Rocket League
bradford86
Champion II
3,000+ hours of car soccer. Top 1% in career wins globally. 12,500+ wins and counting. This page exists because someone asked “what do you do for fun?” and the answer was a 20-minute monologue about rotation.
Rank
Champion II
Top 2.8% Standard
Hours
3,000+
And counting
Gamertag
bradford86
Epic Games
Motto
"What a save!"
Said with love
Ranked Playlists
Ranked Standard 3v3
1205 MMR · Top 2.8%
Peak
Champion II 1252 (Season 24)
Ranked Doubles 2v2
1218 MMR · Top 9.0%
Peak
Champion II 1244 (Season 24)
Ranked Duel 1v1
728 MMR · Top 19.0%
Peak
Diamond I 881 (Season 28)
Lifetime Stats
Wins
12,511
Top 1.0%
#56,785
Goals
19,398
Top 4.9%
#301,066
Shots
50,039
Top 3.0%
#178,200
Assists
12,550
Top 1.1%
#60,373
Saves
18,964
Top 3.0%
#180,266
MVPs
4,388
Top 2.3%
#133,755
Goal/Shot %
38.8%
TRN Score
4,284,475
Top 1.5%
#110,270
Average Performance
| Playlist | Win % | Goals | Assists | Saves |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1v1 | 55.6% | 2.50 | — | — |
| 2v2 | 43.8% | 1.75 | 0.56 | 1.75 |
| 3v3 | 33.7% | 0.58 | 0.42 | 0.88 |
Stats pulled from Tracker.gg. Yes, the 3v3 win rate is being worked on.
Rank History Timeline
The long, humbling road from Bronze to Champion.
Installed the game. Thought ball cam was a bug. Chased the ball like a golden retriever.
Discovered you can jump. Revolutionary. Still whiffing 80% of aerials.
Learned what rotation means. Did not practice it. Blamed teammates.
First intentional aerial goal. Celebrated like winning the World Cup. Lost next 7 games.
Started watching RLCS. Tried to copy Squishy. Realized I am not Squishy.
The plateau. Spent 6 months here. Questioned every life decision. Kept queueing.
Finally. Champion rewards unlocked. Texted friends. None of them cared.
Current peak. The air is thin up here. Still whiff occasionally. The shame is exponential.
Training Regimen
The practice routine that got me to Champion. And keeps me there. Barely.
Aerial Training
DailyCustom training packs for redirects, double taps, and backboard reads. The fundamentals that separate Diamond from Champion.
Wall Shots & Air Dribbles
3x/weekDriving up the wall, popping the ball, and following it into the air. Success rate: maybe 40%. Looks cool 100% of the time.
Rotation & Positioning
After bad sessionsWatching replays for bad rotations. Turns out most goals conceded happen because I cut rotation. Shocking.
Fast Aerials
DailyJump, tilt, boost, jump. The bread and butter of Champion-level play. Getting to the ball 0.3 seconds faster is the difference.
Dribbling & Flicks
2x/weekGround dribbles, 45-degree flicks, musty flicks (attempted). The 1v1 game in a nutshell. Still working on consistency.
Shadow Defense
WeeklyDriving backwards while matching the opponent's angle. The most boring but most effective defensive mechanic.
15 Rocket League Tips
Ranked by Difficulty (how hard to learn) and Impact (how much MMR it will gain you). Earned through 3,000+ hours of suffering.
Learn fast aerials before anything else
Jump + tilt back + boost simultaneously, then second jump. This is the single biggest unlock between Diamond and Champion.
Difficulty (4/10)
Impact (10/10)
Stop ball-chasing. Rotate back post.
Always rotate to the far post. Never cut through midfield. Your teammate will hate you less.
Difficulty (3/10)
Impact (9/10)
Turn off camera shake immediately
Go to settings. Turn it off. Right now. Why is this even a default setting?
Difficulty (1/10)
Impact (8/10)
Boost management > boost starving
Grab small pads. You only need 12 boost for a single jump save. You do not need 100 boost to feel safe.
