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[D] Analyzing Flash's ability to use the keyboard

Forum Index > StarCraft 2 Strategy
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From page 2, stick to discussion about actual strategy.
worldpeace30
Profile Joined July 2012
United States106 Posts
Last Edited: 2012-09-27 15:31:58
September 25 2012 14:56 GMT
#1
Recently a video was posted of FLASH's hands while he plays SC2


I analyzed the video to see if he does anything different than normal hotkeys and this is what I discovered.


First thing I discovered is that Flash has big hands.

http://i.imgur.com/sT05b.jpg

I noticed in the video that he taps 1 -5 with 1 and 4 he taps a lot with his first two fingers. I tried doing that but my first two fingers can't easily tap two buttons with 2 buttons inbetween.


Being able to tap 1-6 with 2 fingers I saw that his ability to have his ring finger always rest on A or surrounding buttons even when he's tapping or in battle. I was kind of curious if his hand size gives him a slight edge over smaller handed people like myself?

Edit: I made a video zooming in on the hands:


RustySpork
Profile Joined March 2012
United Kingdom49 Posts
September 25 2012 15:09 GMT
#2
one thing that you haven't said is that i think he has rebound his left click to right click, and vice versa. If u want proof, there is one part of this video (cant remember where) where he is only spamming the mouse left click for like 10 seconds as fast as he can while in the middle of a big battle. The only explanation of this is that he is targeting the broodlords with his units as you need to spam click to target them as the broodlings mess with the AI.

Yeah so thats another interesting thing about his setup. As for big hands, yes i imagine that does help and also for me as someone who plays the piano that also helped as it enables me to stretch further and move my fingers faster.
CodeskyE
Profile Joined January 2011
United States777 Posts
September 25 2012 15:09 GMT
#3
also note that his mouse setup is different.

last i heard, his right and left mouse click are switched, so he moves units/focus fire using left click iirc.
Daswollvieh
Profile Blog Joined October 2009
5553 Posts
September 25 2012 15:09 GMT
#4
Have you seen Losira´s hands? That kid has friggin tentacles all over the place.

Shikada
Profile Joined May 2012
Serbia976 Posts
September 25 2012 15:23 GMT
#5
I would guess that his main macro cycle is 4,5,6. So he keeps his little finger on 1 to quickly jump to his main army.

As for left and right mouse buttons being switched, it doesn't seem so to me. It seems like he's on attack command and spamming left mouse button. Probably uses attack command to focus fire instead of right click so that he doesn't move his army on accident if he misses (if Flash ever misses his clicks).
worldpeace30
Profile Joined July 2012
United States106 Posts
Last Edited: 2012-09-25 15:32:03
September 25 2012 15:26 GMT
#6
On September 26 2012 00:23 Shikada wrote:
I would guess that his main macro cycle is 4,5,6. So he keeps his little finger on 1 to quickly jump to his main army.

As for left and right mouse buttons being switched, it doesn't seem so to me. It seems like he's on attack command and spamming left mouse button. Probably uses attack command to focus fire instead of right click so that he doesn't move his army on accident if he misses (if Flash ever misses his clicks).


His first and middle finger cover all his control groups without ever having to move his ring finger from A. So he's able to use all his control groups with the first and second finger. Most people have to use the ring finger at some point I think.
renaissanceMAN
Profile Joined March 2011
United States1840 Posts
September 25 2012 15:37 GMT
#7
my name is lee bring me the young ho's.
On August 15 2013 03:43 Waxangel wrote: no amount of money can replace the enjoyment of being mean to people on the internet
Shikada
Profile Joined May 2012
Serbia976 Posts
September 25 2012 15:40 GMT
#8
On September 26 2012 00:26 worldpeace30 wrote:
Show nested quote +
On September 26 2012 00:23 Shikada wrote:
I would guess that his main macro cycle is 4,5,6. So he keeps his little finger on 1 to quickly jump to his main army.

As for left and right mouse buttons being switched, it doesn't seem so to me. It seems like he's on attack command and spamming left mouse button. Probably uses attack command to focus fire instead of right click so that he doesn't move his army on accident if he misses (if Flash ever misses his clicks).


His first and middle finger cover all his control groups without ever having to move his ring finger from A. So he's able to use all his control groups with the first and second finger. Most people have to use the ring finger at some point I think.


Whops, I meant ring finger in my post, not little finger (which he almost doesn't use). But yeah, you're right! You can see him press 1 and 2 with his middle finger while keeping the ring finger on A. That pretty uncomfortable for me. I guess it takes getting used to, although I don't see any particular benefits. Seems like his personal preference.
worldpeace30
Profile Joined July 2012
United States106 Posts
Last Edited: 2012-09-25 16:01:30
September 25 2012 15:46 GMT
#9
On September 26 2012 00:40 Shikada wrote:
Show nested quote +
On September 26 2012 00:26 worldpeace30 wrote:
On September 26 2012 00:23 Shikada wrote:
I would guess that his main macro cycle is 4,5,6. So he keeps his little finger on 1 to quickly jump to his main army.

