Playing flat-footed

sirtom · Basic Member Joined: 26 Jul 2006 Location: joliet!!

whats up everybody, i'd like some help if possible. Ive always stayed on the balls of my feet when stepping, but recently, ive been introduced to playing flat-footed.. now im not that good at it yet, but i was able to beat HotN expert with it (i hadnt until i tried to play it flat-footed), but it was close, and i have trouble with stream, like in hardcore symph and destiny.

so my question for everyone is: is there any tips or any help yall can gimme on playing flat-footed? i try to keep my body diagonal and hit the back to arrows (from the direction my body's facing) with my heels, but idk if thats exactly right, or i just needa practice it more..

so thx to anyone that can offer some help:)

tom
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J. S. Mill · Posted: Fri Jul 28, 2006 12:59 pm Post subject:

All I can say is that playing flat-footed is better. I actually play on my toes, so I can't help you technique wise unfortunately.
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DefaultGen · Trick Member Joined: 06 Nov 2005

I fail at playing flatfoot, I almost always revert back to toes. I'm trying to get better though

At least its taught me to hit the corners of the arrows instead of the center.
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Kilroy(ZTC) · Trick Member Joined: 04 Mar 2005

Try to lift your feet up as little as possible, use as central a position on the pad as often as possible and learn how to distribute your weight from your hips and ankles. A good way to start is to try and make sure you feel like you are playing from slightly further back than the arch of your foot, near your heel, but not on your heel. On harder songs, to build up kinetic energy it can be crucial to hop a couple inches up and position your body before starting a run, but try not feel like you are moving further from one panel to another than when using flat foot technique on easy songs. This is assuming you don't use the bar of course.

mb41186 · Posted: Fri Jul 28, 2006 7:51 pm Post subject:

Yeah.. when someone told me "That guy plays Flat Footed" I was like wtf are you talking about.. whats flat footed?

I guess I never really noticed... but I play flat footer every now and then... its different for songs.. slower songs for me I play flat footed.. and fast songs i'll play flat footed on the easy parts and use the tip of my toes on the stream parts..

can't really help you on how to do it though.. it just comes naturally to me..
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Mostly_Harmless · Posted: Fri Jul 28, 2006 8:24 pm Post subject:

ungh! i have made many threads like this one and all i can say is what from i learned try to flat foot everything. It saves u 50% more energy on the back arrow using your heal insted of the ball of ur foot. I understand it's hard getting used to i used to play tip toe too but it's important to try to break that habit. I know for songs with really fast streams somtimes i catch myself going back to tip toe but try ur best not too.

Tyrgannus · Posted: Fri Jul 28, 2006 8:44 pm Post subject:

If you can FA fast streams better with toes, why do fast streams flat foot?

I flat foot 85% of stuff in ITG, but some stuff I find just plain easier and maybe even more efficient flat footed. My FA isn't any different in basic streams, but with candle streams or crossover streams it seems easier and more accurate to use toes.

Example: I flat foot up into the hell streams of Mythology and then I use my toes.
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J. S. Mill · Posted: Fri Jul 28, 2006 9:15 pm Post subject:

mb41186 · Posted: Fri Jul 28, 2006 10:37 pm Post subject:

its harder for some people to transition..

one of my buddies that is better than me... plays with his toes all the time... im like OUch.. how do you do that...
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J. S. Mill · Posted: Fri Jul 28, 2006 10:39 pm Post subject:

I'm better than you and I play with my toes too; but I don't recommend it. James Kaufmann is a national-class player who plays on his toes.
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IHYD.DukAmok · Trick Member Joined: 10 Dec 2003 Location: Corona, CA

don't use your toes. its just a waste of energy.

most people have a lot of false impressions about technique. these are both false:

1) playing on your toes gives greater speed than on playing on the flats of your feet
2) crouching and/or leaning more on the bar helps improve your speed

playing flat footed gives you a much larger surface area to work with. it also keeps your feet and legs in a more neutral position, and expends less energy.

anything that changes your style out of a relaxed posture is bad. it may have some temporary benefits (where some people think that going on their toes for crossovers helps them), but in the long run, its very detrimental to overall skill.

most commonly, the problem solved by switching to toes is not actual speed or FA, its dexterity and focus. by switching to toe play, many players have to focus more on their feet, and in doing so unconciously raise their awareness of their movement, yielding better FA.

i can keep going on this subject, but i have to go to bed. ask if you need more clarification.
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Sappy_!?! wrote:

just to answer, if someone who stands next to you watching you play PSMO but you get a D on it, versus somebody who understands perfect attacking and stuff, will think you suck. A player is considered good in my opinion when a player of a higher level comments about you or see's you triple A a song. Or if somebody looks up to you. Hope it clarifies.

J. S. Mill · Posted: Fri Jul 28, 2006 11:25 pm Post subject:

Thank you Ryan. Ryan is one of the five best players in the world, and is the technical specialist recommended by ITGmetrics.
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claw · Posted: Sat Jul 29, 2006 1:20 am Post subject:

if you want your calves to be sexy play on your toes

if you want to do well play with flat feet
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J. S. Mill · Posted: Sat Jul 29, 2006 6:22 am Post subject:

ssvegeta1010 · Trick Member Joined: 03 Sep 2005 Location: Keene, NH

sirtom · Basic Member Joined: 26 Jul 2006 Location: joliet!!

ok some of that helped a bit.. id agree, from what i can do so far, that flat-footed saves you a lot of energy. a technical concern still when playing flat-footed tho:

how should you distribute your weight? assuming you are using the bar, how much weight should be on your heels?

and tho i can hit short bursts and segmented stream, like in ex HotN or disconnected hyper, i cant hit the constant stream in songs like hardcore symph and summer.. i can pass destiny, but i generally get in the low 70s bc of the stream parts.

so is it just practice or what? i have big issues with constant stream like i said, so idk if my technique is just horrible or if i just needa practice... thx all

tom
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Dakota · Trick Member Joined: 28 Feb 2006

Nothing that anyone says in this thread will make you better at flat-footing. You just have to keep playing and it'll come to you naturally.
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Tobias Preener · Posted: Sun Jul 30, 2006 12:55 pm Post subject:

orb · Trick Member Joined: 20 Nov 2002

What's the difference between playing "flat-footed" and playing "on the balls of your feet"? In fact, what does "playing on the balls of your feet" even mean?

J. S. Mill · Posted: Sun Jul 30, 2006 1:49 pm Post subject:

Playing with your toes.
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