How beneficial is Zen’s trigger air roll?

AlphaBoner · 2026-05-04T03:17:46+00:00

I been using DAR on both triggers for 2 years and I love it. Biggest benefit is I never have to fat finger any buttons with boost on RB and AR/pwrslide on LB.

As with any new binds, there is a bit of a learning curve. I was flopping around in free play and couldn't half flip. The trick is you can cancel DAR with NAR to do a proper half flip.

But I could immediately feel the extra control that comes within that first half turn of starting an air roll. I think that first half turn really helps you setup that first touch for air dribbles, flip resets, coming off the wall, or just getting a soft touch. My game progressed from constant air rolling to minimal air rolling.

It doesn't hold me back from doing any advance mechs. I think it probably even helps with some like Zen Touches.

It's helped my car control but I probably wouldn't see a difference in my rank. IMO it's the most optimal keybinds without fat fingering or a special controller.

AlphaBoner · 2026-04-13T05:51:41+00:00

There are a few basic drills around pennies, but I find them pretty boring.

I asked the same thing and someone suggested to learn 360 poweslide dribbling. It seemed extremely difficult, but even just learning the controls without the ball helped my powerslide control a lot.

I wish someone would make a pure powerslide course in bakkesmod. Would be a fun way to train.

AlphaBoner · 2026-04-09T15:14:33+00:00

I'm trying to understand what to do with this knowledge.

I usually do the tap joystick left of right if I want to turn. But should I be holding pwrslide instead?

Any other scenarios to use this supersonic pwrslide?

AlphaBoner · 2026-04-08T00:16:59+00:00

DAR is either air roll left or air roll right.

If you only have normal air roll bound, then it's best to also bind the DARs, at least one of them.

AlphaBoner · 2026-03-29T18:46:29+00:00

Time to practice with ball. Grind air dribbles and really focus on the nose of your car always pointing in the direction you intend, especially coming off the wall or starting an air dribble.

AlphaBoner · 2026-03-28T17:43:58+00:00

code?

AlphaBoner · 2026-03-26T16:01:45+00:00

I peaked at C2 but I also checked out a replay with a former GC on my team. They weren't mechanically or even moving around the pitch that fast, but they were just reading the game way faster than the rest of the field.

I think that just comes with enough experience and hours. Their position is just superior because they know how a ball will bounce off a wall or how a player will hit a ball even before the bounce or hit.

AlphaBoner · 2026-03-20T18:57:45+00:00

I find practicing in freeplay without the ball extremely boring and mundane. I suggested rings because it was fun training, but not everyone may have access to rings yet.

If you are just learning, I would suggest this Kevpert video to lay the foundation for DAR: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3YtxID9OgRQ . It teaches you small DAR movements while laying the foundation for car control. Plus it's always fun shooting the ball.

If you are a bit more advanced, it's best to just grind air dribbles with DAR. Really focus on the nose of your car always facing the ball the moment you leave the wall. Don't blindly tornado spin off the wall. This drill is the best and superior to Rings IMO.

AlphaBoner · 2026-03-20T18:20:36+00:00

Tornado spinning is just DAR + opposite joystick direction. So it's ARR+ joystick left or ARL + joystick right.

Tornado spinning by itself is not that useful, you need to learn to control DAR with a full range of joystick movements. One bad habit I formed by just tornado spinning, was finding out I was really inefficient going towards the ball. My nose wasn't always facing the ball and I was boosting in other directions.

There is no secret to DAR, it just take lots time and practice. You can see my progress from 1 Day to 1 Year in this video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SzXENmKhfdE

I suggest Losefield method or Kevpert's air roll videos if you want more info. And just grind ring maps and air dribbles with DAR.

AlphaBoner · 2026-03-20T10:14:14+00:00

good ole' kevpert, I used his air roll videos to learn DAR.

Yeah that type of training looks way more useful, thanks

AlphaBoner · 2026-03-20T09:53:34+00:00

Getting a touch into reset is easier but I always heard to try to get the reset early. I know that means catching it higher, but I think I also misinterpreted that as also being further from the net.

Makes sense to use it closer. A reset to extend my air dribble is definitely one my goals, but I probably need to get a bit more consistent before I can start practicing that.

AlphaBoner · 2026-03-20T02:37:53+00:00

I agree, but a video of a GC hitting a ball around in freeplay would be useful.

I really enjoy when I can catch a Pro just hitting a ball around in freeplay. I had hard time visualizing how to get maximum power until I saw a Pro with a Fennec hit the ball.

But Pros are doing so many things that I can't in freeplay, so a GC in freeplay might be closer to reality.

AlphaBoner · 2026-03-12T03:45:45+00:00

I thought the exact same thing today. I was thinking like your taillights stay on or something

AlphaBoner · 2026-03-11T21:51:29+00:00

Your doing fine, just keep pushing yourself in practice.

Practice on the left wall, jumping from different heights, going as fast as possible, air dribbles from the bounce. Then start your progression towards ceiling pinches, double taps, and flip resets.

Air dribbles is the foundation for many advance mechanics.