Difficulty (5/10)
Impact (8/10)
Watch your own replays (and cringe)
You will discover that 70% of goals scored on you happen because you were out of position, not because of mechanical failures.
Difficulty (2/10)
Impact (7/10)
Play 1v1 even though it is painful
1v1 exposes every weakness. No teammates to blame. Pure accountability. I hate it. It works.
Difficulty (7/10)
Impact (9/10)
Learn to half-flip
Backflip, cancel with forward input, air roll. Turns you 180 degrees in half the time. Essential for recovery.
Difficulty (5/10)
Impact (7/10)
Do not go for corner boosts on kickoff in 3v3
The 3rd man should cheat up or stay back, not leave the goal open for a free shot. This is Bronze behavior at any rank.
Difficulty (2/10)
Impact (6/10)
Power shots > fancy shots
A hard, well-placed shot beats a ceiling shot 95% of the time. Mechanics impress your friends. Power wins games.
Difficulty (4/10)
Impact (8/10)
Use training packs, not free play exclusively
Free play is great for car control. But training packs simulate game scenarios. Do both.
Difficulty (3/10)
Impact (6/10)
Do not tilt-queue. Take breaks.
Lost 3 in a row? Stop. Go outside. Walk the dog. Your MMR will thank you. I learned this after losing 150 MMR in one sitting.
Difficulty (8/10)
Impact (9/10)
Learn to read bounces off the backboard
Most Champion-level goals come from backboard reads. Position yourself on the back wall or opposite post and follow up.
Difficulty (6/10)
Impact (7/10)
Adjust your camera settings early
Copy a pro's camera settings. 110 FOV, 270 distance, 100 height, -3 angle is a solid starting point. Do not use default settings.
Difficulty (1/10)
Impact (6/10)
Trust your teammate (even when it is hard)
If they are going for the ball, do not also go for the ball. Two people on the ball = zero people in net. This is the hardest lesson.
Difficulty (9/10)
Impact (8/10)
Spend 15 minutes in free play before ranked
Warm up your car control. Hit the ball around. Get your muscle memory going. Cold-queueing ranked is self-sabotage.
Difficulty (1/10)
Impact (5/10)
Quick Chat Analysis
A rigorous, peer-reviewed study of my quick chat usage patterns. Sample size: approximately 25,000 games.
| Quick Chat | Usage |
|---|---|
| What a save! | 87% |
| Nice shot! | 62% |
| Okay. | 45% |
| Close one! | 38% |
| I got it! | 29% |
| No problem. | 52% |
| gg | 91% |
| Take the shot! | 15% |
The Grind: What It Takes to Get to Champion
A brutally honest breakdown of the time investment. No one tells you this before you start.
The Honeymoon Phase
Everything is new. Car soccer! You can fly! Hitting the ball at all feels like an achievement. Ignorance is bliss.
The Learning Curve
You watch YouTube tutorials. You learn terms like 'rotation' and 'boost management.' You are still bad but now you know why.
The Plateau
Diamond hell. You are too good for Platinum, too inconsistent for Champion. This is where most people quit. You do not quit.
The Breakthrough
Fast aerials click. Rotation becomes muscle memory. You stop chasing. Champion rewards finally land. The dopamine is unreal.
The Diminishing Returns
Gains come in microscopic increments. You analyze replays. You drill mechanics for hours. You gain 20 MMR and lose it in one bad session.
Top 10 Rocket League Cars, Ranked
Every car has the same stats. Only the hitbox matters. And yet, we all have opinions.
Octane
Octane hitboxThe GOAT. Best all-rounder. Used by 70% of RLCS pros. If you are not using Octane, you need a reason.
Fennec
Octane hitboxSame hitbox as Octane but the visual model matches the hitbox better. Some people swear it feels different. Placebo? Maybe.
Dominus
Dominus hitboxLonger, flatter hitbox. Flicks hit harder. Power shots are nasty. The 1v1 specialist's choice.
Batmobile
Plank hitboxThe flattest car in the game. Incredible for 50/50s and flicks. Terrible for aerial accuracy. High-risk, high-reward.
Breakout
Breakout hitboxUnderrated. Great for air dribbles and flicks. Narrower than Dominus. The hipster's choice.
