Fightstick finger positioning

Classic Fighting Games Ultra Street Fighter IV
1

Gents,

I don’t feel as though I’m using my fightstick as optimally as I could be, when using Juri. I thought I’d ask the group for advice/opinions on how you, personally, use the fightstick:

Specifically:

  • Is your stick setup for the typical button configuration? (Kicks bottom, Punches top)
    - If not, what advantages/disadvantages have you seen?
  • How do you place your fingers on the stick to best take advantage of everything Juri has to offer? (home row positioning)
  • Do you use the 3K, 3P buttons? (Is there an advantage to these if used a certain way)
  • What fingers do you use for kara throw, focus?
  • When storing 1/2 fireballs, how do you compensate for that? (What fingers are now used for punches)
  • Do you use the thumb, pinky?
  • Anything else informative that might help the group?
2

Yes, I use normal positions.
I use pointer/middle/ring as my normal fingers on either the punches or kicks although I’m going to start learning how to use my thumb for LK so I can activate FSE.
Don’t use 3P or 3K buttons.
Can’t kara throw yet. If I don’t have a fireball stored, I just use my finger and thumb for focus. If I do, I use my middle finger and lay it over both buttons. Kind of annoying to do, need to work on it, but it works for me.
If I have one fireball stored I can generally use punches still. If I have two I’m zoning and generally don’t worry about hitting punches as much (but again, need to use my thumb for LK).
I don’t ever use my pinky, and DAT THUMB

S’all I got.

3

-Is your stick setup for the typical button configuration? (Kicks bottom, Punches top)
Yep.

  • If not, what advantages/disadvantages have you seen?
    Skip
  • How do you place your fingers on the stick to best take advantage of everything Juri has to offer? (home row positioning)
    I home row on punches. Thumb on light kick. Ring finger can go down to mk if I need it to. Pinky can go to hk. Just shift my wrist if I’m holding a fireball. I’ve gotten used to keeping a button depressed and switching fingers quickly if I need to reach punches if holding 3 fireballs(which RARELY ever happens)
  • Do you use the 3K, 3P buttons? (Is there an advantage to these if used a certain way)
    Nope. Might be easier to negative edge U2 off of Fuhajin Raise? No idea.
  • What fingers do you use for kara throw, focus?
    Focus is middle finger on mk, ring on mp
  • When storing 1/2 fireballs, how do you compensate for that? (What fingers are now used for punches)
    Depends on the ball stored, thumb on any one of the balls doesn’t affect my punches. lk and mk I’ll do thumb lk, mk middle finger let my index hit jab and strong. If I’m holding lk, hk it’ll be thumb and pinky letting my other 3 hit what I need. mk and hk is middle and pinky. I have trouble hitting mp if I’m holding 3 fireballs but it’s doable. Thumb on short, middle on forward, pinky on roundhouse.
  • Do you use the thumb, pinky?
    See above.
  • Anything else informative that might help the group?

Nope. I am useless. lol

4

> Is your stick setup for the typical button configuration? (Kicks bottom, Punches top)
Yup, never tried anything else. I guess the advantage is faster button checks.

> How do you place your fingers on the stick
Pointer, middle, and ring fingers on lk, mk, and hk respectively.

> What fingers do you use for kara throw, focus?
For kara throw (though I don’t do it enough) I have middle finger on mp, pointer on lp, and thumb on lk. A slight roll of the hand is pretty effective in getting a pretty natural-feeling kara.
For focus I slap my middle finger across both buttons.

> When storing 1/2 fireballs, how do you compensate for that? (What fingers are now used for punches)
I mainly only hold lk fireball (with my pointer finger). Lp is an easy reach with my middle finger when I’m doing that, though I can’t say I use lp a lot. If I’m holding anything else I’m probably zoning and not using the punches (likely planning on releasing instead).

5

Im pretty bad with Juri, so maybe im not the best person to give advice, but this is what works for me

I use normal(Punch top/kick bottom) I recently switched from the 6 straight American Layout, to the Japanese arched layout, but I did that more for Akuma so It became easier to do anti-air demon.

My home row is punches. I dont use 3K/3P.

When Im not holding a Fuhajin I use my index for my lights, my middle for my mediums and ring for heavies.
I throw with index on :lk: and middle on :lp:. I focus just with my middle finger on both :mp::mk:.

I Kara Throw with Index on :lk:, middle on :lp:, and ring on :mp:. I slightly raise my index and middle fingers higher than my ring so that ring hits first.

When im holding a light Fuhajin, I hold it with my index. My middle takes over for Light Punch, my ring takes Medium Punch and Kick, my Pinky takes both heavies. Doing it this way I can still plink MP when in FSE and have a fireball stored. I still focus with my middle finger.

