Neutral Game Fundamentals?

[Hawkins]

Hey guys. I'm a pretty new Marth main making my way into my local smash scene for the last few months and, like any new player, my losses dramatically out number my wins. I get that thats the way it goes and I certainly don't expect it to change over night, but the most frustrating thing about it is that I don't really know what to practice. Of course, my tech skill (wavedashes, L-canceling, etc.) is poor at best but I don't feel like that's my big problem. I practice those things and I'll continue to do so for sure, because obviously being competent at those thing is going to make a significant impact.

But, i feel like every one who has been around for a while just GETS the game better than I do if you know what I'm trying to say. Every time I take a hit, I feel like I'm in someones combo video, when I get a hit, its a random one and I don't know how to follow up, and in the rare moments neutral is slow enough for me to really think about what I'm doing, I feel lost. So how does a person go about practicing things like a neutral game, or spacing, or zoning, or controlling space or any of those other things? I get to play several times a week, but I just don't know what to look at and change about my own gameplay to really improve.

Experience is the obvious ingredient for this kind of improvement, but I'd sure like to know what exactly it is Im supposed to be getting out of all of this experience, rather than just hoping that some months/years down the road all of this makes sense.

If any of what I'm saying is coherent, I'd appreciate any advice you guys can give me.

Thanks in advance!

 

[CasteHappy//]

I played melee for quite a long time but I have nobody to practice with and I feel the same, when I play in tournaments and I pick Marth I feel so confident BUT THEN I DON'T KNOW HOW TO FINISH THE COMBOS, I lose matches because of that. Then I pick Roy and I win and that's like wtf. Anyways, do you know the youtube channel "SSBM Tutorials"? It's a really helpful channel, take a look at this video I think it will help you~

Of course this is just marth, but I'm sure someone more experienced than me will give you a better answer.

 

[EPsilon933]

Marth gets comboed easily. He has a difficult time returning to the ground. Smash DI when you get hit. Predict when you'll get hit and by what attacks. Smash DI accordingly

Play Melee, Smash 4, or another fighting game like Street Fighter online to practice the neutral game. This will give you experience playing the neutral game. Don't always space your moves at the same distance. Your opponent will know what you want and will space against it. Be brave and delay when you attack. Go in defenselessly to attack later. Predict your opponent's moves. If you think they'll shield, grab them