Merc
Octane hitboxA meme pick that actually has the Octane hitbox. Assert dominance by scoring ceiling shots in a van.
Skyline (R34)
Hybrid hitboxFrom the Fast & Furious DLC. Looks incredible. Feels slightly off. Worth it for the aesthetic.
Takumi
Octane hitboxAnother Octane hitbox. No one uses it. The underground pick. Initial D energy.
Scarab
Octane hitboxA beach ball with wheels. If someone scores on you with a Scarab, you uninstall the game.
Zippy
Breakout hitboxProof that Psyonix has a sense of humor. No competitive advantage. Maximum disrespect factor.
Rocket League vs Real Sports
A fair and balanced comparison by someone with no bias whatsoever.
| Category | Rocket League | Real Sports | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Calories Burned per Game | 12 (generous estimate) | 200-400 | Real Sports |
| Trash Talk Volume | Infinite (quick chat spam) | Moderate (ref penalties) | Rocket League |
| Required Equipment | $300 controller + copium | $500+ cleats, pads, fees | Rocket League |
| Injury Risk | Carpal tunnel, broken controller | ACL tears, concussions | Rocket League |
| Age You Can Compete | 8-80 (no knees required) | Peak at 28, done by 35 | Rocket League |
| Teamwork Required | Absolute (3 randoms, 1 brain) | Organized (coach, plays) | Tie (both painful) |
| Post-Game Recovery | Close laptop, existential crisis | Ice bath, stretching | Rocket League |
| Career Earnings (Glen) | $0.00 | $0.00 | Tie (tragic) |
Highlights & Fun Facts
Frequently Asked Questions
What rank is bradford86 in Rocket League?
bradford86 (Glen Bradford) is currently Champion II in both Ranked Standard (3v3) and Ranked Doubles (2v2), which places him in the top 2.8% and top 9.0% of players respectively. He is Platinum II in 1v1 because 1v1 is a different game entirely and he hates it.
How many hours does Glen have in Rocket League?
Glen has over 3,000 hours in Rocket League across multiple platforms. This is roughly equivalent to getting a master's degree, learning a language to fluency, or reading 600 books. He chose car soccer.
What car does bradford86 use in Rocket League?
Glen primarily uses the Octane, the most popular car in competitive Rocket League. He occasionally switches to the Fennec (same hitbox, different visual) when he needs a mental reset. He has never scored a meaningful goal with the Merc.
Is Champion II good in Rocket League?
Champion II places you in approximately the top 3-5% of all ranked Rocket League players. It requires strong aerial ability, consistent rotation, fast decision-making, and around 1,500-3,000 hours of practice. It is the rank where you are too good to play casually but nowhere near good enough to go pro. The existential sweet spot.
What is the best way to rank up in Rocket League?
Based on Glen's 3,000+ hours of experience: learn fast aerials, stop ball-chasing, rotate back post, play 1v1 to expose weaknesses, watch your replays, manage boost efficiently (grab small pads), warm up before ranked, and most importantly, stop playing when tilted. Mechanics matter less than positioning and game sense until Grand Champion.
Does Glen Bradford play Rocket League competitively?
Glen plays ranked competitive Rocket League almost daily. He has 12,500+ career wins (top 1% globally), a 38.8% goal-to-shot ratio, and has earned Champion rewards multiple seasons. He does not compete in RLCS or organized tournaments because he values his remaining sanity.
What is Rocket League and why do adults play it?
Rocket League is a vehicular soccer video game where rocket-powered cars hit a giant ball into goals. Adults play it because it has one of the highest skill ceilings of any competitive game, a 5-minute match length that fits busy schedules, and it triggers the same competitive dopamine as real sports without requiring functional knees.
How does Glen balance Rocket League with his career?
Poorly. But also: Rocket League matches are 5 minutes. You can fit 2-3 games into a work break. The game rewards quick sessions more than marathon grinding. Glen treats it like a sport — daily practice, focused improvement, and scheduled play time. It is the competitive outlet that keeps the rest of life manageable.
More About Glen
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