If im holding A light and Medium Fuhajin, I hold them with index and middle. My ring finger then takes over MP, HP and HK. This is weird at first, but Im use to it now.

I dont use my Thumb, I try, but it doesnt work for me.

What helped me get use to holding buttons down and still be able to function was go into training mode and do easy BnBs and FSE combos while holding down a Light Fuhajin. I also Practice doing Anti Airs while holding them too. I mean just practice EVERYTHING you do normally, but with a Fuhajin stored.

6

  • Is your stick setup for the typical button configuration? (Kicks bottom, Punches top)
    Ever since I picked up juri I’ve used the top buttons for kicks and bottom for punches. I don’t think it matters but it helped me adjust to using her only because I didn’t like going from bottom to topinstead of top to bottom.

  • How do you place your fingers on the stick to best take advantage of everything Juri has to offer? (home row positioning)

  • Do you use the 3K, 3P buttons? (Is there an advantage to these if used a certain way)
    I use 3P but not 3K. I use 3P for feng shui obviously but only because it could come up that I have 3 fireballs stored and no way to push all the 3P’s together.

  • What fingers do you use for kara throw, focus? Index, middle and thumb for Kara; index and middle for focus or index middle and thumb for Kara focus

  • When storing 1/2 fireballs, how do you compensate for that? (What fingers are now used for punches)

  • Do you use the thumb, pinky? <-- that

  • Anything else informative that might help the group? I’m not sure.

7

I suddenly want to make a video.

8

Do, please!

9

DO IT!
Also include your favorite Fun Dip flavour to consume while playing, so far I’ve found more success with Cherry but I’m not sure if it’s just placebo effect.

10

Dunno how I feel about this. Hahaha. I mean it could be in jest or it could be sarcasm. Im a positive man do I’m going with the first. Lol

11

If you want to make a video showing the optimal setup you’ve found during a match and FSE I’m sure the group would greatly appreciate it, I know I would.
I’m a video/picture guy myself, I know it would be a great help.

This I found pretty interesting. I dismissed this early on seeing that I couldn’t lay it down quickly and reliably. I’m going to try this again especially when holding a LK FB.

I’m trying to get away from using the thumb to initiate the LK FB but getting used to switching fingers after the fact to free up the pointer is a good idea.

Don’t know why I didn’t think of this earlier but this would be a good way to disassociate the thumb in the kara throw process.

Good advice.

I’ve seen Desk store three FB and then after the QCF motion he’ll actuate FSE with his left hand.

12

I use the default A setup. I don’t use 3k or 3p. I put my pointer, middle, ring over lk, mk, hk respectively. I’m double jointed so I can put my second joint on the kicks and still tap the punches with my fingertips. Other times I will have my thumb over lk, pointer over mk, pinky over hk with my middle and ring hovering over punches.

One thing I know kail has mentioned before is finger individuality. I used to play Guitar Hero and I’d hold the guitar with my hand over the keys or under and it didn’t matter. This is exactly why what Kail said really clicked with me, so I practiced doing things with other fingers. I got used to not caring how I hold my hand. I just know where the buttons are in relation to how my hand ends up over the stick. I know it sounds kind of strange but it works for me (debatable because I’m a tournament donater).

13

I had to think about this too when AE came out in arcades and I had to move to stick, so maybe what I came up with will help you.

Default Layout, no PPP or KKK.

LK, LP: Index.
MK, MP: Middle, plink with Index (or Thumb if needed).
HK, HP: Ring, plink with Middle (or Index/Thumb if needed).
Throw: Thumb+Index (Kara-Throw: Middle=MP).
Focus: Middle(MP)+Index(MK).

LK Stored: Thumb. (I use thumb only for LK Fuhajin Store, otherwise I use Index for better precision).
LK Stored + anything else: same as when LK is not stored, easy access to everything, focus etc.

MK Stored: Middle.
MK Stored + Throw: Thumb(LK)+Index(LP).
MK Stored + MP/HP/HK: Ring.
If you happen to have MK stored with index, you can still tech throws with thumb+middle but that’s less comfortable. However other buttons are more comfortable to use, and you can plink them. I use both.

HK Stored: Ring.
HK Stored + anything: no difference except HP with Middle.

LK+HK Stored: Thumb(LK) and Ring(HK). You have easy access to everything, including plinks/focus. This usually happens if you decide to hold HK for a long period, you can keep fighting without problem.

LK+MK etc: This only happens when zonning or when going for a free combo so it doesn’t really matter. I like to leave Middle free to AA easily with punch buttons if needed, that means the MK is held with index instead.

