Button mashing
Button Mashing is the name for randomly pushing buttons hoping that one's character will do something good. It is a tactic used by new players who don't know how to play the game. Smash Bros. in particular is not very conducive to button mashing as it sports much more simplistic controls compared to other fighting games like Street Fighter or Mortal Kombat. A player who knows what he is doing will almost certainly win against a button masher.
Button Mashing can also refer to pushing L or R very often and fast trying to hit a L-cancel or a Tech. Advanced players won't do this because it is likely that they'll miss that L-cancel or that they won't be able to tech for 40 frames. It is recommended to learn the timing instead of mashing the buttons.
The only time that Button Mashing can come in handy is when trying to perform Samus's Bomb Recovery. Even some of the advanced players mash Down B to get back to the stage, although it is possible to learn the timing. Also, if the B button is mashed during Mario, Luigi, or Dr. Mario's Down B or the Ice Climber's Forward B, they will gain some vertical distance.
