I wrote the bolded part… so 
I’m tired of explaining to people shit that they don’t want to hear. Everyone just wants to argue for no reason and it just gets annoying. If you think it’s preference, well good for you, don’t give a shit. But, it’s not preference, Sticks ARE BETTER. I use pad for some games, and have been using a pad for SFIV. I switch to the stick and being able to use all your fingers is just BETTER. Along with other OBVIOUS stuff which obviously people don’t want to aknowledge.
Sticks are obviously better. However for ergonomic reasons, pads are better for that. Pads are cheap, easy to carry around, pretty durable and not easy to break. The main issue with pads over sticks is that pads generally have issues with DPAD and buttons. Buttons being the biggest issue here. Unless you dramatically alter your button configurations, and play the pad in an awkward manner (kung fu/t-rex style) you just aren’t going to get much playability out of them, and they won’t be that reliable.
With that said, the most preferred way to play FGs is on arcade cabinets. But since this is economically impossible these days outside of Japan, arcade sticks are the next best thing. However they do have weaknesses. For one, they are hard to carry around. They can be heavy in some cases as well. They are also sensitive, so it’s best to either play with them on the floor or some table top. For someone like me, who has always played on arcade cabinets with P360s, this is annoying. Sticks, especially Jap sticks have to be held in a very awkward way. It’s just a little less awkward than a pad. It’s not like home sticks are the best option, they’re just the better option based on what we have to currently work with.
A better question is “How was the game made?” There really is no reason for console ports of fighters to have the inputs still built around the quirks of arcade sticks. Rather than one being better than the other, it’s a matter of how the game was designed to work on a console. Adjusting moves, and input windows to account for pads is not impossible. Just look at the original Mortal Kombat games, I do not think there was a single move in the early games that would have been easier to do with a stick save for Liu Kang’s fatality which for some reason was a 360 motion for at least two games.
Of course it might be a good idea to just sell all console ports of Fighting games with Sticks in the same way games like Guitar Hero are marketed along with the special controllers.
Blah its preference… I can execute almost anything on pad, but I’ve only used a stick for a month and can’t play consistently. It all depends how well you practice.
My little brother seems to think that if he gets a Madcatz TE or SE stick, his game will just magically improve itself immensely. He constantly whines and bitches about not being able to do moves and supers on the 360 joypad, and how it feels like playing Guitar Hero without the guitar apparel.
I’ve tried to get into his head that using a arcade stick won’t automatically make him a Gaming God. Still needs lots of practice because it’s a big transition. But once you’re there, you’ll have a much better time playing all kinds of arcade games, not just fighting games.
Personally, I feel it is easy to pull off motions faster with a stick. For instance I can’t do j.mp j.mp Ultra with Bison on a pad, but on a stick its effortless.
What I generally tell people though reguarding the matter is playing on pad will be easier initially but harder to pull off complicated combos/cancels/etc. While on sticks you will have a hard time at the begining, but everything will be easier in the end. So basically you can play on pad if you want to spend more time to get the same result with a stick.
That only really applies to 2D fighters though, most 3D fighters like Tekken, Soul Calibur, etc, I find just as easy to play on pad.
A lot of people are saying “I can do all the tough stuff on a pad with the same ease as others do on a stick”.
All that means is, if you had put the same time and effort into playing on a stick, you probably would be a little bit better at that execution. Fact is the nature of the joystick and button layout make it better for fighting games (I’m not saying all of them). You have greater control, strength, and speed using the joystick. (Try moving your them left and right as fast as possible, then try using your wrist and arm to move your hand the same way, the difference is obvious) Having multiple fingers floating over the buttons make it faster to press difficult combinations. Again, you’re using your wrist and arm as well, opposed to just your finger muscles.
End of the day, it comes down to preference. If you’ve never been to the arcade, and always play pad then that’s going to be better for you. But if you had used a stick all that time instead, you’d be a little bit better.
AIGHT?
I haven’t used a stick since my last EX2 broke so I’ve been stuck using a pad. I can do a lot of the “tough stuff” on it, but I’ve definitely noticed a downgrade in performance. I always played a lot of charge characters, all of which can still do their moves using the 360’s admittedly decent analog, but I get nervous fingers on a pad because of the weird hand positioning so I’ll end up doing j.Forward instead of a Spinning Bird Kick more often than I’d like. I’d feel much more comfortable having my entire hand behind the motions rather than just my left thumb. I’m sure I’d be doing a lot worse on a pad right now if I didn’t grow up holding a SNES controller though.
