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Tablet Tap/X Playstyle

posted
Total Posts
16
Sentra_old
3 posts
Joined June 2013
Topic Starter
Sentra_old
Probably about a month ago, I began playing Osu! with a tablet. To be specific, after looking at the Osu! Tablet Purchase Guide I realized I actually owned one of the recommended tablets (The Wacom Bamboo Capture Pen and Touch Tablet.) I decided to try playing with it and loved using it. Of course, it took plenty of time to get decent at it. But now, I've easily better with Tablet then Mouse.

However, it appears the preferred method for Tablet Users is Tap/X. I've even seen a few users flat out call it a better method long term. I've tried using Tap/X quite a bit, and I can barely complete even the most basic of songs. I've been using Z/X and I find it much more preferable. Normally, I would just call this a simple choice of preference. But, I've also seen people say that Tap/X simply is harder short term, and I honestly thought mouse was my preferred method before sticking to tablet. Honestly, I am starting to think if Tap/X is as superior as I've heard, I must be conceptually missing something about Tap/X. I've primarily been hovering the pen over the tablet, tapping when I can, and pressing X where I can't.

So I figured I would ask, especially the other tablet players. Do you find Tap/X superior? If so, why? Do I just find Z/X my preference, or am I missing something? And if you do play with Tap/X, what are some pointers you would give for improving?

Sorry if this post seems rather stupid, or even just flame bait. I just am really curious what the community thinks, since it was the forums who made me curious about both tablet and Tap/X in the first place.
B1rd
2,974 posts
Joined December 2013
B1rd
z+x is regarded as better and is what the majority of tablet players use.
Sentra_old
3 posts
Joined June 2013
Topic Starter
Sentra_old

B1rd wrote:

z+x is regarded as better and is what the majority of tablet players use.
Seriously? Weird, everywhere I've been looking, all I've seen is Tap/X :D
Well, I guess that puts a simple end to that thought. Thanks, sorry for the stupid question. XD
Synpoo
616 posts
Joined August 2013
Synpoo
i don't know anybody that plays tap/x

but then again i've only been playing for a month soo
cheezstik
1,005 posts
Joined October 2013
cheezstik
If by tap you mean tapping the tablet with the pen nib to press the rhythm of notes while aiming at the same time, then it is definitely a less practical playstyle, and a very uncommon one. You will realise when you start playing harder maps and things called streams, which are series of notes in very fast succession.

By all means, keep playing like that if you want to though, just keep in mind you could probably be better if you played normally and you are nearly definitely limiting yourself by playing like that.

If by tap/x you don't mean what I explained, then ignore this post, it probably looks really stupid here lol.
Mismagius
9,268 posts
Joined July 2008
Mismagius
Hi. I'm a tap/x player who has been playing like this for 4 years. I agree with certain points provided in this thread - tap/x isn't really recommended since it just destroys your accuracy and doesn't work too well on SLOW streams unless you really want to be a pro player with this playstyle. However, in my opinion, it's much better if you want faster streaming or a better aim. Also, tap/x isn't THAT uncommon - there are a few good players who play with it, such as TTTL.
Sentra_old
3 posts
Joined June 2013
Topic Starter
Sentra_old

cheezstik wrote:

If by tap you mean tapping the tablet with the pen nib to press the rhythm of notes while aiming at the same time, then it is definitely a less practical playstyle, and a very uncommon one. You will realise when you start playing harder maps and things called streams, which are series of notes in very fast succession.

By all means, keep playing like that if you want to though, just keep in mind you could probably be better if you played normally and you are nearly definitely limiting yourself by playing like that.

If by tap/x you don't mean what I explained, then ignore this post, it probably looks really stupid here lol.
That is what I was talking about. I already play hard enough maps to know about streaming, which I can do usually when doing Z/X instead. As soon as I started trying Tap/X, I realized how insane streaming would be.

Blue Dragon wrote:

Hi. I'm a tap/x player who has been playing like this for 4 years. I agree with certain points provided in this thread - tap/x isn't really recommended since it just destroys your accuracy and doesn't work too well on SLOW streams unless you really want to be a pro player with this playstyle. However, in my opinion, it's much better if you want faster streaming or a better aim. Also, tap/x isn't THAT uncommon - there are a few good players who play with it, such as TTTL.
Yeah, I know it isn't super uncommon. I've seen it around enough to know it's a thing. 4 years sounds insane compared to my 1 year XD
Faster streaming and better aim huh? Thanks, that was really the thing I was looking for. Reasons why Tap/X can be useful. However, I am actually very slow at tapping, my two button fingers are able to click much faster then I'd be able to tap the Pen, so I'm not sure how useful Tap/X would be for me.

