My transition from controller to wheel

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EERIEISSSS

EERIEISSSS

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Morning all, I am publicly showing my journey from controller with all assists, to a wheel with none (apart from ABS). Mainly as it will be fun to look back on but to also to hopefully provide value to those doing/thinking of doing to same!

Currently my DR remains in free fall, does anyone who has gone through this already have any tips based on what I am currently doing? I'm hoping any tips given will help me and other who are going through the same.



This is the link to the 1st vid in the series for those who are interested in seeing the curve, the latest vid showing my most recent performance is episode 6 in the playlist.

Cheers
 
Really not bad at all!

When I was transitioning, I went through the license tests. I set my absolute best time I could for that corner with the controller, and then tried to match it with the wheel. I highly recommend it!

Regarding fuel saving, it helps massively to short shift. Also, you can use the fuel mixture almost like a traction control system: put it up just before your braking zone, accelerate out of the corner, and put it back to 1 when you are on the straight. If you try to fuel save on the straights you will lose lots of time, but you can save fuel while braking and accelerating out of corners and not lose much time. Staying in someone’s slipstream can give you the opportunity to save fuel without losing time either.
 
Tou2istTrophy
Really not bad at all!

When I was transitioning, I went through the license tests. I set my absolute best time I could for that corner with the controller, and then tried to match it with the wheel. I highly recommend it!

Regarding fuel saving, it helps massively to short shift. Also, you can use the fuel mixture almost like a traction control system: put it up just before your braking zone, accelerate out of the corner, and put it back to 1 when you are on the straight. If you try to fuel save on the straights you will lose lots of time, but you can save fuel while braking and accelerating out of corners and not lose much time. Staying in someone’s slipstream can give you the opportunity to save fuel without losing time either.
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Thanks, I’ll definitely give the licences a go! Regarding the fuel mix, I didn’t know that it helped in addition to short shifting, so I will try that one also!

Appreciate the tips!
 
Hi, same as you here, I recently got a G29, like a month ago, and enjoy it so much, anyway I guess the big DR drop is normal, see mine, I was DR B, free fall to DR = 1 haha :
http://www.kudosprime.com/gts/stats.php?profile=1975797

I'm only starting to improve and may come back to DR C soon

First, learning something new takes time, so don't fear the DR drop, it will only make you play with people who have your "current-wheel" level so you could enjoy racing (and don't ruin better player races)

Best thing to do I guess (along with (re)playing licence tests) is to practice solo each track a long time before racing, and work on lap time consistancy. I used to practice 2-5min and jump into the race with the gamepad, now I better practice 15-20 minutes, more if I can, because I still need more time to get used to the track/car combo with a wheel.

Without the assists, it's important to come back to the basics :
- better break a bit before (especially if you try without ABS) than later, so you can take the turn without fearing going in the sand/wall
- classic with no-little TCS : be gentle with throttle on the outside, until you go almost straight and can go full throttle
- wheel specific : you don't have to make 3 rotations with the wheel in a tight corner : if it doesn't turn, it means you're too fast. Mine (G29) adds nothing after turning like 180°. I had the bad reflex before to continue to turn the wheel to the maximum : it doesn't help, and it prevents you to come back faster to the "straight wheel" position (more useless move, more time lost, less precision, etc...)

Lastly, each car is really different, so take the time to feel the car before jumping into the race (again, more true without ABS) : some like the break to be push hard then released a little, others must be push gently first, then you increase break pressure, etc...
 
philipPF
Hi, same as you here, I recently got a G29, like a month ago, and enjoy it so much, anyway I guess the big DR drop is normal, see mine, I was DR B, free fall to DR = 1 haha :
http://www.kudosprime.com/gts/stats.php?profile=1975797

I'm only starting to improve and may come back to DR C soon

First, learning something new takes time, so don't fear the DR drop, it will only make you play with people who have your "current-wheel" level so you could enjoy racing (and don't ruin better player races)

Best thing to do I guess (along with (re)playing licence tests) is to practice solo each track a long time before racing, and work on lap time consistancy. I used to practice 2-5min and jump into the race with the gamepad, now I better practice 15-20 minutes, more if I can, because I still need more time to get used to the track/car combo with a wheel.

Without the assists, it's important to come back to the basics :
- better break a bit before (especially if you try without ABS) than later, so you can take the turn without fearing going in the sand/wall
- classic with no-little TCS : be gentle with throttle on the outside, until you go almost straight and can go full throttle
- wheel specific : you don't have to make 3 rotations with the wheel in a tight corner : if it doesn't turn, it means you're too fast. Mine (G29) adds nothing after turning like 180°. I had the bad reflex before to continue to turn the wheel to the maximum : it doesn't help, and it prevents you to come back faster to the "straight wheel" position (more useless move, more time lost, less precision, etc...)

Lastly, each car is really different, so take the time to feel the car before jumping into the race (again, more true without ABS) : some like the break to be push hard then released a little, others must be push gently first, then you increase break pressure, etc...
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Wow, your Dr makes me feel a little better (apologies!), and yes the extra practice before races is something I am trying to get into the habit of!
 
Your lines look mostly OK, but there are a few places you're not maximising exit speed - like the tight left/right/left, where you need to sacrifice a bit of entry speed in to the right, to set up a straighter (faster) exit from the final left - which allows you to carry more speed all the way along the next straight.

The main comment I make though is you're always looking to be in the lowest gear possible... try going a gear higher rather than exiting a corner with only 500rpm left before the limiter.
 
EERIEISSSS
Wow, your Dr makes me feel a little better (apologies!)
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Haha glad I could help ! I was frustrated at first, but again, I try to see DR as a tool to make me enjoy racing with people on my level (except sometimes even in DR D we get mixed with DR B/A).