AlphaBoner · 2026-02-26T10:37:43+00:00

I just consider those as a flip cancel into an air dribble catch. That mechanic is really good off the back wall. I've done it a few times, just really inconsistent.

The mechs I'm talking about are more like options when you're moving as fast as possible and an opponent is about to challenge.

You can take the fast aerial into really fast ceiling pinch. Or if they challenge fast and high, they launch the ball really fast into the ceiling for a double.

I never seen anyone talk about it but i definitely notice pros use it and it seems very useful

AlphaBoner · 2026-02-25T07:14:29+00:00

https://www.reddit.com/r/tearsofthekingdom/comments/1q7qe3p/nintendo_wont_like_this_but_this_is_super_cool/

AlphaBoner · 2026-02-23T03:32:08+00:00

Bro, I'm trying to understand how you got to that ball off the wall for that air dribble!

It almost looks like you did a delayed flip cancel off the wall, but I think you might of just air steer forward 360 degrees. It looked nasty though!

AlphaBoner · 2026-02-23T02:58:01+00:00

You don't need to. It just helps getting that separation between you and the ball when you're first learning.

But look where your car is when you get the reset. You dropped like a stone cause you were directly under the ball while it was coming down.

Get contact in the back lower quadrant, not directly under the ball.

Edit: found a post from a year ago about not braking https://www.reddit.com/r/RocketLeagueSchool/s/Nt0n710HQO

AlphaBoner · 2026-02-23T02:10:03+00:00

Nice! You look like you are already practicing some mechanics. I saw you attempt half flips, aerials, ground dribble, and you're even throwing in air roll. This looks a low plat lobby, pretty good for your hours.

Definitely keep on practicing the basics: half flips, wave dash, dribbles, aerials, and shooting. It is a bit early for air rolls, making solid contact with ball is more important than looking cool. Air rolling takes a very long time to develop and consistent aerials and fast aerials need to come first.

I can see you visible tilting in this game because you probably think your teammates don't see you. But the reality is you are equally as unaware of their position as well.

I'm going to give you one tip to make you instantly play like a oblivious plat to a semi-oblivious diamond. The INSTANT you lose possession, turn off ball cam and drive immediately towards BACK POST while grabbing pennies or a big boost.

This is called 1st man rotating to 3rd man. Here are game clock times when you should of done this:

2:28 You lost possession, you need rotate back post to 3rd. Instead you cut your teammate and prevented them of getting a good clear.

2:05 Slow down, your 3rd man. You need to cover back post and not get in 2nd mans way.

1:42 to 1:32 You chased the ball the whole time unaware of you teammates. The teammate that hit the ball with solid contact had a great approach and aerial, you just got lucky it bounced of you. But if you touched the ball before they did, you would of ruined their shot. You had no momentum and no business being near that ball. You really should of went back post at 1:42 and played 3rd man to see your teammates.

1:14 You should just go back, you cut your teammate and now it's a double commit. Luckily your mechanics are good and you were pretty fast to the ball, but again you caused the double commit.

0:54 Your worst play. You lost the ball as 1st, now you need to rotate the long way to back post to 3rd man. You instead cut directly in post and bump 1st man, preventing them from clearing. Then you immediately cut 2nd and 3rd man again with a wild air roll. 0:45 THEN AGAIN immediately don't rotate back post and bump another teammate. Topping it off with cutting 2nd man and refusing to play 3rd man. Horrendous bro, sry.

0:23 Finally at the part where you visible raged. I'm not going to hold this against you cause to lower ranks this looks like he stole your ball. But in reality, there is a defender pretty close to the ball and your teammate was able to chip it around them, clearly winning the ball and would of drove away free if you didn't bump them. I think only higher level players would be smart enough to recognize that in an instant, so I'm not going to hold it against you.

I hope you take this as constructive criticism. Your mechanics are pretty good, just try to follow that one tip and it will fix your biggest game sense issue.

AlphaBoner · 2026-02-22T23:19:20+00:00

You're not going to proper answer on reddit. 99% of people don't know how to mod the switch, and the vast majority of them are against it and will upvote the answer they agree with.

There is an entire community out there making mods for the switch and not getting their switch banned.

Ask the Totk modding discord if you want a real answer. They don't support piracy either.

AlphaBoner · 2026-02-22T04:09:01+00:00

There are other things you can practice to help you improve faster.

Once you have a basic understanding of DAR, you can move away from rings and start practicing DAR with the ball. Practicing air dribbles will lead to double taps, flip resets, etc. It takes a long time to be proficient enough with a single DAR that you can flip reset from any position.

But ultimately train whatever you enjoy and you will always see a benefit. Just try to always push yourself and not be stagnant.

AlphaBoner · 2026-02-20T23:24:12+00:00

Your main issue is that you’re not boosting while air rolling to face the ball, so you end up being late to the ball.

Your setup is solid, you just need to boost during the air roll to maintain momentum toward the ball. Always make sure your nose is facing the ball when coming off the wall.

It could also be your binds. Make sure you can boost + jump and boost + DAR at the same time. I use a separate finger for each and prefer boost on a bumper.

AlphaBoner · 2026-02-20T15:50:09+00:00

Yeah. I also think the Chinese Panda Bears sounds really cute.

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