Surf/BHOP/KZ: Which Mode Builds Movement Skill Faster?

xplay.gg

Sep 23, 2025 • 8 min read

TL;DR

Movement in CS2 effectively controls your character's movement (running, jumping, strafing, surfing). Good movement gives you an advantage: you get into positions faster, it's harder to hit you, and easier to shoot.

Differences from CS:GO: Air physics, jump timings, and acceleration have changed; surf is more sensitive to the mouse, and bhop requires a more precise rhythm. All this is due to Source 2 and the new subtick system.

Modes:

Surf - teaches fluidity, speed control, and coordination.
BHOP - develops timing, rhythm, and the ability to maintain speed.
KZ - trains jumping accuracy, route planning, and advanced techniques (longjump, edge jump).

What is Movement and Why You Need it in CS2

Movement is the skill of controlling your character: running, jumping, sliding, and changing direction so that you move quickly and efficiently. In CS2, this skill helps you win. If a player can move well, he can move faster, get into position before enemies, and is also harder to hit. Also, if movement is honed, the player can shoot better than many, which already gives a tactical advantage.

Comparing Movement in CS2 and CS:GO

Movement in CS2 differs from CS:GO because the game runs on the Source 2 engine. This has affected the physics and feel of the movement.

What has changed:

Air physics—CS2 has slightly different inertia. Jumps and strafes feel slightly “heavier,” so older maps and techniques can be traversed differently.
Jump timings—the window for perfect bhop has become a little stricter. In CS:GO, you could tolerate a small margin of error, but in CS2, you need more precise timing.
Acceleration speed—Speed accumulates a bit slower during strafes and bhop, so you have to work more with the mouse and train smoothness more often.
Stairs and collisions—interaction with objects has become more realistic: movement on stairs and platforms is different, and getting stuck in corners is less common.
Server tickrate—CS2 uses a subtick system, changing the timing perception. Now jumps and actions are not limited to the nearest tick, making timing more precise. Read about it in this article: Is CS2 128 Tick? Tick Rate System Explained.

In CS2, Surf has become more sensitive to mouse movement. If you make sharp turns, you quickly lose momentum. Practice smooth movements and handle the mouse gently. Also, pay more attention to rhythm and practice on maps with bhop more to catch the right tempo for this mode.

What Skills Each Mode Develops

We'll examine the skills each of the three modes—Surf, BHOP, and KZ—develops.

Surf

Surf is a map where the player glides on sloping surfaces. To pass the course, you must corner and control your speed appropriately.

Skills Developed:

Speed Control - the player learns to accumulate and hold speed while moving on sloping surfaces.
Precise mouse control - moving across a surfing platform requires precise mouse work for smooth glides and turns.
Understanding the game's physics, the player begins to feel the effects of angles, inclines, and acceleration in motion, which is important for all CS2 modes.
Smoothness and Coordination—Surfing requires a constant combination of leaning and forward/backward movement, which develops overall coordination.

Examples of skill application:

Jump control and rooftop movement in regular CS matches.

Article about surf mode: How to Surf in CS2: Guide to Playing and Joining Surf Servers.

BHOP (Bunny Hop)

BHOP is a mode where everything is based on jumping. The player must jump with perfect timing and turn the mouse to maintain and build up speed.

Skills Developed:

Jump Timing - the player learns how to press jumps so they don't lose speed accurately.
Speed Conservation - BHOP skills allow you to move faster than usual running without losing control.
Reaction and Rhythm - movement becomes rhythmic, improving reaction to obstacles.

Examples of skill applications:

Move quickly around the map in competitive matches.
Effective use of jumping to avoid enemies or cover.

KZ (Kreedz Climbing)

KZ is a parkour mode with obstacles. You must jump on platforms, climb ladders, and use different techniques (longjump, ladder jump, edge jump) on such maps. The main goal is to pass the route to the end as fast as possible without falling.

Developable skills:

Jumping accuracy - requires perfect landing on narrow platforms.
Route planning - the player thinks several steps ahead and about how to pass the map with minimal mistakes.
Speed management - it is essential not only to jump accurately, but also to use acceleration correctly.

Examples of skill application:

Quickly traverse complex maps in competitive matches.

What Skills Each Mode Develops

We'll examine the skills each of the three modes—Surf, BHOP, and KZ—develops.

Surf

Surf is a map where the player glides on sloping surfaces. To pass the course, you must turn correctly and control your speed appropriately.

Skills Developed:

Speed Control – the player learns to accumulate and hold speed while moving on sloping surfaces.
Precise mouse control – moving across a surfing platform requires smooth and accurate mouse movements for glides and turns.
By understanding the game's physics, the player feels the effects of angles, inclines, and acceleration, which is important for all CS2 modes.
Smoothness and Coordination – Surfing requires a constant combination of leaning and forward/backward movement, which develops overall coordination.

Examples of skill application:

Jump control and rooftop movement in regular CS matches.

BHOP (Bunny Hop)

BHOP is a mode where everything is based on jumping. The player must jump with perfect timing and turn the mouse to maintain and build up speed.

