tips for karts when using DS3

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tuj

tuj

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Hi all:

I am having a HECK of a time driving the 100cc and up karts. I tend to spin out a lot, and when that happens, of course your race is ruined.

Anyone have any tips on how to drive the karts and not spin out? I feel like I try to drive them as smoothly as I can, and I don't just mash the throttle or brakes. It seems like whenever I 'hold back' to try not to spin out, the AI karts start to pull away from me, and when I push the kart to catch back up, I inevitably end up spinning out.

So any tips would be greatly appreciated!
 
Be gentle with the throttle while exiting corners, don't brake too much and choose your racing line wisely: a smooth line will allow you to carry more speed into the corners, reducing the need for acceleration and thus chances of spinning.

I personally kinda like the karts. Liked them since GT5, don't really know why they get no loving. They teach you about the fastest racing line and gentle acceleration in corners. Besides, the 100cc kart is a peach (it does get a bit twitchy with the shifter karts, though).
 
tuj
Do you clip the curbs or not?
Click to expand...

I would try and avoid the kerbs if possible as you can lose grip on them causing you to spin. pzkpfw is right in his advice. If you are really struggling, then you can always add ballast onto the rear to give more traction.

One other piece of advice is: Don't set out trying to get 1st place, just focus on each corner as it comes...if you don't win, then don't worry. Try pushing the limits of each corner to see what you can and can't get away with. And, remember, the AI slow down on the last few laps so you can catch up if needed.
 
tuj
Do you clip the curbs or not?
Click to expand...

As nursemorph said, it's usually best to avoid clipping them. However, on short, narrow and twisty tracks (such as the GT arena) you may want to ride certain low curbs to be faster. But don't do it if you spin out, I think you can win even if you don't ride them.
 
Im struggling too but not put loads of time into karts yet.
but
ballast to the rear? I thought to the front to balance out weight.
 
tesshu
Im struggling too but not put loads of time into karts yet.
but
ballast to the rear? I thought to the front to balance out weight.
Click to expand...

Ballast to the rear puts more weight over the drive wheels which stops them spinning as much
 
phil_75
+4kg ballast at rear, transmission to one click past minimum (84mph? On the GT track) and auto gearbox.
Click to expand...

Do you use auto for the karts? Why's that?

PS: now playing manual. Simply a-w-e-s-o-m-e. Took far less time than I thought to get used to, though I'm still having trouble with let's say a GT3 race on the Nordschleife. But I guess it'll come with time.
 
I used it just for the 125 shifter karts on the GT track so i could concentrate on trying to get first.
pzkpfw
Do you use auto for the karts? Why's that?

PS: now playing manual. Simply a-w-e-s-o-m-e. Took far less time than I thought to get used to, though I'm still having trouble with let's say a GT3 race on the Nordschleife. But I guess it'll come with time.
Click to expand...
 
I did 8kg at 50%.

Does the ballast make a difference to acceleration or top speed? Or is it too small a change to really notice?
 
All good advice, I find the karts are all about momentum, keeping it steady and minimizing abrupt movements.
 
tuj
Hi all:

I am having a HECK of a time driving the 100cc and up karts. I tend to spin out a lot, and when that happens, of course your race is ruined.

Anyone have any tips on how to drive the karts and not spin out? I feel like I try to drive them as smoothly as I can, and I don't just mash the throttle or brakes. It seems like whenever I 'hold back' to try not to spin out, the AI karts start to pull away from me, and when I push the kart to catch back up, I inevitably end up spinning out.

So any tips would be greatly appreciated!
Click to expand...
adjust you ballast weight and transmission. I have raced a dozen or so times and i guess practice helps too cause i have gotten to 4th place so far.
 
I purposefully left all the Kart races for last and finished them today. I use X for Accelerate, ☐ for Brake, I steer with the D-Pad and I didn't alter the kart settings from default...here are my tips for the karts:
  • Brake late, and try and coast around the corners
  • Repeatedly tapping the accelerate button seemed to help when trying to keep corner speed
  • Try not to touch the rumble strips, it's rarely worth the risk
  • Be aggressive early, and charge your way through the first few AI that get in your way
  • Use manual, this way you can shift early for longer corners and minimise the risk of spinning
  • Manual also means you can make sure you never drop into second gear
  • Use this trick for any championships you're struggling with (Particularly IA!)
Good luck! Golding the final GT Arena race is definitely a killer, if you need a benchmark, I had to get lower then 27.2 second laps in order to eventually win it. 👍
 
tesshu
I did 8kg at 50%.

