I'm stuck at the sandworm boss and can't get past it. I've read tips on how to beat it (shoot at tail, wait for it to rear up its head and hit it with a charge beam).

The problem is I'm a total noob at metroid and first-person shooter games in general, and I can't seem to get the controls right. Here are some basic questions-

-It only seems to rise up for literally 1 or 2 seconds, then it charges at me. How can I charge up my beam, aim and shoot in so little time?

-How do I lock on to his head? Every time I press L, it locks onto the tail. Do I have to hit R to aim manually, move the controller toward its head, then press L to lock, then charge or shoot a missile? By the time I do all that the chance is long gone.

-I've read that the "dash jump" technique helps. What is it? How does it help in this fight?

-How close should I get to it? Is it better to stay as far away as possible, or get close?

Its more a matter of just understanding the controls, I guess (push L when he does this, then hit other button quickly etc)...I know what to do, I just don't know how to do it technically.

I might be a gaming noob, but there's a couple things I can do in return. I own Smash Bros Brawl, and I can read Japanese. So if you can help, I can do some translating for you, or answer questions about brawl.

To start off with, a dash jump is a quick sidestep move that allows you to dodge attacks or circle an enemy. Simply lock onto a foe, move the control stick left or right, and jump while holding the direction. Samus should slide to whatever side you are pressing. This allows you to move around an enemy faster. I think this will help you most against the sandworm. Also try releasing your lock and pressing the button again once you get around in front, changing your lock to the head.

Honestly, it has been a long time since I played this game, so I'm a little fuzzy on the specifics of this fight. From what I remember, it is better to stay at a medium distance, avoid the worm's charges, and fight back.