Rocket Start



Rocket Start (also referred to as Turbo Start, Boost Start or Headstart) is a technique used in all of the Mario Kart games. It is a short speed boost that occurs at the beginning of each and every race. It is executed by pressing the acceleration button in tune with the starting countdown, with each game has different timing to do so. If the player over-revs when the final beep sounds, it will make the player's vehicle stall for a few seconds at the beginning of the course (sometimes known as a Dud Start).

Controls
To perform a Rocket Start, drivers must press and hold the corresponding acceleration button when the race is about to start. How to use it depends on which installment in the series and which control scheme the player uses.

Arcade series

 * Mario Kart Arcade GP  – Same as Mario Kart: Super Circuit and Mario Kart: Double Dash!!, but with the gas pedal.
 * Mario Kart Arcade GP 2 and Mario Kart Arcade GP DX - Pressing down on the accelerator when "1" appears on the screen, or same as Mario Kart: Super Circuit and Mario Kart: Double Dash!!.

Double Dash!!
The Double Dash!! is a technique that can be performed only in the co-op play mode of Mario Kart: Double Dash!!, which is named after the game's subtitle. Both players must press at the same time when the light turns green to perform this technique, which will make the kart be launched at a higher speed. A blue trail will follow the kart, showing that the technique was performed correctly. This move's control is slightly different to that of a normal Rocket Start.

Super Mario Galaxy
A form of Rocket Start appears in Super Mario Galaxy. At the beginning of a Cosmic Mario or Cosmic Luigi race, if the player holds the up, then  when the timer hits 2, and then hits  just as the race starts, Mario or Luigi will get an extra boost at the beginning of the race. This can be shown by a yellow color appearing on Mario or Luigi, shrinking gradually, showing the end of the speed boost.