The Advantages and Disadvantages of Left and Right

[CloneHat]

Whenever you play on a different side of the stage, your controls are reversed. It isn't as prominent as in most fighters, where facing away from your opponent is impossible, but it's a definite difference.

I'm interested to know HOW being on either side of the stage affects gameplay in Melee, or if the effect is too small to be measured.

 

[INSANE CARZY GUY]

I scar jump much better on the right side. I thought this had to do about being left handed or right i'm better at SHDLing with the stick than my brother who is left handed is but he DDs hella fast.

 

[Cosmo!]

i'm better at edgestalling on the right side

other than that, i dont really feel a difference at all

 

[F1SHY]

I can only moonwalk well when facing to the left. I shine back air better when facing to the right. It's not much different for me though.

 

[BEES]

In all fighting games, since I was always the guest, I got more comfortable playing the P2 position on the right.

 

[Nø Ca$h]

its normal to develope one sided like this, but for consistancy you should make sure you can do things both directions

 

[PGH Carroll]

I moonwalk farther facing left and scar jump better on the right of a wall. But that's just falcon stuff. Other then that it makes no difference to me really.

 

[Pi]

shffm
moonwalking
ledge attack regrabs
wavedashing/landing (minute)

they all vary for me from

 

[Pengie]

I tend to be more consistent with my inputs when I'm moving from right to left.

 

[FoxLisk]

a lot of tech stuff i learned to be flashy i can only do one way. actual gameplay i notice no difference in.

 

[OkamiBW]

In Melee, it seems way less prevalent than it is in other fighters. Aside from only being able to moonwalk to the right (facing left), there isn't really much difference for my Sheik and Fox. In something like Soul Calibur for example, I can 236 (QCF) better from down to right.

Because in Melee stage positioning has the potential to change every new stock, dodge roll, double jump...even just running past someone as a mindgame; there is more potential for practice on either side.

On something tech skill related...I'll take my Fox tech skill practice for example...I am better at one side much more than the other. Whenever I start a run of tech skill, I almost always like to start on the right side. Because there isn't a second player forcing me out of that zone, I don't get as much practice starting from the left side.

 

[Fly_Amanita]

I used to have a strong preference for facing one of the directions. I think it was right, but I'm not sure. It's been years since I've noticed a difference, though.

 

[Grim Tuesday]

I wave-dash more consistently towards the right, but I do longer wave-dashes towards the left. I'm also worse at wop'ing while I am facing right and my opponent is on the left.

 

[Tamoo]

I feel so much moe comfortable going from right to left

but refuse to let it get to me for fear of being predictable

 

[PB&J]

there shouldnt be a difference, but all i know is soft loves the right side of the stage better than the left..but there shouldnt be ....even though people do it anyway

 

[SleepyK]

There is a difference, as most people practice on one side and assume the execution is the same for the other when they're starting out.
There is also a difference between left and right due to the natural movements of your thumb. Going left with your left thumb has a little less joint freedom than going right with it.

 

[gnosis]

My only thing is my thumb has a much easier time manipulating the control stick pushing out then it does pulling in. Like sleepyk said, less joint freedom. I really only notice it affect my execution for moonwalking though.

Oh and I hit the c-stick with the base of my thumb without leaving the face buttons, and for that it's easier to just slide in to hit left then it is to slide in a lil then back out to hit right. But I haven't noticed that limit me, since it only makes it slightly slower to hit right and I can still do all the 'fast' stuff that I wanna (like dj out of short hop bair with falcon, etc.)

 

[joeplicate]

i think most people are biased towards/more comfortable on the right side of the stage

basically every good player becomes ambidextrous, though

 

[Bones0]

Wow, I'm glad I don't have some weird preference for one side or the other because that is the kind of thing I would constantly be noticing and be paranoid about. Only preference I have is for moonwalking. I can only moonwalk well facing left, but I've been working on moonwalking facing right and I don't really use it anyway. I also need to work on dropping through platforms with lasers facing left. I practiced a whole bunch facing right, and now I can do it facing left, but it feels awkward and is less consistent.

 

[phanna]

The only thing I do "directionally" better that I'm aware of, is that I find it easier for me to SHFFMC with Samus to the Left, than it is to the Right.

 

[Aldwyn McCloud]

To me, it's irrelevant but in the past (expecially while learning new techniques) I used to feel uncomfortable doing things on a specific side. Hard work eventually overcomes this weakness, which also happens to be very different from player to player (some don't even experience it ever).

In martial arts however it's a more serious matter. Preference over a specific arm/leg plays a bigger influence there. In order to overcome this, masters usually tell their students to practice a technique on both sides to prevent the development of bad habits. I'm pretty sure it would work in smash too, should anyone experience this problem.

 

[PB&J]

i think most people are biased towards/more comfortable on the right side of the stage

basically every good player becomes ambidextrous, though

agreed..plus im naturally ambidextrous so it always seemed the same to me

 

[Puppet_Master]

In martial arts however it's a more serious matter. Preference over a specific arm/leg plays a bigger influence there. In order to overcome this, masters usually tell their students to practice a technique on both sides to prevent the development of bad habits. I'm pretty sure it would work in smash too, should anyone experience this problem.

I agree. I have taken martial arts as well and my master stressed the importance of ambidexterity and symmetry. I always put top priority on training my weaker side until it is up to par with my stronger side. I think the same holds true in smash. It makes you a more versatile player.

 

[Nihonjin]

@TC

There's a difference...?

 

[Abraxas]

I can only moonwalk well when facing to the left. I shine back air better when facing to the right. It's not much different for me though.

Exactly this.
My edgeguards and scar jumps are better on the left side, WDing to the left is easiar for me and DDing with spacing slowly to the right too. Spamming fairs with Marth and Nairs with Fox is easier for me to do when facing to the left. I'm right-handed.

All in all I don't mess things up because of something trivial as this, I'm just lacking skill. would be bad johns

 

[Jim Morrison]

I don't care which way I wavedash, it's just easier doing backwards wavedashes. Oh and moonwalking but I don't do that anyway.

 

[LLDL]

My backwards waveshine facing the right is very small.