A question-
these topics seem to pop up a few times over. How 'come there’s no sticky compiling the information in these topics? Neither here, nor Tech Talk has any.
I mean, I would figure a sticky would stop people from cluttering up the board… which is what people want new members not to do, right?
It’s not like people who are just now getting used to arcade sticks are a rare breed or anything…
Thumb and index for both.
Hmm good thread, I am looking to get a stick for the first time (Going to get the Fight Stick 3 to start, so I won’t hurt too much if I find I do not like arcade sticks.) and this thread has helped me with my research into how to hold the things right. I’ll have to wait till I get an arcade stick in the next few weeks, but I suspect that I may end up playing cross handed depending on how my right arm/wrist does with the motions and such.
If that turns out to be the case it will be ironic since I am actually left handed.
Regarding stickies: If you take a look around, especially in the SFIV and Tech Talk boards… threads are created all the time with questions/topics that are already in the stickies. I’d love to see this stickied, but I don’t see it really helping too much.
Regarding two-button moves: I think I use thumb and index for throws and I actually use middle and ring for Focus Attacks. Thumb and index is pretty self-explanatory. Middle and ring… I twist my hand clockwise such that ring hits MK.
Also… parabellum… I just linked you as the OP of this thread and you as the premium member today. :lol: Good show!
Hey, I’m just glad that others were helped by this noobish thread.
Now that I have about 80+ hours of play on my HRAP…it is like second nature and I cannot imagine going back to a pad.
I agree… except for the part about me playing on an EX2… then selling it to go custom… and now being stuck on a pad until I get everything I need to put it together (Lizard Lick is so swamped right now).
Playing on a pad sucks after getting used to a stick.
I was going to actually add something helpful to the thread… but I forgot it. Oops.
How is everyone accomplishing Focus Attacks w/ index on lp, middle on mp, and ring on hp???
I too prefer the “wineglass” grip on the stick. A loose grip though, not holding it firmly. Then I gently push or grab the stick, and circular motions I do with my wrist instead of moving my elbow around. Try to incorporate your thumb aswell, it is great for hitting two buttons at once, like LP+LK or MP+MK. Pinky finger is more difficult to use if you’re not playing an instrument that require all 5 fingers. Because we’re not really used to using it daily, it doesn’t respond as well. But that can be trained by forced use. Piano exercises help alot, you can find lots of that stuff online.
I play keyboard/synths so I already have the finger strength, and use all 5 fingers on the buttons. But don’t be too rigid, move your hand left and right and try to be light and loose in your right hand, instead of tense. Same advice that goes for piano players, really. Loosen up those fingers, and try not to move the elbow (i.e. entire arm). It will be better for you in the long run, less risk of RSI injuries. If you’re starting to feel pain inside your wrist or fingers, shake the hand properly. That goes away with practice.
It is definately a big transition from just using your thumb an middle/ring finger on a joypad to the 6 big buttons that are more spaced out.
You could also youtube for “daigo hands” but he moves so fast you’ll just be baffled rather than enlightened 
I found some great vids of a guy showing off moves on youtube, but bookmarked them on my PC at home…will link to it when I’m off work. He shows movements up close in slow motion on a TE stick.
The “crazy” button layout is probably the Japanese arcade layout, where they are not in a straight line? Look at your hand, all fingers are not equally long, so the Jap layout is more ergonomic, I prefer it. But I guess it requires a more concious finger placement. When I try straight-line layout, I have to hold my fingers in an awkward position or tilt my hand at an angle.
I’m a firm believer in the theory that you should learn the “correct” fingering and placements from the start, so I don’t develop bad habits.
For instance when I was learning to play piano, the teacher would nag all the time about correct finger placements instead of doing what feels more natural in the beginning. But now that I’m good at it, I wouldn’t dream of doing it in a different way.
Parabellum nice thread you got here, I’m also new to stick playing and still getting the hang of it. The finger placement over the buttons is something I’m already comfortable with, be it Tekken or SF, but the grip on the stick not so much. Reading this thread gave me new ideas, so I’ll try those. thanks a lot
For the buttons, having the standard six button layout I have my middle three fingers float above, controlling each column. So pointing finger presses light, middle presses medium, ring for hard punch/kick.
