So You Think You Can Aerial? A Guide to Not Faceplanting in Rocket League
Ah, aerials. The bread and butter of flashy Rocket League YouTubers, the bane of your existence in solo standard, and the move that separates the bronze boppers from the aerial aces. But fear not, fellow rocketeer! This guide will turn you from a grounded goober to a soaring superstar (or at least a mildly competent flier).
Step 1: Accepting You're Basically a Brick
Let's be honest, your car handling right now is about as graceful as a drunken hippo on roller skates. You boost like a maniac in a straight line, turns are a foreign concept, and the concept of air control is as alien as a flying DeLorean. But that's okay! We all gotta start somewhere, even if that somewhere is accidentally launching yourself upside down into your own net.
Step 2: Freeplay Follies
This is your training ground, your aerial academy, your circus act where you (hopefully) won't humiliate yourself in front of a live audience (aka ranked matches). Boost around, jump, flail, and most importantly, laugh at yourself. Seriously, falling with style is half the battle.
Here are some basic maneuvers to get you comfortable:
- The Gentle Rise: Boost and tilt back slightly while holding jump. Don't go all Willy Wonka on the chocolate river here – a small incline will do. Practice flying in a straight line, then try some gentle turns. Baby steps!
- The Not-So-Gentle Plummet: Once you've mastered not looking like a deflated beach ball, it's time to learn how to gracefully fall back to earth. Tilt your car forward while tapping boost to slow your descent. You don't want to land like a sack of potatoes, do you?
Step 3: Introducing Your New Best Friend: Training Packs
Remember those flashy YouTubers I mentioned? Well, some of them are actually nice enough to create training packs specifically designed to torture... I mean, train you in aerials. Find some beginner packs (they're usually named something obvious like "Basic Aerials for the Clueless") and focus on consistency, not speed. Hitting the ball every time is more important than looking like a supersonic blur (for now).
Step 4: Patience, Young Padawan
Learning aerials takes time. Don't get discouraged if you spend more time upside down than a sloth on a Tuesday. Just keep practicing, laugh at your inevitable mistakes, and remember: even the pros whiff aerials sometimes (okay, maybe not that often, but hey, a man can dream!).
Bonus Tip: Don't Be That Guy
There's always one guy in every match who just has to try and do an insane aerial on every single ball, regardless of the situation. Don't be that guy. Sometimes, a simple ground shot is the best option. Plus, missing a flashy aerial in front of your whole team is a great way to become the laughingstock (but hey, at least you'll be getting some air time!).
So there you have it! With a little dedication, a lot of laughter, and the realization that you might spend more time upside down than a bat, you'll be aerialing like a pro in no time. Now get out there and soar, you magnificent flying potato!
