Another 'Optimal Controls' Thread

[ECHOnce]

I've read through and shared my thoughts on past threads asking for optimal ways to hold the controller. And while I'm among those who have said that using X vs. Y to jump, A vs. Z vs. C-stick for aerials, etc. is somewhat negligible, I'm coming to find that some are much more difficult than others.

I use X to jump, C-stick for most aerials, and Z for quicker aerials. Of recent, from my friends' experiences, I'm finding that using Y to jump and A for quicker aerials may be more optimal. Examples of this from my own experience include:

• When I try to input quick aerials (e.g. Sheik N-air oos), I end up JC grabbing because I press Z to quickly. I've tried to input X>A, but it feels awkward to move my thumb from right to left so quickly. While I'm not used to Y, Y>A feels much more comfortable, and my friend (who also mains Sheik, similar tech skill level) uses this to N-air oos with Sheik easily.

• I can't seem to SHDF consistently with Marth unless I'm using A to aerial, for the same reason as the prev. point.

• Spacie tech seem extremely difficult with X. I can SHL and FF with Falco easily, but multishining, waveshining, and SHDL all seem to come much more easily to my friends who use Y to jump. I spent hours practicing trying to Fox waveshine over a few days and just couldn't get the inputs in quickly enough, yet when I showed my friend (Sheik main), he got it somewhat consistently within a few minutes.

I realize threads are made like this all the time, but for those who have commented on such and said things along the lines of "using X can be harder, but you can still accomplish the same things" like I have, how long has it taken you to master these tech? Do you use Z to quickly aerial out of jump, and just got used to the timing to avoid JC grabbing with each of your mains? (varying timings become an issue) Or did you get used to the odd right-to-left movement of X>A? For the spacies out there, I myself have quoted M2K saying that he uses X for Fox's SHDL, and figured I could get the same if I practiced enough but...the difference in SHDL difficulty for using X and Y just seems silly. Is it really worth sticking with using X (with A/Z), or should I drop it and kill my play until I get used to Y? For those that have made the transition, how long did it take to kill the muscle memory / habit of moving your thumb right to jump with X?

 

[SAUS]

I don't use X to jump, so I can't comment on that.

As for Z aerials, I don't do them with Z. Since I play Link, I'd get a tether even if I timed it right. However, if you're getting a jump-cancelled grab, you're pressing the button too early. This means that you would short-hop into nothing even if you were pressing A (using the exact same timing).

As for X>A vs Y>A, this is what people are talking about when they say "find what's comfortable for you". I'm sure there are people that do it with X>A, but Y>A just might be better for you (and you specifically).

 

[Acryte]

Honestly, certain players like Hbox seem like their spacies are held back by their unorthodox controls making things harder than they need to be.