble the ball.
   

How to Air Dribble on the Keyboard in Rocket League

Motor control is what separates the best Rocket League players from the rest of the pack. It’s no secret that the higher echelon players use controllers, regardless of what platform they play the game on.

With that said, it doesn’t mean that a traditional keyboard and mouse setup can’t do the trick.

The secret to becoming an ace at air dribbling from your keyboard is to avoid holding anything down. Tapping your buttons in increments will give you better control over your direction, speed, and power.

Using the mouse to control the camera isn’t rocket science (no pun intended). Just make sure to experiment with different sensitivities. Your camera control is critical to getting your positioning on-point (slightly behind and under the ball).

But due to the game’s pace, what feels comfortable in other genres may not work to your advantage in the high-octane environment of Rocket League.

Once you become accustomed to doing more tapping than holding, everything else is the same.

1. Execute the setup by rolling the ball up the wall and jumping with it or by chipping it off the ground.
   
   
2. Maintain the same in-air speed as the ball while staying slightly behind.
   
3. Hit the ball underneath to keep it bouncing in the air.
4. Slightly tap your boost button to close the distance and hit the ball.
   

It may be more difficult at first, but Rocket League wasn’t designed as a console-only game. It plays really well with a standard computer configuration, but it takes more time to master the motor control and physics of the game.

Rocket League Air Dribble FAQs

How do I score a goal from an air dribble in Rocket League?

You’ve probably seen this done a thousand times by skilled players. Yet the move isn’t as advanced as you think.

The fake air dribble is a move that can catch defenders off guard. You start by setting up an air dribble from the ground or the wall. Perform the first touch to dribble the ball once.

Then, as your second jump comes to an end, perform a front flip. Most defenders might expect another jump or dribble. However, the front flip will allow you to execute a powerful shot towards the goal if you’re facing the post.

What is the best way to practice air dribbles in Rocket League?

Jumping into free play is the quickest way to start practicing your technique. It’s just you, the field, and the ball.

However, since the game went live, a couple of mods have appeared. BakkesMod is one of the most helpful plugins for Rocket League. It features multiple training packs with preset scenarios that allow you to learn and master various mechanics.

For air dribbles, you can choose many ball trajectories, angles, and speeds. It’s convenient since you won’t have to worry about the setup. You can focus only on controlling your car in the air and getting your boost timing perfect.

Freestyle Away

Reflexes matter a lot in Rocket League, but so does putting in hours into practice. When trying to learn and perfect advanced techniques, like the air dribble, nothing comes easy.

First, you have to understand the game’s physics, then its mechanics, and then, you have to practice the same moves from all possible angles.

Of course, once you have the blueprint for how it’s done, it’s only a matter of time until you can add something new to your repertoire.

As Rocket League is a game where the ball spends a lot of time in the air, clearly the air dribble should be one of the first advanced mechanics you need to learn.

What’s your favorite setup and follow-up for an air dribble? Do you prefer taking the ball up from the ground, or do you find the wall more helpful to start your dribble in a specific direction?

Let us know in the comments section below.