As far as arcade stick = advantage goes, probably, but it depends on what you’re used to as mentioned several times already. I’d say the confidence you have in your hardware is just as important as the hardware itself. So if you have that sort of experience, then put it to use.
But once I get my next check, I’ll probably look into some stick options and there will be much rejoicing. :encore:
:clapdos:
That would end the “pad versus sticks” debate once and for all. Of course, the other solution is to re-open arcades across the country. 
This.
Personally I use both, though, since there is that chance I could still play on an arcade cabinet and I would need that muscle memory.
Like I used a pad all my life and mouse and keyboard for fps till Halo and COD4 but like If I was playing SF4 and STHDR on PS3 I woudn’t need my Hori Ex2 since I never complain on the PS dpad but the 360 Controller for SF is F***KIN’ HORRIBLE!!!
Like the Dpad is piece of plastic no cave in dpad like the PS-SNES dpad and the analog stick is a freakin’ trackball this is perfect for console fps like halo and cod4 and even gears of war when the only thing needed with the dpad was to switch weapons but like with 3D fighting games like Soul Caliber 4 and DOA4 not bad but for Street Fighter can’t play on this console without my EX2.
This ppl who cry about stick users are jealous because they can’t find one and ebay sells them for double price.
I’m waiting for the FS3 to come back into stock or for the low end madcatz sf4 sticks to get one for the first time. I’m going to sell my ps2 to make the purchase hurt a bit less. But the prices on sticks right now are just ridiculous.
I have both the se stick and standard ps3 pad. I’m much better with the pad due to 10+ years of experience with it. Compared to 10+ days of experience on the stick :lol: so for most of my fights I use pad. Offline I use the stick tho.
But, I did find some moves much easier to pull off on the stick like dashing (full hand on the stick = more control over it) and I’m hoping that with some more practice, I’ll be able to pull off more moves consistantly and with more confidence.
I should mention there is a learning curve on the stick - I learnt that the hard way. So for any newbies looking into purchasing one, do take note that it won’t make you automatically better - you gotta learn how to use it first. And that will take some time.
Well- I always saw it like this-
on a pad, there is a definite limit to potential. As in, if your thumbs (and index and middle for shoulder/bumper buttons, I suppose) are the only things working on your input device, there is a definite limit to your dexterity. The rest of your upper body just happens to be there for stability.
But on a stick… the entirety of both hands are used, which can in turn involve the muscles in your shoulder girdle and chest (for example, they’re supposed to be better in handwriting than “finger writing”… look it up…)
Case in point- getting a stick will not be like eating 100 rare candies at once purloined via Gameshark, no, but you can spend a lifetime perfecting your execution merely based on the muscles you use to enact them.
'course, most people are just going to bang on the stick and buttons (like me so far, hah) so, whatever. 
I was weaned on a pad. I used to swear by them and always said that they’d be my favorite for all times. I never even considered using a stick. But then I met some serious players, and they introduced me to the wonder of using arcade sticks. Let me say, I still have a ton of six-button controllers around my house, so I haven’t given up on my pads just yet… but I now have 2 sticks I’ve been learning to play with.
The first time I got off a kara-throw perfectly with Ken on the first try with a stick was a true eye-opener. I realized it wasn’t that my timing was off on the pad… It was that the pad itself hindered me from performing the move properly.
I’m shooting for being an all-arounder, someone who can use pad and stick. So far, so good.
There is no REAL advantage when it comes to arcade sticks niggas.
Saturn pads are the equivalent to an Arcade stick.
Xbox pad sucks cock. The Fightpad is a bit better. but still sucks cock. so there’s were the arcade sticks are better is inserted. But then, if you could insert the DBZ arcade stick vs a xbox360 controller, it would be a tie once again.
The button theory about sticks being faster to press buttons is wrong if u play like i do:
2 cent niggas
Honda or Chun would be way more effective with a stick, way easier to mash out lightning at the drop of a hat.
Here’s a question: Who’s opinion carries more weight? Current stick users who grew up playing pad, or current pad users who never learned to adopt to stick?
…
Just sayin’…
Both pad and arcade sticks are good. When it comes down to it i just think its a matter of how long you can play with the same level of execution and speed. Also health reason. I feel like i can play for days with a stick but on a pad blisters wrist pains and everything will make your execution drop over time way before an arcade stick would…but thats just my 2 cents
IS there any advantage using an American layout (straight, competition stick) vs Japanese Layout (curve, balltop).