This might come off as a bit of a stupid question, but I haven't seen it covered in any actual tutorials (or if I have I missed it in which case my apologies) I've been wondering what the actual optimal way to shield dash is. In that I mean what is the optimal amount of time between hitting dash and shield.
This is kind of hard to explain without video so I'll explain it this way. When you hit dash, how much time passes before you can hit the shield and it's considered sub optimal. Is it always a given you should hit shield as quickly as possible after dashing. Is it just as fast or slower if the shield is out only slightly? Is it just as fast if the shield is only slightly visible? Past halfway out? When does flicking the shield out become not as fast. Is it also possible I'm focusing too much on how long the shield is out when I should be focusing on when to hit dash after hitting shield?
I'm sorry if this question was confusing. I appreciate any help.
Well optimally you alternate on each frame, that is how TAS executes shield dashing. That is because the speed linearly decreases on each frame. When it comes to RTA it is not worth it at all to focus on increasing shield dashing frequency while sacrificing consistency, because you lose much more time if you stutter your shield dash than you would gain from the increase in frequency. In fact in my experience the more i force myself to do calmer and slower, but more consistent shield dashing, the more my clock rush and mist relic times improve.
Another important point to make is that when you hold out your shield during a backdash you are still sliding back and even are extending the momentum bu a tiny bit, but as soon as you release shield you will stop in place. What that means is that you need to be careful to not get a 'reverse shield dashing rhythm' where you continue stopping yourself every time and having a gap before the next backdash. Essentially think of shield as the first button of concern then dash instead of the other way around: 'shield(hold)-dash(hold)-let go of both-repeat'.
Until you reach WR level where you start considering sub 7 clock rushes, you should only focus on making your shield dashing consistent, not fast. The time gain will come from good jumps, good jump attaks, not getting hit, using wolf, good wingsmashing.
Okay. So I made a video so I can get critiqued. But this is what it looks like when I shield dash because explaining these things in text is really hard. Sorry for the not great quality.
Well your shield dashing is plenty fast. Maybe even too fast. I know its counter-intuitive to think this way but don't try to go as fast as possible with shield dashing, there is a sort of illusion effect that happens with it that makes people think its a gigantic increase of speed when it isn't really. When you briefly showed the flattening of the thumb method, well that was fast enough for sub 8, easily especially on xbla. Your standard method is already set, BUT the problem I can see with it is control. Like you can shield dash super quickly but if you take 5 days to turn around and kill an enemy, or get hit all the time, then it doesn't matter if you're shield dashing well. So treat the game like a bog standard platformer and focus on those aspects with casual, non-straining shield dashing thrown in there.
Basically what Talic has said. Here is a compilation of currently known effective methods - .
You mention not having full upper arm mobility. Thumb Flattening and drumming method are your best known options imo.
