User control is a little trickier this year than in the past... But it helps to imagine the left stick range of motion as a bullseye target with 3 rings. The outer ring is the SPEED ring, where your user controlled player will run the fastest. The inner ring is the area that allows you to slow down or strafe. While the bullseye represents the area where your player will stop all movement. These rings are important.
Often, when we cut or change direction from left to right (or vice versa) we swing the stick through the middle because it is the shortest path to the direction we want to go. But swinging the stick in this manner tells our user controlled player to slow down, stop, speed up, and finally run fast. If you need to change direction quickly, it is best to swing the stick around the outside of the range in a motion that tells your player to maintain his speed while changing direction.
When we use the shortest path to cut, we slow our players down. Train yourself to stay on the edges and use semi-circles to keep your speed.
Later