As for left and right mouse buttons being switched, it doesn't seem so to me. It seems like he's on attack command and spamming left mouse button. Probably uses attack command to focus fire instead of right click so that he doesn't move his army on accident if he misses (if Flash ever misses his clicks).


His first and middle finger cover all his control groups without ever having to move his ring finger from A. So he's able to use all his control groups with the first and second finger. Most people have to use the ring finger at some point I think.


Whops, I meant ring finger in my post, not little finger (which he almost doesn't use). But yeah, you're right! You can see him press 1 and 2 with his middle finger while keeping the ring finger on A. That pretty uncomfortable for me. I guess it takes getting used to, although I don't see any particular benefits. Seems like his personal preference.


I would presume it would be easier to macro if a finger was dedicated to never move up to the control groups. That, and hand posture so less shifing hand one column over and back. Totally guessing though.
Pasargadae
Profile Joined March 2012
Korea (South)173 Posts
September 25 2012 19:35 GMT
#10
On September 26 2012 00:09 RustySpork wrote:
one thing that you haven't said is that i think he has rebound his left click to right click, and vice versa. If u want proof, there is one part of this video (cant remember where) where he is only spamming the mouse left click for like 10 seconds as fast as he can while in the middle of a big battle. The only explanation of this is that he is targeting the broodlords with his units as you need to spam click to target them as the broodlings mess with the AI.

Yeah so thats another interesting thing about his setup. As for big hands, yes i imagine that does help and also for me as someone who plays the piano that also helped as it enables me to stretch further and move my fingers faster.


No..
If you watch closely you can see he's spamming both mouse clicks when he has his tanks selected. My guess for the left click spamming is for tactile sensation/response. You can see his tank shots hitting roaches at the north. And how do tanks hit broodlords?
Schnullerbacke13
Profile Joined August 2010
Germany1199 Posts
September 25 2012 20:54 GMT
#11
he still uses broodwarish keys. grid-based custom is way more efficient as you don't have to move fingers that far .. anyway impressive but improvable.
21 is half the truth
-_-
Profile Blog Joined November 2003
United States7081 Posts
September 25 2012 21:03 GMT
#12
On September 26 2012 05:54 Schnullerbacke13 wrote:
he still uses broodwarish keys. grid-based custom is way more efficient as you don't have to move fingers that far .. anyway impressive but improvable.


Moving your hand isn't very important when it comes to hotkey efficiency.
Doubting
Profile Joined August 2012
Canada981 Posts
September 25 2012 21:06 GMT
#13
Wow, I thought he would be faster then that...
Life: The New Champion!!
Schnullerbacke13
Profile Joined August 2010
Germany1199 Posts
September 25 2012 21:08 GMT
#14
On September 26 2012 06:03 -_- wrote:
Show nested quote +
On September 26 2012 05:54 Schnullerbacke13 wrote:
he still uses broodwarish keys. grid-based custom is way more efficient as you don't have to move fingers that far .. anyway impressive but improvable.


Moving your hand isn't very important when it comes to hotkey efficiency.


ofc at 250+ apm it is. it's pretty similar to playing a music instrument, and high level musicians spend a loit of time optimizing the amount of movement. less movement = faster and more precise play.
21 is half the truth
antz0r
Profile Joined September 2010
Australia168 Posts
September 25 2012 21:09 GMT
#15
All I saw was a Flash Starcraft version of how a typist has asdf jkl; as their resting position. The whole point is that each finger has a designated key to press, and that when his hand moves around the keyboard the resting position means he's never 'lost' when moving the left hand over the keyboard to hit all those spread about keys.
Schnullerbacke13
Profile Joined August 2010
Germany1199 Posts
September 25 2012 21:13 GMT
#16
On September 26 2012 06:09 antz0r wrote:
All I saw was a Flash Starcraft version of how a typist has asdf jkl; as their resting position. The whole point is that each finger has a designated key to press, and that when his hand moves around the keyboard the resting position means he's never 'lost' when moving the left hand over the keyboard to hit all those spread about keys.


hitting k takes ~3 times as long from resting position as hitting a. that matters at high apm levels
21 is half the truth
AKomrade
Profile Blog Joined March 2010
United States582 Posts
September 25 2012 21:18 GMT
#17
So Flash is LITERALLY built to play Starcraft..

Also, I tried out his hand positioning in that photo and it takes the full extension of my hand to be able to hit the keys like that. Its also crazy how every finger on his left hand is so well coordinated.
ALL HAIL THE KING IN THE NORTH! HAIL! HAIL!
nebula.
Profile Blog Joined November 2011
Sweden1431 Posts
September 25 2012 21:20 GMT
#18
I miss you July ~~~ I was in PonyTales #7 wooho!
MorowZ
Profile Joined April 2012
Canada56 Posts
September 25 2012 21:27 GMT
#19
LOL @ calling fantasy gg timing while hunching over fantasy... amazing
Fistro
Profile Joined March 2011
45 Posts
September 25 2012 21:27 GMT
#20
LOL even MC learns watching Flash playing ... 00:13
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