It’s been so long since Rocket League first came out in 2015, it’s hard to remember the times even before it went free-to-play, but plenty of people are still picking up the car-based soccer game today — many of whom can use the right set of beginner tips to get started. it might feel as if you’re pretty good at Rocket League right off the bat, but it won’t take long before you realize that there’s a lot more to this game than chasing the ball like a puppy at the park.
However, this guide is filled with Rocket League hints, tips, and tricks to help take you to the next level in the ‘Hot Wheels football’ game, Rocket League; that’s outside necessarily completing the tutorials to get fully used to the game’s mechanics, of course.
Updated on February 28, 2026, by Ben Williams: Long since Rocket League first came out, the game has gotten even more competitive over time. Along with the essential tips of jumps, powerslides, and more, there are also crucial camera and controller/keyboard settings adjustments that so many types of players have started prioritizing to get a competitive edge — from casual fans who play once a week to professional eSports players. With that in mind, we’ve also added the key settings you need for your controllers, keyboard, and cameras to be sure that you’re on the same level playing field as your fellow Rocket League players.
Best Beginner Settings
Before diving into the key beginner tips for the vehicular soccer field in Rocket League, it’s crucial to get the correct camera and controller or keyboard settings right first; this is because correctly balanced camera view helps you read plays earlier, spot teammates, and defend without panicking, while smart keybinds and controller calibrations make boosting, jumping, and recovering feel natural instead of awkward.
Best Beginner Camera Settings
|
Setting |
Value |
|---|---|
|
Camera Shake |
Off |
|
FOV |
110 |
|
Distance |
280 |
|
Height |
110 |
|
Angle |
-3 |
|
Stiffness |
0.4 |
|
Swivel Speed |
6.1 |
|
Transition Speed |
1.7 |
A high FOV and a mid-range distance/height combo help you track both the ball and nearby cars without feeling zoomed in.
A mild stiffness keeps the camera steady during fast turns, while toggle Ball Cam lets you quickly swap between ‘play view’ and ‘ball view’ without holding a button.
Best Controller Settings
|
Setting |
Value |
|---|---|
|
Vibration |
Off |
|
Steering Sensitivity |
1.6 |
|
Aerial Sensitivity |
1.55 |
|
Controller Deadzone |
0.10 |
|
Dodge Deadzone |
0.80 |
|
Ball Cam |
Toggle |
Turning vibration off keeps your inputs more consistent, especially in scrappy challenges where the rumble can throw off timing. Steering and aerial sensitivity around 1.30 gives you quick turning without making your car feel twitchy in the air.
A low controller deadzone helps your car respond faster to small stick movements — great for precise dribbles, micro-adjustments, and recoveries. Meanwhile, a higher dodge deadzone reduces accidental flips when you’re just trying to jump or adjust in the air.
Cross deadzone is a popular feel choice, and Ball Cam on toggle makes quick swaps painless during rotations.
Best Controller & Keyboard Keybinds
|
Control |
Controller |
Keyboard/Mouse |
|---|---|---|
|
Boost |
RT / R2 |
W |
|
Brake/Reverse |
LT/L2 |
S |
|
Steer Left/Right |
Left Stick |
A/D |
|
Jump |
A/X |
Space |
|
Powerslide |
LB/L1 |
Left Ctrl |
|
Air Roll (free) |
LB/L1 |
Left Ctrl |
|
Air Roll Left |
(Optional) LB/L1 or X/Square |
Q |
|
Air Roll Right |
(Optional) RB/R1 or B/Circle |
E |
|
Ball Cam |
Y/Triangle |
Spacebar/Tab |
|
Rear View |
R3 |
B |
|
Air Pitch Up/Down |
Left Stick (in air) |
S/W |
|
Air Steer Left/Right |
Left Stick (In Air) |
A/D |
You want to jump and boost without fighting the same thumb. Putting boost on a bumper makes fast aerials and recoveries smoother, and pairing powerslide and air roll on one button simplifies landings and half-flips.
Which Is Better Between Controller Vs Keyboard
Both work at every rank, but the controller is usually easier for Rocket League beginners thanks to analog steering and throttle control. Keyboards can feel snappier for instant inputs, but it’s less forgiving early on; pick what’s most comfortable and stick with it.
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Double Jumps, Flips, And Powerslides
Chances are you will have figured out that holding jump in Rocket League gives your car more height, and flicking the analog stick and jumping jets you forward. However, there are a few other handy tricks that can benefit you when all four wheels are off the ground.
Hit jump again, and you’ll perform a double jump, which is particularly useful when defending. Jumping a second time and holding the analog stick in a particular direction will have the car perform a flip — perfect for gaining momentum when you’re all out of boost.
Mastering the flip will also enable you to change direction at a moment’s notice, which is ideal for when the run of play changes unexpectedly.
When you’re on the ground, powersliding is the best way to head back from where you came. Press and hold square on PlayStation or X on Xbox to perform a powerslide.
Watch The Ball, Don’t Chase The Ball
When playing soccer, football, rugby, or any team sport with a ball, you won’t see everyone on the pitch chasing the ball at the same time; although, you can stand back and watch almost every single player do it in Rocket League.
That leads to chaos and anarchy. You don’t want to be a part of that. Hold back, observe the situation, and plan your attack. Yes, Rocket League is a fast-moving game, but there’s a lot of room on those pitches. Use it.
The best way to make sure you are watching the ball at all times is to switch to Ball Cam. Rocket League gives players a typical racing game view of their car when they first launch the game.
Ball Cam gives players the ability to see the ball at all times. It will seem annoying and unnatural at first, and it takes some getting used to. However, if you want to be a better Rocket League player, you need to get used to it.
Above All Else, Don’t Panic
Watching the ball rolling towards a goal you’re supposed to be defending as an opponent speeds toward it will naturally cause a state of panic. Unless you’re playing 1v1, you won’t be the only one feeling that way. While everyone else flies in, take a breath, and use some of the key skills to make sure that ball doesn’t cross the line.
Chances are, the car speeding into the score will also have a panicked player behind the wheel, so they probably won’t be hitting a precise and powerful shot into the top corner.
Rocket League is a simple game on the surface, and many of those who have joined since it went free-to-play will never see it as anything more than that. They will either fall by the wayside as other newcomers become better players, or carry on ball-chasing in the hope that they’ll tap in a goal every now and again.
You can be better than those players starting right now, and perhaps begin a long relationship with a game that rewards those who learn its intricacies.
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