I always do fine in training but when it comes to a match my QCFs turn into Tiger Knee motions. Just practice your motions and remember that less is more when it comes to this stick. The Sanwa is muy sensitivo.
I’m starting to grasp a better understanding of why it’s so hard for some people to use joysticks. I was talking to a coworker of mine who has recently gotten into Street Fighter thanks to SFIV.
Me: "You really are awkward trying to throw fireballs on the joystick."
Him: "I know. I’m practicing, but I’m not sure how to grip the joystick."
Me: "Well, how did you use the joystick in the arcades?"
Him: "I’ve never played in an arcade. I’ve never used a joystick ever before."
Me: "Wait, what?!? You’ve NEVER used a joystick before?"
Him: "No."
Me (Thinking to myself): “Goddamn I’m old.”
The advantage, honestly, of the joystick over a pad is NOT the joystick itself, IMO. It’s the button placement. I’m starting to truly believe, Newtybar, that if the joystick isn’t helping you, I’d consider getting one of those Street Fighter pads that MadCatz made. The trick is to learn to use those pads WITHOUT using your thumb to hit the buttons. The left thumb can be used to use the pad, but the RIGHT hand should not be using your thumb to hit buttons.
This is how I used the Sega Saturn pad back in the day: you play on the pad by putting the right side of the pad on your right leg for balance and use the three fingers on your right hand (index, middle, and ring) on the buttons. This allows you instant access to all the different button combinations and such, like you would have on the arcade stick. So if you wanted to do Low Strong into a Kick Super, like with Sagat, you’d be able to use your middle finger to hit Strong and HOLD IT DOWN to prevent negative edge, and hit Short with your index finger to activate the Super. I actually got REALLY good at playing SF on a Saturn Pad in this style.
That actually might be the best course of action. Some people like Gootecks insist on using a joystick in order to become really good. I only agree halfway. The buttons, part, is the important part, IMO. If you are better at controlling your character on the pad because you’ve grown up using a pad your whole life, I can’t see why you’d try and learn the stick if it isn’t working.
- James
I agree!
J - great advice, I actually know someone who plays like you stated above.
Problem is, I’m going to have to learn stick eventually anyway. I want to play in arcades etc. I also find it more fun (but a lot of the time very frustrating).
I’m just going to grind it out for a few months, I’m already getting used to losing…heh.
I hear you dude. got my stick a week ago and still got a long way to go before im 100% with the stick. I mess up simple punishes because I accidentally jump or something stupid like that… and im losing a ton more than i did on a pad =(. hopefully in a couple of weeks ill be good again lol
I’m so serious about the stick, I’ve already ordered Sanwa parts to switch out on the SE. I’m also going to mod it, paint the case, and put my custom faceplate on it:
After experiencing watching my coworker use a joystick, I actually have discovered there are some VERY fundamental things about using the joystick that have become so second nature to me that I wasn’t even aware that people may have problems with. So… quick question: how much experience do you have using joysticks from other gaming experiences? Did you play in the arcades, like Pac Man and Rastan and Bad Dudes and Mappy and TMNT: The Arcade Game and such?
One of the funny things I noticed with my coworker is that he actually lets go of the joystick from time to time. Like, when he throws fireballs, his hand actually leaves the joystick. So I had to teach him one of the fundamental things about learning to use the joystick is that you should basically NEVER be in a position where you can’t immediately hit the stick in any direction. While this may sound obvious… I dunno, my coworker has surprised me.
That’s just an example. Is it THAT kind of thing that people here need advice on when using a joystick? Really basic, big-picture fundamental advice?
- James
i feel the same way
Modding an SE is very easy…if you can unscrew a screw and unplug a socket, you can mod a fight stick.
Quoting myself as I’m now at the point where I’m better on the stick than a pad, its taken a lot of practice (and defeats!) but its worth it. So anyone having trouble just stick with it and you’ll get there.