I use a wineglass grip, the stem is between third and 4th finger, and for backdashing to the left, I use my thumb to tap to the left.
I completely agree. Coming from a musical background has taught m the discipline of practice and proper technique which I am able to carry over to other aspects of my life…like Street Fighter.
I’m trying the wineglass grip, but it seems that it suits me better for some characters than others.
True, playing other types of games is great practice aswell. Not just fighting games. Xbox Live is full of great arcade games to play with a stick. Isn’t PSN also?
Yeah, I tried the wineglass grip and I just can’t make it work at all.
I tend to grip the stick like a pencil and it works for me. tries to remember how it looks without his stick in front of him
Basically my hand is over the top of the stick and my thumb and index fingers are touching, like I’m gripping a pencil in my hand. The middle finger supports my index and my hand is over the ball of the stick (or bat, I grip it the same both ways).
As far as buttons go, I only use my index,middle and ring fingers to use the buttons. However, I try to make my button presses of two buttons in the same column (Jab+Short, for instance) with one finger. I don’t have to move my hand as much doing so and it makes it quicker for me to retalitate.
If it’s buttons on the same row, I use all three fingers to press the buttons. It makes for an easier time with EX moves (a la 3rd Strike or SFIV) and leaves out room for not getting two button presses, since you add another two inputs (if you count negative edges) to the possible amount of inputs.
What works for some doesn’t work for others. But try persisting a bit, gripping the stick too firmly will give you a hurting wrist. Just like holding the drumsticks in the wrong way will ruin your arms eventually, no matter how well you think you’re playing with the wrong hand position 
You can try following the movements of Daigo if you please (or dare):
[media=youtube]iJLTa_eBLAo[/media]
You can see he plays with both closed and open hand (to push the stick). And his right hand fingers move like a spider. Specially around 00:30 (obviously combo time).
Yeah thats how I hold the stick too, with the shaft in between my ring and pinky finger like Daigo, just no where near as good.
I actually just tried holding the stick this way and it feels very comfortable, and pretty natural for me. I’m very surprised since I don’t jump into different holds very well but this feels great. I normally hold the shaft between my middle and ring finger but when I hold it this way my thumb gives a lot more support for backward/forward movement.
Also when holding it I don’t feel the need to clinch my hand or wrist, so my hand remains relaxed and able to open/close with ease. Which this is one of my problems when in actual combat, I tend to tense up my hand and it messes up my execution dramatically. I’m pretty new to sticks myself and I just purchased a HRAP EX last week which is my first real arcade stick. I even ordered sanwa buttons and everything, so now I am just in the learning phase.
So far my biggest problem is the tensing up, when this happens I tend to ride the square gate and simple moves like fireballs and DPs don’t come out at all, specially Ryu’s ultra. Square gate definitely takes a bit of getting used to.
Regarding how I hold the stick… I just picked up my stick to figure out what I do. It seems that being a guitarist has effected the way I hold the stick. I rest the outside of my palm along with my pinky and ring finger along the casing… then the ball top generally rests against the first segment of my middle finger (on the left side of the ball). When I’m ready to input a control, my pointer finger comes down on top of the stick and my thumb varies between the right side of the ball and the shaft of the stick depending on the actual motion.
I say it reminds me of playing guitar because it’s a lot like palm-muting with the actual hand placement and movements.
I guess my stick is what I feel good with. I’ve tried to do different positions with my hands, but I always end up doing the same thing. I put my hand on top of the ball of the stick (god that sounds wrong), and place my right hand, palm on the stick, and fingers readily at the buttons. I usually have thumb ready for :lk:, and going from there, you can probably see where my other fingers are.
Hehe, there are so many similarities to learning to use a stick and learning to play and instrument. “Tensing up” is one of the major hurdles to overcome for piano students also. And the teacher will slap your elbow if you move it too much while you play.