Manual Shifting - Where am I going wrong?

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Rhino_WJB

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Rhino_WJB
I've come to the conclusion that I need help with this. I just cannot work out how to shift manually, up or down, without missing the gear and ending up in N.

I'm on G25 and use manual clutch. Missing gears is costing me a lot of races and it's starting to really annoy me.

I need a process/sequence for quickly shifting up and down. For the record, I can shift well enough in my real car and often use heal-toe when driving for fun.

Is it just me who cannot seem to get this right in GT5? Modded cars are even worse. GT5 has clutch support, I have a clutch and want to use it!

I am doing something wrong and want to put it right.
 
Make sure you really hammer the clutch pedal down and make sure It is firmly in gear. This is an annoying problem that a lot of us have experienced. So much so I now use the flappy padal.
 
I'm thinking it also has something to do with the rev position. How modifications and gear ratios affect this is bothering me!

If it is the revs, at what point in the gear change does this matter and how do you know in advance which revs in which gear will work?
 
Check out the article in the link I've provided. I know it's real world stuff, but it is the reason race transmissions differ from street. It's also possible that PD designed the game in such a way as to mimic a race transmissions characteristics to the point that it behaves like a real world one. Try upshifting without using the clutch. Just lift off the gas for a split second while you hammer into the next higher gear. If it's realistic, you ought to be able to do it. Downshifting without the clutch would mean you would have to rev up the engine to match the rpm of the next lower set of gears in order to pull the lever into them, but this also might be able to be done. Tough on the tranny though, so I don't advise you do it in real life very often.

http://www.carcraft.com/techarticle..._manual_transmission/racing_cluster_gear.html
 
In my experiences with what is quite frankly the worst shifting system I have ever had the miss fortune to have to use in a game you have to be fully off the throttle on gear changes.
I found I was hitting neutral on launches off the start line at the start of a race, It was so frustrating that I started to use the flappy paddles to launch and then switch to manual after the start of the race.

But I decided to go back and give it some practice and I found that every time I was so much as a tiny bit on the throttle at the point on were I press the clutch in and shift into the next gear the game would flip me into neutral.
But now on hard launched off the start line I make sure I lift my foot fully off the throttle pedal before I shift gear and I never have any trouble.

Give it a try I would like to know other people experiences with this.
Hope this helps.
 
Yeah I have the same problem I thought I was the only one with it. I hate it I drive stick I know I'm not that bad. I hate how slow I feel when driving with the H-Shifter I just use the paddles now because I like to be competitive online and not in N half the race.
 
My rennsport has the same problem, the clutch has to be totally depressed and you have to be totally in gear before letting off of it.

It's very unrealistic. The paddle shifters are how many race cars are set up so if you have em don't feel like there is any shame in using them. I switched to using mine and I'm a hard core MT guy in real life.

What do you mean by "heel & toe?"
 
Im walking in your shoes, mate. While practising, every of my shifts just gets in place. While racing, my hitrate is just plain awful. I try to keep in mind that FIRST clutch fully pressed, THEN gearing comes. But that's about theory. In race, nerves play a role, too.
Not easy, using the G25 and its shifter is quite wobbly, doesn´t help with it at all.

edit: Specially, when you try to shorten shifting times, mistakes are much more possibly to happen.
 
Well, glad I'm not alone in this!

Thanks for comments & links. The real world stuff I am fairly familiar with, and these techniques I have found useful in sims like LFS, where the clutch supoort seems much closer to real life.

Along side the rev position, throttle input also seems to affect the N problem. As is mentioned, any throttle helps ruins your gear change.

The N problem was bothering me as I have no problem shifting properly IRL or in LFS, rF etc.. The sequence for GT5 seems to be something like:

UPSHIFT
1. Fully off the gas.
2. Fully on the clutch.
3. Allow revs to drop below x.
4. Select new gear.
5. Fully off the clutch.
6. Go.

Maybe the throttle input is why my heel-toe down-shifts are so poor. I noticed also with some modded cars, that the throttle is super sensitive with the clutch out. Probably realistic, but to such an extent?

Should PD be patching this? Adding clutch temperatures might also be something to look at. Is the clutch also on/off or incremental? Could be difficult to impliment without being able to feel the bite.

Any improvemets on the sequence? Having to go fully on/off with the inputs costs time!
 
I don't feel much problem with upchanges, however shifting down especially to second is always a problem, if you just start to release the clutch before the stick is entirely in the slot you will miss it, and you actually have to move the stick squarely into neutral and do it again, that is really really annoying.
 
Check out the article in the link I've provided. I know it's real world stuff, but it is the reason race transmissions differ from street. It's also possible that PD designed the game in such a way as to mimic a race transmissions characteristics to the point that it behaves like a real world one. Try upshifting without using the clutch. Just lift off the gas for a split second while you hammer into the next higher gear. If it's realistic, you ought to be able to do it. Downshifting without the clutch would mean you would have to rev up the engine to match the rpm of the next lower set of gears in order to pull the lever into them, but this also might be able to be done. Tough on the tranny though, so I don't advise you do it in real life very often.

http://www.carcraft.com/techarticle..._manual_transmission/racing_cluster_gear.html

doesnt really do **** all to the tranny if you know how to do it, i shift without the clutch all the time and it is very smooth and nice.
 
