Best way to improve execution with a fightstick?

I bought a fightstick some months ago, and I'm enjoying it a lot, I find it more fun to play fighting games with it, but I feel like I've stopped improving.

I read in several places that it takes months to get used to it and that is true, but for some time now I've stopped improving. I think that I need to start doing some specific training in order to get better because I still play worse compared to how I played with a joystick.

I play mostly SSFIV and as an example, I loved to play with Makoto with the joystick but I can't play with her at all in the fightstick, like, I can't execute the moves fast enough. Also, with Akuma I can perform a lot of combos in training mode, but in the heat of battle I always execute the move wrong, like when I'm blocking and try doing a: c.mp -> QCB lk I'm always holding down back, so the move doesn't come out.

I'm figuring out my mistakes as I watch replays and stuff, but I feel I have become stagnant in my current execution.

Is there some kind of exercises or some daily training which I can do to improve my execution with the stick?

Solution 1:

When I first made the switch, everyday when I started training I would just go through basic motions. When I say basic I mean, right, left, up, down, up right, up left, etc. Really take the time to feel out going right, going left, etct. Then practice dashes back and forth. Then what I do for special moves (since I've also had execution problems with them, especially supers/ultras), is try to do them 30 times in a row. It's hard! Start slow at first for things like fireballs, then move on to dragon punches, and then supers. It's really hard to get up to 30, but once you start getting into the teens, I think you'll find your execution has greatly improved.

Solution 2:

Is far better practise a hour a day than play seven hour straight on saturday.

As Sam said: "The x times in a row" is the way to go for execution improvement. Do some special move or combo in the left side aiming for x perfect execution in a row. If you miss one, restart the session from beginning. Do the same for the right side.

Try start with 10 in a row, then start to increase. Focus on your major problem (a combo or special move).

For combos, try to split it in small segments.

Don't give up and try not to have a relapse.

There are some good links:

EventHubs.com: Tips on switching from a pad to a joystick

LvLGrind: 5 Things to know when Learning to use a Fightstick

Learning to use an arcade stick 101

Ultimate Japanese Balltop Joystick Holding Guide

Bonus: Don't give up! To keep trying, look at this: Nica's KO's hands

Solution 3:

If your I fire ball player like akuma you should consider getting a 360 or octagonal gate on your stick. I found the square restrictor very difficult for akuma combos, especially the bread and butter. If your using the te addition it's a five dollar part at LizardLick.com and so worth it.

Solution 4:

"Also, with Akuma I can perform a lot of combos in training mode, but in the heat of battle I always execute the move wrong, like when I'm blocking and try doing a: c.mp -> QCB lk I'm always holding down back, so the move doesn't come out."

Try practising your combos with the AI turned on? :)

Its all about becoming so familiar and fluid with your combos that you can go through the motions and pull it off at any time. For instance, I'm a big fei long player, and practicing his Renkkukyaku into fierce + Shienkyaku is very easy to do in training mode, but when you are pulling it off in the middle of a fight when you aren't sure if the opponent will block that first hit on the Renkkukyaku takes lots and lots of practice.