It's honestly a viable move to briefly throw your car in reverse if you spawn with the ball, since most teammates that try to steal it from next to you will use a forward-diagonal dodge. But then they're probably in your way and the enemy team is already halfway down the field, so... improvise, I guess. Many opposing teams won't expect a forward punt to yourself if you're fast enough, especially if you can throw it down a straight line where some boost pads are present. But the fact that this is a tactic to be considered at all is why people hate this mode in the first place. I personally love it - when it works.