I haven’t ran into a situation where I felt I lacked fingers with that config so far.
I decided to start using my thumb for throws or LK store to avoid those rare situations where you lack a finger to tech or can’t reach a button.
Otherwise I use Index for LK for better timing, and it is more comfortable to plink MK~LK with Index than Thumb, for example.
I don’t use pinky, but an alternative to thumb is using you pinky I guess.

Also, if you don’t plan on ever playing on an Arcade cabinet, you can swap punches and kicks, it solves the problem ( Thumb can press all 3 Punches whenever you can’t use your other fingers ).

14

:slight_smile:
A video would be very much appreciated though!

15
  1. def default.
  2. Advantages, Fuhajin is suuuuuuuuuuper easy you just slowly piano stroke during stocks. Disadvantage i’ve actually sprained my pointer finger…was bad couldn’t play juri for a few weeks ;.; buuuuut your middle finger is probably your most important finger cause well MK is important…especially far standing mk…
  3. At the start my pointer, middle, and ring are on all three kick buttons. When i go for a karacancel with juri i usually move my pointer to lp my thumb to lk and my middle finger stays home and hits mp to begin the kara into whatever. You get used to it after a while no big advantage here that gives you a upper hand. Just comes with practice.
  4. You’ll find why most juris begin all three fingers on the kicks. Because most of her tools and specials come from those buttons. You’ll rarely use the punch buttons since her jab is useless most of the time. You’ll use a lot of cr.mp to aa and cr. hp as well. Also i tend to use a lot of j.mp and j.hp in safe jump set up/ambiguous cross ups, but aside from that you kick moves can do just about the same things, if not better.
  5. My thumb always takes the place of my pointer during kara throw and kara stock. For kara focus my thumb moves to mk while my point is not on either buttons and my middle is on mp to first hit mp and plinking the focus into the kara focus.
  6. I usually stock a lk fireball for bnb combos and to force a jump in on me when i release so i can aa them. There are times i have two stocks and it’s usually lk and mk. I try not to hold the two stocks for very long and if i need to get rid of them both i throw out a normal, for example a far standing mp to fuhajin cancel my stocks and free up my fingers.
  7. Yes to thumb, no to pinky.
  8. For the baby juris reading this all you need to know is this; your middle finger is good for fucking people off, it is the most important finger of them all. Fs.mp that is used in kara cancel, Cr.mp, Cr. mk, Cs.mk and the too good for this game far standing mk…that’s all really.
16

I made the script. I’ll be recording tonight should be up tomorrow.

17
  • Is your stick setup for the typical button configuration? (Kicks bottom, Punches top)
    (3P),(LP),(MP),(HP)
    (3K),(LK),(MK),(HK)
  • How do you place your fingers on the stick to best take advantage of everything Juri has to offer? (home row positioning)
    Palm below, resting on kicks, move fingers up to punches.
  • Do you use the 3K, 3P buttons? (Is there an advantage to these if used a certain way)
    Yes, probably no advantage, I just learned this way and it’s a hard habit to lose. Feels easier for me, to prevent EX moves coming out if I don’t quite press at once.
  • What fingers do you use for kara throw, focus?
    Middle finger for the MP, left index on LP and thumb on LK.
    Focus, thumb (MK) + middle finger (MP)
  • When storing 1/2 fireballs, how do you compensate for that? (What fingers are now used for punches)
    Ring ringer for punches, I’m not very good with it at the moment, especially when I want to use LP. Normally when I am holding two, it’s on a knock down and I go for something like nj.hk which is fairly easy to do, and then release the 2nd fireball after cr.hp.
  • Do you use the thumb, pinky?
    As above, I dont use pinky.
  • Anything else informative that might help the group?
    Nothing I can think of
18

Traditional set up.

Thumb and pointer for focus. Sometimes thumb and middle depending on the follow up.

Thumb, pointer and middle for kara.

I rarely use pinky and thumb only for certain techniques like the ones mentioned above.

19

Hey all. Had to scrap the footage I took as when i looked back I really didn’t like how it was coming together and was kind of hard to follow. I’m going to get off my ass and just fix my computer. I should have everything up by the end of the day, footage taken by the end of the day, tomorrow in the morning I should have examples of combos, finger placement, and advance techniques and how to do them. Keep your eye out for it.

20

Can you include slowmotions (manually would be sufficient) of the more advanced stuff? I always have trouble following e.g. the hands of VA in his videos… though admittedly I don’t know whether it’s actually needed here (there I mostly got problems with following joystick movement which wouldn’t be relevant here). Humm.