Mate,I find 3. is not necessary.Just practice and your clutch/shifter timing/interaction will improve.I used to be like that too but now I almost never miss a shift.Just keep in mind that the shifter on the G25 and G27 is really short so sometimes ya can get into gear before the clutch is in.
 
I use the paddles when racing too! (G25), but I am starting to practise using the stick and clutch now. I need a lot of practise.

IRL Its the other way round as I struggle with auto!!
 
This and remember not to rush your gear changes, this helped me alot when I first started using my G25. 👍

Yeah, sounds easy to accomplish, but for me isn´t that easy at all. I´m often over-doing shifts, cause thinking if I shorten shifting time makes me faster overall. But having those many misshifts, it actually doesn´t.
Found a how-to on youtube about stiffen the G25 shifter a bit. This may help me. "G25 mod" or something is it called.
 
i use clutch + h-shifter for some time now and still have problems. upshifting aint an issue, but downshifting in second gear seems to be different to other gears. i use heel-toe technique, too. so my timing has to be very accurate or i´ll be in N...

i don´t get why downshifting in second gear is so hard to hit in gt5. now i´m always careful and shift slower to avoid going into N (imo this problem ain´t my fault, there´s something in the game which isn´t correct..). in gtr evo this thing never happens :(
 
phil bell
Mate,I find 3. is not necessary.Just practice and your clutch/shifter timing/interaction will improve.I used to be like that too but now I almost never miss a shift.Just keep in mind that the shifter on the G25 and G27 is really short so sometimes ya can get into gear before the clutch is in.

This is interesting, as it seems you had the same problem yet was able to over-come it.

In order to practice the clutch/shifter timing, the basics must be right. I have this problem with piano too: practicing all the bad habits too much!

IYO, which sequence works the majority of the time without costing too much time?
 
doesnt really do **** all to the tranny if you know how to do it, i shift without the clutch all the time and it is very smooth and nice.

Depends on the trans in question. Most street/stock ones have synchros and blocker rings plus have helical cut gears which allow you those smooth shifts without the clutch. Many race trans don't have these and are straight cut gears. Straight cut gears handle the load of a powerful engine better than helical cut because the contact area on the teeth is greater, but it's also why they are louder, more whiney. Anyhow, it's the downshifting from a higher gear to a lower that is harsh on the gears if you don't clutch. When upshifting, just lift off the gas a tad and slam away into the next higher gear, slips right in.
This is all reality I'm referring to btw. In game, just do what works best for you and your setup. I use a DS3 so I keep it in automatic anyhow. I don't care much for trying to manual shift with my fingers, too much to do with my hands plus focus on the track.
 
This is interesting, as it seems you had the same problem yet was able to over-come it.

In order to practice the clutch/shifter timing, the basics must be right. I have this problem with piano too: practicing all the bad habits too much!

IYO, which sequence works the majority of the time without costing too much time?

Sequence?I just get off the gas as I stamp the clutch hard,shift into gear(can't slam it in too quick,my left foot isnt quick),and back on to the power as I disengage the clutch.It's all timing I believe.Just try to calibrate your left foot to be quicker and hands a little slower.:)
Wheelspin is another factor.After doing a burnout and I try to shift into second,I gotta stay on the clutch longer,but from a smooth launch I can go into second quicker.This I only noticed in GT5.
And as I pointed out,the shifter I believe is too short and on the G25,lacks resistance so those gears go in quicker than anticipated,hindering shifts.
What im about to say next isnt related,but the G25 has a pretty fragile shifter so be gentle.Ask me how I know...
 
Last edited:
Rhino_WJB
I've come to the conclusion that I need help with this. I just cannot work out how to shift manually, up or down, without missing the gear and ending up in N.

I'm on G25 and use manual clutch. Missing gears is costing me a lot of races and it's starting to really annoy me.

I need a process/sequence for quickly shifting up and down. For the record, I can shift well enough in my real car and often use heal-toe when driving for fun.

Is it just me who cannot seem to get this right in GT5? Modded cars are even worse. GT5 has clutch support, I have a clutch and want to use it!

I am doing something wrong and want to put it right.

This is not a problem with the wheels. Back in the early stages of prologue you could full throttle shift. People with DS3 were complaining that the wheel users had an unfair advantage. In one of the prologue updates they made it impossible to be on the gas and shift. I find that only the 1 to 2 shift is retarded, but gets bait better in the higher gears.

Do t believe me go install prologue with he original version, hit triangle to engage the clutch and you can full throttle shift.
 
Can any Fantec owners comment on this issue? I figure the problem is the same across all set-ups, but I would be interested to know.

My second G25 is getting worn, so I was considering a Fanatec replacement.
 
Same with my fanatec. Just got a shifter and was right pissed with GT, since I know how to shift and have zero problems in LFS n Forza.
 
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