Rocket League is basically soccer with cars, so shooting is essential to having success. But rookies tend to make certain mistakes when it comes to taking a powershot in Rocket League.

To give you a better understanding of what to consider whenever you feel like taking a shot in Rocket League we reached out to Method’s player Mitchell “Shakahron” Johnson, who is feared for his powershots and has some great advice for all Rocket League players.

“A slower shot is likely to be saved”

Shakahron, you’re very good when it comes to powershots. For Rocket League newcomers who want to learn from a pro: What defines a powershot in your eyes?

In my eyes a powershot is a shot that travels at great speed, but it’s situational. A shot travelling at 110 kph is always a powershot, but a shot travelling at 80 kph can also be a powershot depending on how difficult it was to generate that power, the distance travelled before contact with the ball and the bounce of the ball.

In what situations is a powershot a more successful way to score a goal in comparison to for example an Air Dribbling maneuver?

When a defender is stationary in the goal this is probably the best time to opt for a powershot. Placement can take priority but a slower shot is likely to be saved, vice versa a defender who is moving at speed coming across the goal is more likely to save any kind of shot, some pro defence tips there.

A great shot always depends on your position on the pitch: Is there a rule of thumb to correct positioning on the pitch that you use for yourself?

My decision on how to shoot does come down to the position I find myself in. Being front and centre to the goal is my least favoured area for a powershot, because it is the easiest area to mess up. I find myself either hitting the ball over the bar often here as the defenders have the most power to make a save and put the ball somewhere dangerous. I like the ball being either side of the goal which gives you the option to shoot for the near or far post, I find the near post is a very good option a lot of the time, because even though the defender has more of the goal covered they have less time to react to the shot.

“The near post is a very good option”

What is better in your opinion: To shoot from every angle possible or to play it safe and only take shots that you expect to have a decent chance of scoring?

My biggest annoyance in Rocket League is wastefulness in possession. In my opinion always, always, always opt for the play that would keep you in control. You don’t get extra wins for scoring more goals, 1 goal is enough, and if the opposition can’t touch the ball they can’t score. If you have no other options then shoot, if you’re sure you have a chance of scoring then shoot. I find a more round about way to the goal is more successful 9 time out of 10.

When it comes to the mechanical side of shooting: Is it better for a powershot to flick into the ball or just drive straight into it?

This is situational too and it depends on how the ball is traveling. Just jumping into the ball can generate as much, if not more power than a flip. However, with that said the majority of the time you will want to flip into the ball as it will usually generate the maximum power and accuracy.

“You want to flip into the ball”

To get past the defender you need to have good aim. How do you best train your aim to control where the ball is going?

Practice, a lot. There are training packs that are designed to give you shots to take, but in my opinion a lot of them give you situations where I’m just saying, “why would you shoot from here?” rather than playing an infield pass or hitting the ball off the backboard. I find just playing the game is the best way to train your shooting.

What is the sweet spot in the goal that you go for whenever you take a shot?

I think most people would say the top corners and I agree. The top corners are your best chance of scoring against the best players. It looks amazing to see your shot just slip snuggly into the corner like a bullet and most crucially: even if the defender manages to make a save, they have much less possibility to put the ball somewhere dangerous for a counter and they waste the most boost getting to the ball.

How do you get the most power behind a shot?

If the ball is travelling across the pitch to left then hitting the ball forward to the left corner of the goal would generate the most power, as the ball already has momentum in that direction you are just guiding the ball with the added power of your hit.

“Realise when not shooting would be more beneficial”

Is there anything else that you see people do wrong when it comes to shooting?

Newer players tend to flip into the ball very early, this kills a lot of the power. You want to flip just before making contact with the ball. Realise when not shooting would be more beneficial to the team and hit a pass or hit it off the backboard.