Fox players (or any players) what habits do you wish you had when you started ?

[FoxeR]

Before muscle memory kicked in. Anything you would learn or do differently from the start ? What things do I really really need to work on in the beginning to get them correct before getting bad habits ?

 

[Xyzz]

Regarding slight controller optimizations:
Wavedash with x/y and r (in order to have both inputs on the same hand)
L cancel with z or by not fully pressing the shield button (so you don't unintentionally mess up your tech window).
Shield with the shield trigger you're not using for wavedashing (makes wd oos more convenient)
Use y to jump (closer to the b button).
Do tilts by moving the controlstick a short distance, not by slowly moving it maximum distance.

And some others:
Don't just learn to SHFFL, learn to sh-ff and l cancel separately. This is to say: also practice doing aerials falling from different heights (e.g. from platforms). Practice hitting opponents primarily, but also practice missing opponents. Don't FF every jump (although in most cases it's a good idea, it sometimes comes back to bite you if you can't get the furthest fade distance because you're always fast falling)
Learn at least two wavedashing lenghts (the max range one and the minimum length that is not in place), practice being able to do them in either direction while facing the same way or facing away.

 

[AirFair]

Don't tapjump and roll so often.

 

[pershona]

Practice L-canceling earlier.
Use more grabs with Marth

 

[TheKobanator]

Regarding slight controller optimizations:
Wavedash with x/y and r (in order to have both inputs on the same hand)
L cancel with z or by not fully pressing the shield button (so you don't unintentionally mess up your tech window).
Shield with the shield trigger you're not using for wavedashing (makes wd oos more convenient)
Use y to jump (closer to the b button).
Do tilts by moving the controlstick a short distance, not by slowly moving it maximum distance.

And some others:
Don't just learn to SHFFL, learn to sh-ff and l cancel separately. This is to say: also practice doing aerials falling from different heights (e.g. from platforms). Practice hitting opponents primarily, but also practice missing opponents. Don't FF every jump (although in most cases it's a good idea, it sometimes comes back to bite you if you can't get the furthest fade distance because you're always fast falling)
Learn at least two wavedashing lenghts (the max range one and the minimum length that is not in place), practice being able to do them in either direction while facing the same way or facing away.

This is crazy good advice, great job!

 

[Spazzy]

Pummeling after a grab is a good habit that I always fail to do still

 

[SAUS]

Wall teching with your recovery is a good one. All you have to do is hard press R or L a 3rd of a second before the attack they hit you with sends you flying (basically, something like a quarter of a second before you're hit is good enough). Since the window is so large, you can be really sloppy with it and it will still work. Getting in the habit of just pressing shield as your up-b is passing by the edge will help you get used to wall teching very quickly.

Perhaps not important to pay attention to right away, but you can try to DI / SDI everything (I'm trying to force myself to SDI by habit). This could be very helpful since DI takes quite a while to learn. At the same time, though, this is probably too much to pay attention to in earlier stages of learning.

 

[ObdurateMARio]

Change your tag to grab, so that you'll grab, and not just drillshine/nairshine/jab/run in shine etc every approach.