smash.watch

Troubleshooting

Common issues and how to resolve them.

"No data found"

Symptoms

  • Chart is empty
  • Table shows no players
  • Message: "No data found. Check your state parameter and filters."

Possible Causes

1. Invalid State Code

Check: Is your state code a valid 2-letter US state abbreviation?

Wrong: Georgia, ga, GRight: GA

Fix: Enter the correct 2-letter state code (uppercase).

2. Timeframe Too Narrow

Check: Is there recent tournament activity in your state?

Some states have infrequent tournaments. A 30-day window might return zero results.

Fix: Increase timeframe to 3 months.

3. Filters Too Restrictive

Check: Are your advanced filters eliminating everyone?

Example problem:

  • Min Entrants: 128
  • Small state with no 128+ person events

Fix:

  1. Click Reset to clear all filters
  2. Start with just state + timeframe
  3. Add filters gradually

4. State Has No Data

Check: Does this state have tournament data in the database?

Less populated states or states with few start.gg events may not have data.

Fix:

  1. Try a major state (e.g., CA, NY, FL, GA)
  2. Verify the state has active Smash scene on start.gg

"Select a series from the options"

Symptoms

  • Message: "Select a series from the options or Allow Multiple Series to load data."
  • Series selection buttons appear
  • No chart displays

What Happened

Your tournament filter matched multiple series, and "Allow multiple series" is disabled.

Example: Searching for Guildhouse might match:

  • Guildhouse Weekly (NY)
  • Guildhouse Monthly (NY)
  • Guildhouse Ultimate (different game)

Fix

Option 1: Select a Series

  1. Look at the series buttons that appeared
  2. Click the one you want to analyze

Option 2: Allow Multiple Series

  1. Enable "Allow multiple series" toggle
  2. Click Apply Filters again
  3. Data from all matching series will be combined

Chart Looks "Squished"

Symptoms

  • All players clustered in the bottom-left
  • Hard to distinguish individual dots
  • Axes extend far to the right but most data is clumped

Cause

Statistical outliers with very high opponent strength are compressing the X-axis scale.

Fix

Enable Hide outliers toggle:

  1. Find the toggle in the filter panel
  2. Click it to enable
  3. Chart will auto-rescale
  4. Check "X outlier(s) hidden" message

Result: Chart "zooms in" on the main cluster, making it easier to read.

Players Missing from Chart but in Table

Symptoms

  • Table shows X players
  • Chart shows fewer dots
  • Message: "X row(s) skipped (missing win rate or opponent strength)"

Cause

Some players have incomplete data:

  • Missing weighted_win_rate value
  • Missing opponent_strength value
  • Invalid/null values for either metric

Why This Happens

  • Too few games to calculate reliable metrics
  • Data collection errors from the backend
  • Player competed but didn't face opponents with calculated strength

What to Do

Typically safe to ignore - these are usually:

  • New players with < 3 events
  • Inactive players with old, partial data
  • Edge cases in the data pipeline

If it's many players:

  • May indicate a data quality issue
  • Try a different state or timeframe to verify

Loading Takes Forever

Symptoms

  • "Loading data..." message persists
  • No error appears
  • Chart doesn't populate

Possible Causes

1. Large Dataset

Check: Are you querying a large state with 3-month timeframe?

States like California, New York, Florida have thousands of players.

Fix:

  • Add Min Entrants filter to reduce dataset size
  • Use shorter timeframe (30-60 days)
  • Be patient - large queries can take 5-10 seconds

2. Network Issues

Check: Is your internet connection stable?

Fix:

  • Check browser console for errors (F12)
  • Refresh the page
  • Try a different network

3. Backend Server Down

Check: Are other queries also failing?

Fix:

  • Wait a few minutes and try again
  • Report the issue if it persists

Filter Doesn't Seem to Work

Symptoms

  • You change a filter but results don't change
  • Expected different data

Common Causes

1. Forgot to Click "Apply Filters"

Fix: Always click Apply Filters after changing settings. Changing filter values doesn't auto-update.

2. Filter Has No Effect on Current Dataset

Example: Setting "Character Filter: Marth" when no Marth players exist in your state.

Fix: Try different filter values or check if the filter is appropriate for your dataset.

3. Conflicting Filters

Example:

  • Min Entrants: 64
  • Max Entrants: 32

This is impossible - no one can have average entrants between 64 and 32.

Fix: Review your filter values for logical conflicts.

"API error 500" or Similar

Symptoms

  • Error message with HTTP status code
  • Happens after clicking "Apply Filters"

Cause

Backend server error - the data API encountered a problem.

Fix

  1. Try a simpler query:
    • Click Reset
    • Use just state + timeframe
    • Verify the server is working
  2. Wait and retry:
    • Server may be temporarily down
    • Try again in a few minutes
  3. Report the issue:

Tournament URL Not Working

Symptoms

  • Pasted a start.gg URL
  • Got "No data found" or no results

Possible Causes

1. URL Format Issue

Check: Is the URL from start.gg?

Supported formats:

https://start.gg/tournament/genesis-9/event/melee-singles
tournament/genesis-9
genesis-9

Fix: Try just the tournament slug (e.g., genesis-9)

2. Tournament Not in Database

Check: Is this tournament in the system?

Only tournaments with:

  • Data pulled from start.gg API
  • Events in the selected timeframe
  • Matching state filter

Fix: Try a different tournament or use series name instead.

3. Wrong State Filter

Check: Does your state filter match the tournament location?

Example problem:

  • State: CA
  • Tournament: Genesis (held in California)
  • But tournament marked as NV in database

Fix: Try the tournament's actual state or remove state filter.

Mobile Issues

Chart Won't Display on Mobile

Symptoms: Chart shows but is unreadable or cut off.

Fix:

  • Rotate to landscape mode
  • Zoom out with pinch gesture
  • Use desktop view for detailed analysis

Filter Panel Won't Open on Mobile

Symptoms: Tapping "Filters" button does nothing.

Fix:

  • Refresh the page
  • Try tapping directly on the button text
  • Check if JavaScript is enabled

Performance Tips

Speed Up Queries

  1. Use Min Entrants: Reduces dataset size significantly
  2. Shorter timeframes: 30 days loads faster than 3 months
  3. Specific filters: Character filters reduce processing
  4. Smaller states: GA loads faster than CA

Optimize Browsing

  1. Close other tabs: Frees up browser memory
  2. Disable browser extensions: Some extensions slow rendering
  3. Use modern browser: Chrome, Firefox, Safari (latest versions)

Still Having Issues?

Before Reporting

  1. Try Reset - Clears all filters
  2. Try different state - Verify system is working
  3. Check browser console - Press F12, look for errors
  4. Screenshot the issue - Helpful for debugging

How to Report

Include:

  • Exact filter settings
  • State code used
  • Timeframe selected
  • Screenshot of error
  • Browser and OS version

Contact:

Known Limitations

Not Bugs, But Worth Knowing

  1. Data is precomputed - Not real-time
  2. US states only - International support may come later
  3. Melee focus - Other games may have limited data
  4. No export feature - Must screenshot results
  5. Limited historical data - Typically 3-6 months max

Tips & Best Practices

Practical strategies for getting the most out of Smash Watch.