Hi,

Background lore:
I've been playing for a while now (around #28k rn) and I swapped tapping and aim hands 1.5 years ago because my now current (dominant) tapping hand can just tap so much faster than my other by default.
Since then I always had an inclination to play speed maps because yeah that was the reason why I switched hands and why not take the short route and skip low bpm streams, since I could mash very high bpm very well from the get go (and with very well I mean The Violation 90% kinda well).

Now let's skip forward 1.5 years to today. For quite a while now I tried to get better at low bpm streams. I even FC'd Long Stream Practice 140-160 with 95% acc. But that is where my progress stopped. In real maps I still couldnt really acc slower (<=200BPM) streams at all.

Now I recently got into the tournament scene and there I noticed, that most people in the higher 5 digits can indeed atleast play streams somewhat decently. This is where wanted to start from scratch and play Long Stream Practice 140BPM at OD9. Now I just can't seem to get better acc than around 70% because I mash even that bpm and I can not consciously stop. My stamina is not the problem, but I can't stop to "gallop" even after a few weeks and hundreds of tries.

This is getting to my head so bad, that I actually think about switching hands again after all this time because I do not have that problem with my other tapping hand (albeit that one is slower). I guess I would just have to grind myself up in speed there idk...

So to the actual question...
Does anyone have some kind of tips or techniques to get rid of chronic mashing streams, no matter the bpm? I know play more is always a kind of solution, but the problem is that my mashing has gotten so good, that I can acc most maps that don't have longer streams, whereas I instantly start mashing when a stream appears.
I also have the problem, that I full alt and when starting streams/longer bursts with my ring finger feels a lot worse and also shows in the acc.

Aconex wrote:

Does anyone have some kind of tips or techniques to get rid of chronic mashing streams, no matter the bpm? I know play more is always a kind of solution, but the problem is that my mashing has gotten so good, that I can acc most maps that don't have longer streams, whereas I instantly start mashing when a stream appears.
I also have the problem, that I full alt and when starting streams/longer bursts with my ring finger feels a lot worse and also shows in the acc.

I think it would be better if you practice high OD burst maps instead to improve finger control for both fingers
https://osu.ppy.sh/beatmapsets/1658473#osu/3385322 This map is good for this
Also

Aconex wrote:

play Long Stream Practice 140BPM at OD9

It makes sense that u wont see improvement from playing this because i think the original map is something like OD6 and OD9 is too hard for you to get anything out of it

jer1cs wrote:

Aconex wrote:

Does anyone have some kind of tips or techniques to get rid of chronic mashing streams, no matter the bpm? I know play more is always a kind of solution, but the problem is that my mashing has gotten so good, that I can acc most maps that don't have longer streams, whereas I instantly start mashing when a stream appears.
I also have the problem, that I full alt and when starting streams/longer bursts with my ring finger feels a lot worse and also shows in the acc.

I think it would be better if you practice high OD burst maps instead to improve finger control for both fingers
https://osu.ppy.sh/beatmapsets/1658473#osu/3385322 This map is good for this
Also

Aconex wrote:

play Long Stream Practice 140BPM at OD9

It makes sense that u wont see improvement from playing this because i think the original map is something like OD6 and OD9 is too hard for you to get anything out of it

I guess I can give it some time and try to spam some "lower" bpm finger control maps to get better finger activation. probably more fun than playing long stream maps aswell

Finger control and stopping mashing only really comes from slowing down your gameplay and focusing on intentionality first. You need to get the motion of alternating your fingers at a consistent burst or consistent stream speed down first, until that becomes a near-unconscious action when you see 5+ circles in quick succession.

Only when you have that foundation can you scale up the speed/bpm and do that but faster. Start with low bpm small bursts (3-5 circles/x-circle-1-slider at about 120-140bpm), and up the bpm by 10-20 and/or the number of objects in a row as you get more comfortable with it.

Playing a long stream practice map doesn't help because you're essentially trying to dive into the deep end of the pool when you barely have the strength to paddle in place. You will likely have neither the stamina to play the entire thing, nor the coordination to play it properly, and depending on the AR/OD/CS values not even the reaction time to know what's coming next. Short and slow always comes first. Fast as long will come when you've put the time in to reach that level. And while finding them more or less fun is an inherently subjective thing, I think most people might get a kick out of seeing themselves fail "Long Stream Map X25" hundreds of times but will actually be incredibly satisfied by successfully FC-ing a slower, slow-bursty map (aka low bpm and the bursts aren't fast, either) whether they want to admit it or not.