L-Cancel

[Cloud7z]

I'm new to competitive Smash and I'm currently practising a lot of basic tech skill.

To practise L-Cancelling, is it okay to simply practise without an opponent by simply doing an aerial and working on my timing? Or will I have to practise by actually hitting an opponent with the aerial and then L-Cancelling?

Essentially I want to know whether or not there is a timing difference between the two.

Thanks

 

[0-bit]

It's good to try both in my opinion. If your opponent shields an aerial then the timing for the l-cancel can be changed, and I'm pretty sure that goes for the hits landing too. (Don't hold me to that last part though) Try learning the times for l-cancels using different characters to get a grasp on the timing. One of the more difficult ones to master is Fox's dair because the timing is heavily affected by how many hits land and where.

I would recommend working on nothing else but your consistency with l-cancels for now. You kind of want to be at a point where you never miss or forget to do one. I hardly even think about it while I play anymore.

 

[Bones0]

If you practice L-cancels without hitting an opponent, just try to time your press as late as possible. If you are L-canceling just before you land without hitting an opponent, the hitlag that adds time when you do hit an opponent won't prevent the L-cancel. You also have to worry about not inputting your FF during hitlag, so that is the main reason to practice with stuff like a Bowser on handicap 9.