I guess I don't have enough time / commitment to be in a top DR range but I'm ok with that :)
 
Wheels are so much better I recently tried a pad and I was absolutely crap. And regarding wheels I have a G29 a fanatec csl a thrustmaster t-gt which is an overpriced hunk of excrement an an osw direct drive wheel and honestly the difference between them is very little obviously the direct drive wheel is just better, so don't feel like you need the latest and greatest.
 
I banned myself from sport mode for a week after I got my wheel. I just ran time trials and the GT League events until I was comfortable with where I was at. Then I started to join in Sport mode again, always in car/track combinations I felt confident with. Only then did I add in manual gears.

A little bit of TCS would help you out with those spins you're having with the Gr2 cars.
 
I was too eager and made the mistake of jumping into races too soon, lost thousands of DR at a time, dropped a rating, but slowly crept back up. Took me about a month to get back to where I was with a controller, playing for about 1-2 hours for 3-4 days a week. Once you learn the mechanics of it, it's great. Also, left foot brake.
 
When I bought my first wheel I took a break from Sport Mode for about two weeks. My driving was absolutely erratic on the first few days and I didn't want to ruin other peoples races. I created a few custom endurance races and tried to improve my overall time each day.

When I felt consistent enough I went back to Sport Mode. At that time I was in mid DR C and I felt a bit frustrated because my results weren't better than with the controller. I had some really good races where I saw what was possible but also very bad ones.

After maybe another 2 weeks it slowly began to click and I am climbing the ranks ever since.
It has been an amazing journey. I have logged over 7 days in time driven according to kudosprime. Thats the most I have ever played a game in my life by far.

Edit: Just watched a few of your videos. The guy who tried to reverse into you:lol:
 
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Personally I was only a few tenths off my controller pace with the wheel within the first few hours of using it. However I think my transition was different, as I used motion control which is fundamentally very similar to the wheel. I recommend sticking at it in Sport Mode as the more you pressure yourself, the quicker you will learn. Good luck!
 
Took me a while to get up to speed and start matching my controller times when I made the switch. The biggest difference was being able to drive GR3 without TC, made such a difference with the wheel. That did not happen overnight though!

Personally I have found still after a few months of using the wheel, some corners are still easier with a controller and some are much easier with a wheel.

I too took a big break from sport mode, purely to get up to speed. I much prefer the wheel but it’s a completely different experience and much more satisfying. Still a couple times I need to chase my controller times but I would say I was better than average on a controller so for me I think it’s taken longer than some. But I wouldn’t go back to a controller if anything I want to upgrade my wheel!!

Nearly getting there now for me, everytime I go back to a track I trim a little bit more of my best time, but it’s not all about the times it’s mostly the enjoyment I get from it that keeps me coming back!
 
I got used to it by going to the Daily N class race. I started early in the day and just did qualify lap after qualify lap after qualify lap, then I did some more. Then I did a ton of the races later in the day. You will get used to it and love it.
 
EERIEISSSS
Morning all, I am publicly showing my journey from controller with all assists, to a wheel with none (apart from ABS). Mainly as it will be fun to look back on but to also to hopefully provide value to those doing/thinking of doing to same!

Currently my DR remains in free fall, does anyone who has gone through this already have any tips based on what I am currently doing? I'm hoping any tips given will help me and other who are going through the same.



This is the link to the 1st vid in the series for those who are interested in seeing the curve, the latest vid showing my most recent performance is episode 6 in the playlist.

Cheers
Click to expand...


I switched from a DS4 to a Fanatec wheel in early March, I started playing at Christmas time. I did not really take a break from sport mode, I just started in the rear of races without qualifying times. I used to practice the daily races in arcade mode but only 5 laps or so. Now I want to join with a qualifying time and I might run 20 laps in qualifying at a big track, something with around a minute or less lap times I will run 50 laps or more. I took me about 2 weeks to equal my lap times with a wheel compared to the DS4, one big difference that I noticed right away is how much more precise you can be with a wheel. With all of qualifying practice even if I dont find a bunch of time I get so comfortable on each track and car combo that I dont make driving errors as much, that is probably worth a half second in lap time easy. You can pass a lot cars just waiting for them to spin, hit a wall, drive into the kitty litter, or when they acquire penalties for hitting other cars. It is pretty safe to assume your opponent is on a DS4 if you are side by side entering a corner and he hits you because he turns too sharp, with a wheel unless you are carrying too much speed you can stay on line very nicely. The only drawback I found to using a wheel is that I couldnt just bolt it to a table, I had to build a racing seat for it. :D:D:D Good luck with your racing, hope to see more videos and victories!!!!
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VeeDoubleU
Funnily enough, this weekend is the start of my transition to wheel too. I'm planning on redoing the license tests
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I beat my Nordschleife Circuit Experience by a few seconds with my new wheel, so I'm pretty proud of that, plus it was only my 2nd full attempt with a wheel :D

I didn't buy a wheel to be quicker, as I bought it for enjoyment and experience, however I certainly would be disappointed if I was massively off my previous pace, so I'm quite happy with some things I have achieved so far.
 
I did my transition to a wheel way back in GT5. Some of the things I might recommend:

- Go through license tests. Ideally, keep repeating a test until matching your performance with your controller.

- Keep stock wheel settings early on (5/5). If wheel inputs are a struggle, you can give the wheel more heft to smooth out inputs. Once you are comfortable, you can start experimenting in this area.

- Practice with slower stock road cars first and build up from there. Toyota 86/Subaru BRZ would be a good trainer car. This way, you're more well rounded and can jump into any car without too much trouble.

- For assists, I'd say turn them off completely if you're practicing on your own. Use them if necessary when racing other people.

- If you've been using an exterior view with the controller, this is the time to switch to one of the interior views. Personally, I find cars easier to drive in hood view.
 
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