Regardless, I think I'm going to stick to Z/X for a while. Every once and a while, I might try Tap/X again. Thanks for all the useful comments.
Vuelo Eluko
5,484 posts
Joined October 2013
Vuelo Eluko

Blue Dragon wrote:

there are a few good players who play with it, such as TTTL.

and.. maybe you?
winber1
4,520 posts
Joined February 2010
winber1

Blue Dragon wrote:

Also, tap/x isn't THAT uncommon - there are a few good players who play with it, such as TTTL.
if you can only name one person who does it, that generally means it's pretty damn uncommon.

and it is quite uncommon. There are only a few players that are noteworthy who actually use it. Only other person I can think of right now is Black Sheep, though some people are skeptical of his actual skill.
Mismagius
9,268 posts
Joined July 2008
Mismagius

winber1 wrote:

Blue Dragon wrote:

Also, tap/x isn't THAT uncommon - there are a few good players who play with it, such as TTTL.
if you can only name one person who does it, that generally means it's pretty damn uncommon.

and it is quite uncommon. There are only a few players that are noteworthy who actually use it. Only other person I can think of right now is Black Sheep, though some people are skeptical of his actual skill.
I'm actually too lazy to mention people, it's not lack of people lol

I recall val tapping for a while - P o M u T a also has done a few nice scores with tapping, TTTL, Black Sheep, (counting old players there's tobebuta which used to be #1 on score rankings), PM_____ has set pretty nice scores with the playstyle, well, there's me lol, Prophet (he's a fucking nice player, he's like me except better in every aspect), and I'm seriously too lazy to mention more people. It's kind of uncommon yeah, but it's a probably more used playstyle than touchscreen or probably even mouse-only between above-average players.
chainpullz
2,334 posts
Joined June 2013
chainpullz
Yuleiyu also plays tap/x. I experimented with it for like a month just for fun and I agree it felt like it really helped for aiming/streaming faster maps but my accuracy was like 5-10% lower. Nowadays I'm just bootcamping AR8DT/AR9HR z/x since I got tired of having shitty accuracy (after like a month). I definitely think tap/x is a really fun playstyle if you can get accurate with it but it also heavily restricts the types of maps you can play.

I think the reason why you keep coming across threads saying tap/x is better than z/x is because back in the day stream speed/stamina was even more overrated than it is today. In my opinion, unless you are doing it for enjoyment factor, you should stay away from tap/x and just put in the extra effort to improve your z/x skills in the areas where tap/x normally excels. This makes you a much more rounded player and is part of the reason why it's less prevalent up at the top. There is a much smaller selection of maps to dt+hd for pp with tap/x imo.

Also I think Tom94 tapped back in the day too if we are talking about older players.
[BAR] Rei
116 posts
Joined August 2012
[BAR] Rei
Since I've picked up playing with a tablet, I've been kind of alternating w/d (yeah, those are the keys I use because why not) and tap/w. I was always a little better at everything except staying in the slidercircle with w/d ; but I was playing with relative tracking at full sensitivity which is weird. I recently changed to absolute tracking & full area, and I just can't tap anymore. The only advantages I felt with tap/w were it's a funner playstyle and having the tip of the pen against the tablet makes my pen stray away less easily ; I'm less shaky.

So for tl;dr people, after having tried both I like w/d the best for various reasons.

Also, I've known some play that way, but I thought it was about as rare as trackpad players ; and didn't think it could actually yield good results.
Purple
467 posts
Joined May 2011
Purple
It's only used to do very fast/long streams. You can play KB + tablet like anyone else and use tap + x as needed; that's what niko did.
ScxrletRose
32 posts
Joined May 2018
ScxrletRose
Is tap/X still relevant in 2020?
Nilocnus
156 posts
Joined May 2017
Nilocnus

NalianSmallPP wrote:

Is tap/X still relevant in 2020?
please don't necropost
DayBreakThe2nd
6 posts
Joined October 2022
DayBreakThe2nd

Sentra wrote:

B1rd wrote:

z+x is regarded as better and is what the majority of tablet players use.
Seriously? Weird, everywhere I've been looking, all I've seen is Tap/X :D
Well, I guess that puts a simple end to that thought. Thanks, sorry for the stupid question. XD
I play tap x, but it's definitely the minority. Play what's comfortable!
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