Thumb Placement on Control Stick

[leumas19]

I've recently gotten into competitive melee, and one of the biggest things that I'm learning right now is getting rid of bad habits that have been with me for a long time.
I just found out from someone that apparently having your thumb on the control stick at all times is better then just flicking it. But someone else gave me the opposite information. I was wondering if any of you can tell me what is better. For example, after I do something like a wavedash, I let go of the control stick so that it goes to neutral position automatically, instead of placing it back there with my thumb. Since I do this so quickly I hear a satisfying flicking noise, but at this point my thumb is not touching the control stick. Also, are there certain times where this is the preferred way?

 

[Spak]

Returning the control stick to neutral instead of flicking is both faster (if you don't have slow thumbs) and healthier for your controller.

 

[AirFair]

Yeah, I don't flick either. I think that would be better for the stick lol.

 

[vynleren]

I flick, which is probably bad.

 

[Stride]

It's not something you should even be thinking about; whatever feels best and works best is what you should be doing because you will be most comfortable/consistent with that method (this applies in many cases when there are multiple control options, though not all). In the cases where it does matter significantly enough, you will naturally gravitate towards the method that works better as you won't be able to correctly perform what you're trying to with the other method. Making a conscious effort to adjust is unnecessary and possibly detrimental.

This is dependent on your controller to some extent; if you have a controller with a loose control stick (a bad controller), then the stick will take longer to return to neutral when you release it. If the stick is bad enough, then flicking it will cause it to flick back so far that it registers a press in the other direction; this makes certain vital tech such as turnaround lasers with Fox/Falco difficult and inconsistent to do.

Personally, I flick the stick in most cases (though I'm not really aware of when); I feel like moving the stick back to neutral is an unnecessary motion that introduces more potential for inconsistency, prevents me from repositioning my thumb, and feels more tiring over long periods of time. Also, flicking the stick allows it to return to neutral more quickly, which is important for things like doing SHFFLed aerials while moving forwards or backwards, for example.

I'm sure there are arguments from people with the opposite preference that their method is better that are just as valid, but again: if you prefer that method, it is automatically made better because you will be more comfortable and consistent; even if there are objective advantages to an alternative method, if the advantages of being more comfortable with your current method outweigh them then it would be detrimental to switch.

 

[leumas19]

Thank you very much for the very thorough and great response! I'll be sure to think about this post every time I question very small things about my play style.