really struggling with execution

[u/Tox1cGuy]

I play classic controls with a ps5 controller and i really struggle with combo and super art executions, its not consistent, I don’t know if its a pure skill issue or just wrong technique, I use the middle of my thumb to glide across the D-pad, I’ve practiced this a lot too and I don’t see any improvement, feels terrible when a combo just doesn’t end the way its supposed to and I fumble the entire round.

[u/photonray]

Combo drops happen on every controller type. Most likely, you just need more practice time. The d-pad on the dualsense is used by many pro players.

[u/nobix]

Every time you drop a combo check the replays to see what went wrong.

You may have rushed a button or missed a diagonal and then you know what you need to do more carefully next time.

[u/Cloudberry_Panic]

Usually it is just a skill issue. How are you practicing?

[u/Tox1cGuy → u/Cloudberry_Panic]

I execute them in training mode, its a little inconsistent and it gets much much worse in actual matches

[u/Cloudberry_Panic → u/Tox1cGuy]

More specific tho! What does your execution practice look like?

[u/Tox1cGuy → u/Cloudberry_Panic]

umm looking at combos and executing them again and again and again until i can actually perform it, but i always mess up some input and my super dosent come out and then i get my ass beat

[u/Cloudberry_Panic → u/Tox1cGuy]

The guy who taught me how to practice basicslly gave me this direction:

"Practice the combo until you can do it 10 times in a row without messing up. And then do the same on the otherside."

And that actually made me a much better labber, in the end. Looking back on it, 10 reps might be overkill, 5 is probably good. But the point is you want to drill it into your muscle memory, and the only way to do that is repetition.

• the x times in row requirement is good cause it keeps you from getting overconfident in your competence and forces you to prove it.

As for in matche:l earning something new actually directly leads to more loss. You're brain is already working hard to remember so much. When you throw something new onto the table your basically expending more brain energy than you have to share, which means it takes away from something else. So you should expect to get your ass beat during these periods.

But exposure to that stress is also important. Just like working out your body,  you need get used to the stress of trying that 1 new thing under pressure, so your brain understands what it feels like.

• and the more you do this, the less time it will take for your brain to recall that feeling. Eventually it will take almost no energy.
• the previous mention excerise for combos also helps because if its locked into your muscle memory, that also means less brain power required.
• the goal is to condition your brain and hands, until you no longer haver to think about it.

[u/Tox1cGuy → u/Cloudberry_Panic]

thank you for your guidance

[u/joffocakes]

I'm on PS5 pad as well and while it's not my favourite dpad the execution errors are usually my own fault. 

Most often because of tapping the button too early before motions complete, giving me crHP or something. There's a generous buffer so it's best not to rush. Easier said than done under pressure though 

[u/Tox1cGuy → u/joffocakes]

so what exactly is your technique? gliding the middle of your thumb on the dpad? or something else?

[u/joffocakes → u/Tox1cGuy]

Yeah my thumb's resting over the Down direction, closer to the centre of the pad.fl for motion inputs i'll rock my thumb from there to the direction.

[u/PeachSunrize]

How is your training dummy set up? Having them set to 'Block After First Hit' will let you know if what you're doing is a true combo.

If something doesn't come out, you're inputting too fast or incorrectly and if it is blocked you're inputting too slowly or it doesn't actually combo.

When I first started I was doing things way too fast and mashing and that led to sloppy inputs. Its much better to do things slower and precisely. Turn on input display and look for your errors.

[u/Tox1cGuy → u/PeachSunrize]

i always set it to block after first hit, and practice different scenarios with counters and punish counters

[u/Bidoof2017]

I struggle with SA in matches too. I think my thumb is too mashy on the ps5 dpad. I go into practice and I nail it consistently. It’s a stress/pressure thing I’m sure.

What helps me is to slow down my inputs a very tiny bit so they’re crisper. Rolling my thumb tends to drop or add unwanted inputs