L-Cancelling

The L-Cancel is a crucial technique in Super Smash Bros. Melee. This is a tactic to reduce the recovery time of air attacks. About a quarter of a second before you hit the ground, if you're in the middle of an aerial attack, press the L button (Or R or even Z) to decrease the recovery time. This technique is most noticeable on an attack such as Link's aerial Down + A attack, or Bowser's Aerial Back + A attack. B moves can not be L-Cancelled. A good way to practice the L-Cancel is to play in training Mode as Fox McCloud. Jump, use his aerial Down + A attack, L-Cancel, and then use the Reflector. If your consecutive hits counter reads 1, then you did not perform the L-Cancel. The L-Cancel is not an easy technique, but with enough practice, it can help link together attacks to form combos, and can ultimately get your character to move and attack faster on the battlefield.