Help with Jacks

[popsicle_3000]

So i'm having trouble with jacks that are near/at the limit of my speed. What happens is i'll hit the first few, and then it's like my finger locks up, and stops moving. happens more w/ my left hand (cuz it's slower)
this happens in songs like Counter Strike, Holy Orders, etc...
any tips for me?

[benguino]

Re: Help with Jacks

You could be like me and cry about it :c

[I like it]

Re: Help with Jacks

try practicing really hard files on sm, or just kinda hard (or ez stuff) on crazy rates, this helped me get better at pretty much everything, just play stuff that is just a little bit too hard for you, and it will eventually become easy

[EzExZeRo7497]

Re: Help with Jacks

You can tense up your hand so that you can jack for long periods of time, but I'd just recommend practicing by playing jacky files instead to improve consistency.

[LongGone]

Re: Help with Jacks

If you are jacking with your index finger, you can clench your thumb together with your index for support/stability. Same goes with your middle finger

[Patashu]

Re: Help with Jacks

If the jack is not very long and you are just going for FC, you can start it early and end it late, then you don't have to hit as fast.

But you should of course practice ways to jack faster so you don't have to resort to this 'hack'

[bballa48]

Re: Help with Jacks

So i'm having trouble with jacks that are near/at the limit of my speed. What happens is i'll hit the first few, and then it's like my finger locks up, and stops moving. happens more w/ my left hand (cuz it's slower)
this happens in songs like Counter Strike, Holy Orders, etc...
any tips for me?

This sounds incredibly familiar to me.

The good news is that you can certainly improve. The minimum speed of the jack that causes this "lock up" sensation will gradually shift faster the more you play.

The bad news is that the deficit between your left and right will probably never go away. I get equally frustrated when I can rip through the jacks in Grist with my right hand, but I get 10 or so misses with my left. I know, it sucks. Just do your best to improve your left hand and try not to get frustrated-- you aren't the only one.

[Patashu]

Re: Help with Jacks

I get equally frustrated when I can rip through the jacks in Grist with my right hand, but I get 10 or so misses with my left.

Have you tried leonid setup (qwer or similar setup where all four keys are together and accept quads on your keyboard, when you need your right hand to hit something on the left hand you just bring it over)?

[bballa48]

Re: Help with Jacks

Have you tried leonid setup (qwer or similar setup where all four keys are together and accept quads on your keyboard, when you need your right hand to hit something on the left hand you just bring it over)?

Not on that particular song, but I should.

I did use that set up to AAA Overdrive, Largiloquent Dithyramb, and I am working on Club using it.

[popsicle_3000]

Re: Help with Jacks

The good news is that you can certainly improve. The minimum speed of the jack that causes this "lock up" sensation will gradually shift faster the more you play.

that's good

i did use zxcv setup to try to AAA fei longer, as my right hand can usually perform those jacks. but i dont want to get dependent on doing that :S

[bmah]

Re: Help with Jacks

I'm surprised this hasn't been mentioned yet, but it's all about the wrists. Keep your wrists -loose-, and try to maintain a balance between energy conservation and control. As mentioned earlier, tensing up will increase jacking control, but don't forget that relaxing you wrists will conserve energy. From what it sounds like, you need more of the latter. The fact that you can't hit jacks past a few consecutive groups means you're probably using up energy way more than you need to.

For long jacks such as Grist, control is more important, so be a bit more tense. Push your thumb against your index finger for support if that helps.
For shorter jacks that are still relentless, such as Holy Orders, I'd say that energy conservation is more important. It's just like how my piano teacher would tell me to loosen my wrists and fingers when playing scales fast.

[Untimely Friction]

Re: Help with Jacks

Basically what Bmah said, Grist = win practise. I played that file till I could AAA past all the jacks, now jacks are a joke.

[igotrhythm]

Re: Help with Jacks

Have you tried leonid setup (qwer or similar setup where all four keys are together and accept quads on your keyboard, when you need your right hand to hit something on the left hand you just bring it over)?

IIRC, Dossar used something similar (on a suggestion from qqwref) to AAA Revolutionary Etude. If nothing else, it's worth a try.

[Wayward Vagabond]

Re: Help with Jacks

tuckthumb in curl fingers a bit makiong sort of a pinching motion angle your hand toward the finger you're going to be jacking with

[i love you]

Re: Help with Jacks

I'm surprised this hasn't been mentioned yet, but it's all about the wrists. Keep your wrists -loose-, and try to maintain a balance between energy conservation and control. As mentioned earlier, tensing up will increase jacking control, but don't forget that relaxing you wrists will conserve energy. From what it sounds like, you need more of the latter. The fact that you can't hit jacks past a few consecutive groups means you're probably using up energy way more than you need to.

For long jacks such as Grist, control is more important, so be a bit more tense. Push your thumb against your index finger for support if that helps.
For shorter jacks that are still relentless, such as Holy Orders, I'd say that energy conservation is more important. It's just like how my piano teacher would tell me to loosen my wrists and fingers when playing scales fast.

I think this is your best bet popsicle_3000 however I know how you feel about that "reaching your limit" thing.

I remember back when I was practicing jacks when I was thinking that I will never be able to jack any faster then 140 BPM. It was like that for me for about 2-3 years but then I realized that in order for you to jack any faster then you physical limit is to figure out a way to break that limit. Reaching your limit is one thing but breaking it is a whole new ball game.

I would highly not recommend this but if you want to "break your limit", it will require you to "hurt your wrists" little by little by pushing it harder then the body allows. Do not do this everyday but rather every other day. Resting in this case is SO important because it gives you more time for your muscles to recover.

Most people would think that you have to "play everything is order to get better". Total bullshit. In fact, just playing 2-3 times a week while doing fast insane wrist training for an hour is much more effective then just "playing everyday" and realizing that there were some days where you play like shit and rare days where you play good.

I bet if you did it this way, you will be getting more skill boosts however like I said before, I do NOT recommend this because overtime, this could totally screw you your wrists. Keep in mind that EVERYONE can reach their limit and EVERYONE can break it however NOT EVERYONE can break it as far as others.

If your wrists are strong and healthy, I would say go for it however if your wrists has problems or gets fucced up easily, DON'T DO IT. It's not worth it.

I rarely make long posts but I had a lot to say about this. These are just my thoughts and recommendations. You do not have to agree with me or reply back to this post.