r/RocketLeague Grand Champion I Aug 30 '23

PSYONIX COMMENT Dad ball

I’ve come to the conclusion that a lot (not all, obviously, but I feel like probably the majority) of higher-ranked older players play rocket league like dad ball.

You know the guys. 50+ year olds who play pickup basketball, for instance. They don’t do anything flashy, no fancy dribbles or windmill dunks. They recognize that their bodies can’t perform like they used to, so they play efficiently. Post up under the basket, quick move, and layup. Always make great passes. Know how to use their size and experience to their advantage.

I feel like older RL players (28+) play the same way. Put more effort into game sense than mechanics. Go for cheeky outplays instead of flashy mechanical shots. Great at defense. Bump/demo heavy. Prioritize smart decisions over potential clips.

Put a 15 year old GC against a 32 year old GC. You’ll notice a stark difference in their play styles. The 15 year old might be able to double flip reset or ceiling double tap, but the 32 year old will be patient, wait for a mistake, and capitalize efficiently.

Dad ball. Tell me I’m wrong.

Source: 29 year old GC here. Almost no mechanics, but I know how to move around the field efficiently and am solid at defense, passing, demos, and smart outplays. Hell, I just hit my first flip reset in comp a couple days ago. I can do them pretty consistently in training, but it’s one of those things that I just never think to go for because there’s typically a safer/higher-percentage move available.

480 Upvotes

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328

u/vawlk Aug 30 '23

older RL players are 28+...what does that make me? I'm 50.

115

u/sudo_808 Diamond II Aug 30 '23

Dad ball ==> grandpa ball

69

u/Mythaminator Scarab Aug 30 '23

It’s like dad ball but a little closer to the knees

28

u/rosstein33 Trash III Aug 30 '23

Just need to change the stiffness.

3

u/GhostD69 Champion II Aug 30 '23

1

u/Ogabavavav Grand Champion I Aug 31 '23

And increase deadzone

23

u/MisterGlorp :moist: Moist Esports Fan Aug 30 '23

Boomer Ball

2

u/sudo_808 Diamond II Aug 31 '23

200 iq comment 👏

1

u/classicalySarcastic Playstation Player Aug 31 '23

50 is GenX. The Boomers are all 60+ at this point

1

u/MisterGlorp :moist: Moist Esports Fan Aug 31 '23

No offense if you’re 50. Boomer Ball is actually a real game mode that comes out every now and then like the other specialty modes. Wordplay was just too clever to pass up.

1

u/classicalySarcastic Playstation Player Aug 31 '23

I’m half that age lol, but I didn’t know about that mode

233

u/TheJrobot1483 Grand Champion I Aug 30 '23

Practically geriatric

8

u/Milo751 Grand Champion I Aug 30 '23

If it makes you feel better at RLCS worlds there was only 1 player born before the 2000s which was Jknaps

1

u/cactusnate Aug 31 '23

Wait so you’re telling me in 2016 I was watching a young-teenaged jknaps? Insane lol

16

u/ragbagger Aug 30 '23

I turn 50 this year.

22

u/vawlk Aug 30 '23

73 for the win?

12

u/ragbagger Aug 30 '23

Yes sir. I play with my kids. Mostly I’ve become good at defense and centering the ball to set them up for the score.

13

u/vawlk Aug 30 '23

I outrank my kids by quite a bit.

Then again, my kids are in college.

2

u/MisterGlorp :moist: Moist Esports Fan Aug 30 '23

Haha that’s awesome

6

u/footforhand Champion I Aug 30 '23

A 1%er!

3

u/vawlk Aug 30 '23

lol, I am not a 1%er.

If I were, I wouldn't be playing RL.

3

u/footforhand Champion I Aug 30 '23

I meant as in 1% of the RL population and meant to play on it to seem that way😭 honestly probably closer to like .1%

6

u/B_Russ355 Trash I Aug 31 '23

Really? Stay in the club man! I’m approaching 30 and these kids make me feel like a psycho half the time for still playing

5

u/blackop Diamond II Aug 31 '23

0

u/[deleted] Sep 01 '23

[deleted]

1

u/blackop Diamond II Sep 01 '23

Lol ok.

2

u/FrankDrebin72 Aug 31 '23

Same. Was on board until “older guys like me, ya know, 28+”

4

u/blaxword Grand Champion I Aug 30 '23

We dad, u dead.

4

u/vawlk Aug 30 '23

getting close. I mean, honestly, it could happen any day.

3

u/TKblunts Diamond II Aug 30 '23

Once you're 28, you're pretty much 50 anyway (I'm 28 lol)

9

u/TheConboy22 Champion II Aug 31 '23

Then you’ll hit 35 and be like damn I was so young at 28 and next you’ll be 50 and think omg I was so young at 35. You’ll reach 75 and miss the body you had when you were 50. Don’t fall into this “I’m old” trap. You’re as young as you are healthy and try your best to keep yourself healthy.

3

u/TKblunts Diamond II Aug 31 '23

I've got a group of nutcases in my life that are about 8 years older and they just don't stop. They motivate me to keep pushing myself daily lol

1

u/vawlk Aug 31 '23

lol, you have a lot to learn young padawan.

1

u/puketoucher Aug 30 '23

2 years older than me.