Skills Developed:

Jump Timing – the player learns to time jumps accurately to avoid losing speed.
Speed Conservation – BHOP skills allow you to move faster than usual running without losing control.
Reaction and Rhythm – movement becomes rhythmic, improving reaction to obstacles.

Examples of skill applications:

Move quickly around the map during competitive matches.
Effective use of jumping to avoid enemies or take cover.

KZ (Kreedz Climbing)

Skills Developed:

Jumping accuracy – requires perfect landing on narrow platforms.
Route planning – the player thinks several steps ahead and about how to pass the map with minimal mistakes.
Speed management – it is essential not only to jump accurately but also to manage acceleration correctly.

Examples of skill application:

Quickly traverse complex maps during competitive matches.

How Easy is it to Develop a Skill?

Basic Movement Techniques

Strafing

Strafing is at the heart of Surf, BHOP, and KZ. The ability to control movement in the air allows you to maintain speed, land more accurately, and make longer jumps.

To learn how to strafing:

Jump forward and release the W key.
To turn left, press A and smoothly move the mouse to the left.
To turn right, press D and smoothly move the mouse to the right.
Make sure that your mouse movements are smooth, without jerks.
Practice on empty maps or in BHOP mode: the goal is to learn how to turn in the air without losing speed.

Longjump

Long jumps help you to cover long distances in KZ and give you an advantage on competitive maps (e.g., jumping over gaps or peaks from an unexpected angle).

To learn long jumps:

Accelerate, make a jump.
Immediately after jumping, start strafing (A/D + mouse movement).
Use multistrafes (several smooth A/D movements in the air) to increase your range.
Control your landing – aim to get as close to the platform's edge as possible.
First, practice on simple KZ maps with distance markers to understand your progress.

How to Train Movement on xplay.gg

Then choose a suitable mode.

Choose the map and server that suits you best. Make sure that the ping is low. Read more about it in the article: CS2 Low-Ping Servers: How to Pick the Nearest Region.

Start playing and training on xplay.gg. Read about Why Is xplay.gg Safe: Everything You Need to Know.

A significant update has been released on xplay.gg, making movement training even more convenient and diverse. Players can now choose a movement style that suits them. To do this, just go to any mode, and enter the command !style.

On BHOP, the options available are Half-Sideways, W-Only, WS-Only, Speedrun, Low Gravity, and Normal. In Surf, you can choose between W-Only, WS-Only, and Normal. In KZ, there are five styles: Classic KreedZ (CKZ), Vanilla, Vanilla Checkpoints, Pro, and Auto Bhop.

Special attention was paid to the KZ mode. It was completely redesigned, and all records were reset. Now the default basic style is CKZ. Progress has also become more convenient: if you switch to the observers and then return to the game, your run will continue from the last point.

Replay bots are another valuable innovation. You can now view any record on the map using the !replays and !play commands. Replays have also become much smoother, making them an excellent tool for analyzing and learning.

Several new commands have been added to the game to simplify practice:

!cpsound – turns checkpoint sounds on or off
!noclip – free movement on the map
!goto – teleport to the selected player
!practice – enter or exit the practice mode
!hud – enables or removes the timer from the screen
!back – returns to the spawn of the last stage
!bonus – switch to the bonus track
!info – shows information about the map (range, best time, name).

Mouse Sensitivity for Perfect Movement in CS2

DPI: 400-800 - a popular range among pro-gamers.
In-game sensitivity: 1.5-2.5 at DPI 400-800 for precise movements.
Mouse Acceleration: off - mouse acceleration interferes with stability when shooting and moving.

Progress in Training on Surf/BHOP/KZ Maps

To develop the skill as effectively as possible, it is best to progress in stages—from simple to complex—gradually adding new techniques.

Start with Surf: master basic gliding and smooth mouse movements. Learn to control your speed and get on the platforms without falling.

The main rule is not to press W (forward) — it will make you fall. Instead, use A or D, depending on the side of the ramp:

If you are sliding on the right side, press A.
If you are sliding on the left side, press D.

Control the mouse angle — turn it in the direction of movement to ensure a smooth glide.

Once you have mastered the Surf maps, you can move to the BHOP mode.

Practice jump timing. Master strafing — controlling movement in the air using A/D and the mouse, as mentioned earlier.

Then you can move on to the advanced level — KZ.

Work on jump accuracy and route planning.
Connect complex techniques: longjump (a long jump with perfect strafing) and multi-strafe (multiple strafes in a single jump for maximum acceleration).

FAQ

What is the best mode for a beginner?

Surf is the best mode to start with. It has simple entry mechanics: you can quickly feel the “speed” and the thrill of movement. Mistakes are not as critical as in BHOP or KZ.

Can we Combine Modes to Quickly Master the Movement?

Yes, and this is the most effective way. Surf gives fluidity and understanding of inertia, BHOP trains timing and rhythm, and KZ develops jumping accuracy. Together, they pump up the full range of movement skills.

How much time a day do I need to practice to notice results?

Even 15-20 minutes daily is enough to feel progress after 1-2 weeks. The main thing is regularity. If you devote at least an hour, your skills will grow faster.