That said the one thing I can’t master no matter how many hours I practice is CS->FABDC->Ultra from the left hand side, I can only hit it like 1/3 of the time which is annoying as I can do it no problem on the right.
…da dum dum…no pun intended!
I spent years and years of my life in video game arcades, but I still struggle with all console sticks (I’ll get the hang of it soon though). I can perform all the moves perfectly well on P2’s side, but I struggle with basics like fireballs on the other side. I’ve figured out what the problem is though. In the arcade machines I pull off all moves with my wrist. With the Mad Catz, the panel itself is too close to the joystick so I have to lift my arm a bit and then I end up doing the motions from my elbow. I just have to retrain my wrist again. It’s fine facing the other way because on P2’s side I use my thumb to guide the joystick. On P1 I have to rely on the groove between my fingers against the shaft, and the motion of my forearm.
What’s the error that’s happening? Are you coming out with EX Cannon Spike instead of the Ultra? Are you not getting the FABDC out? Just curious.
- James
Most of the time I do Ex Cannon Spike or Ex Spiral Arrow. Its weird, sometimes I’ll do it in training like 5 times in a row and think I’ve got it then completely mess it up the next 5. I sometimes try Cannon Spike FADC Ultra (as in a forward dash) just as a test and I usually input the ultra ok then, its just the transition from the backdash into the ultra motion.
Okay, I was figuring that was the problem. Usually, problems that occur on one side and not the other can be attributed to hitting buttons too early because you aren’t as fluid with the motions in one direction as you are in the other. Most of the time, the problem from FADCs is that people hit the buttons too early. The reason why Cannon Spikes come out is that if you hit the buttons before you reach :r:, it registers a DP code (the middle part of a Super IS a DP code, so hitting the button at :df: will result in a DP instead of the Ultra).
What’s I’ve actually learned to do it to “tiger knee” the last qcf motion. So right when I hit the second :l: for the backdash, I immediately do (including the first back for the back dash):
:l::l::db::d::df::r::d::df::r::uf: + :3k:
You’re backdashing, so you won’t jump. And it is a way to make sure you hit the buttons as late as possible. Double tap the three kicks as well, so you can finish the motion well before you finish the backdash.
That has helped me a TON. Lemme know if it works for you.
- James
What the difference between setting the control config to arcade stick and pad? I keep forgetting to set it to arcade stick, and I share the game with my older brother who uses pad.
i got a TE stick a couple of days and had teh same doubts as a few posters here!!
Was so difficult to pull even a QSC from the left side!!
Dunno why i felt like posting. Prob just to say i feel your pain but i kind of like that pain
This thread has helped me allot. Let me preface by saying SF4 is my first real dive into the fighting game world, I played SC2 allot and seemed to dominate the players in the Olympia region but then i kind fell off. I got SF4 got really into it and played it allot with the controller. Having never played a 2-d fighter like SF before i was fine with the analog. Finally i made the commitment and got myself the SE fightstick, couldn’t afford or find the TE one. After about a day of playing with it I ordered an octagonal gate (still waiting for that to come in grumble grumble) anyway I got sort of used to the stick but I really hit a wall. I couldn’t get better I’d sit down in training mode trying for hours to do the advanced fadc cammy moves to no avail, i started to lose hope but after reading this and realizing it’s a common problem I’m really psyched to keep at it =)
I guess i just didn’t realize how different using the stick would be but I’m defiantly glad I started I can already tell I’ll never go back.
Just put in the time to practice, it will probably take up to months to get comfortable with tight stick movements.
Because of all the promotion and pro’s talk about how good the TE stick is,
a lot of people seem to think they can just pick up a TE stick and become instantly better at execution.
If you’ve never played on a stick before, you’ll be in for huge grind.
Just keep doing it, at the end you’ll prolly be happy you did 
In belgium they have american joysticks in arcade,so i was used to grinding the corners for things to come out.
Now with TE im still having problems not grinding out the corners.Still a work in progress 