Does the ballast make a difference to acceleration or top speed? Or is it too small a change to really notice?
Click to expand...

Top speed isn't generally affected but it is worth adjusting race to race accordingly.

Acceleration is affected as the Kart is carrying more weight, so it will be slightly slower. However, by having the ballast over the back wheels (and therefore more weight), you can get on the power quicker coming out of corners and through corners etc, so it balances out. The ballast can also help with braking by reducing lock ups so you can brake later.
 
Finally got gold on the 125 shifters at the gt arena!

Ds3 sensitivity 7, trans to 1 down from max speed, no ballast used.

I use analogue sticks to acel & brake, shift on l2 r2.

Happy days. no more karting.

Well might do the championship again lol.
 
Im struggling on GT arena, put ballast over rear and horrible understeer, move more to front, horrible, silly oversteer 🤬:banghead:

How much ballast, is good, and where about to place it? please.
 
rgkma
Im struggling on GT arena, put ballast over rear and horrible understeer, move more to front, horrible, silly oversteer 🤬:banghead:

How much ballast, is good, and where about to place it? please.
Click to expand...

It's difficult to say....some people run with only 1 or 2KG ballast if they add it, myself I put 13KG on which worked for me. Most people add the ballast to the rear as it adds weight over the drive wheels.

As to the understeer/oversteer, yes the Kart does have those tendencies. I find the understeer easier to deal with as you can feather the throttle to get the front to turn. For me, using x for accelerate, what I did when it understeered was tap the button to get it to turn (rather than just holding the button down).
 
nursemorph
It's difficult to say....some people run with only 1 or 2KG ballast if they add it, myself I put 13KG on which worked for me. Most people add the ballast to the rear as it adds weight over the drive wheels.

As to the understeer/oversteer, yes the Kart does have those tendencies. I find the understeer easier to deal with as you can feather the throttle to get the front to turn. For me, using x for accelerate, what I did when it understeered was tap the button to get it to turn (rather than just holding the button down).
Click to expand...


YES that's exactly the way to do it
 
nursemorph
It's difficult to say....some people run with only 1 or 2KG ballast if they add it, myself I put 13KG on which worked for me. Most people add the ballast to the rear as it adds weight over the drive wheels.

As to the understeer/oversteer, yes the Kart does have those tendencies. I find the understeer easier to deal with as you can feather the throttle to get the front to turn. For me, using x for accelerate, what I did when it understeered was tap the button to get it to turn (rather than just holding the button down).
Click to expand...


Cheers for the advice, another 10 goes at it just now. Finished 5th. I can handle not getting gold on this event, doing my head in. Only short on 2 gold stars on this kart event.
 
I'm sucking at the Kart races as well.....hate 'em....mainly 'cuz I can't seem to finish a race. As you guys know, once you hit a wall or spin out, it's almost impossible to catch up to the pack let alone place in the top three. I'm going to try your guys' advice ans see what happens. These races are keeping me from finishing up a series and getting the stars so I can move on.
 
The best way to win the Kart races is not to try to overtake them all in first lap and keep in mind, the AI slows down on the last two laps. As an actual fact, in some races you won't be able to pass the last Kart until the last lap anyway...
Keep a constant rhythm and pace, smooth line and tap the throttle a few quick times coming out of the corners, before going full blast, otherwise, you'll spin off (DS3 users).
Kerbs? I try to avoid them, but that is personal taste :p
 
Ain't that hard if you're using sticks for throttle/braking. Remember the following: curbs can send you flying, you're driving on no suspensions, and push as much as you like on the throttle when your tires are all straight; use momentum to roll thoroguh corners with the greatest of ease.

If you can learn to be smooth and patient, and like a challenge, you'll eventually fall in love with karts.
 
+10000 to increasing the controller sensitivity. I put it at 5 and it was like night and day. Went from silvering ONE kart race in the first section after hours of trying last week, to beating all the 100 and 125's in under an hour today. Also Bronzed the RedBull Kart thing too on first try.

One you get the sensitivity solved it feels like a F1 car rather than a stick of butter on ice. Look up the proper tunings for the 125 and 150 races - very important to have the correct gear ratios to win each race.

Other than that - as everyone says just be smooth and patient. In these races clipping a wall or grass can end a first place run, so be very defensive vs environment. Against AI...very aggressive :)

Edited to add: My general goal was to have a quick first gear with a stretched out final gear. Then I'd basically just repeat the first corner or two over and over until I was in 4th or better and go from there. Might take a dozen tries to get a good start, but that's way better than doing six laps and getting 7th place over and over.
 
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Use the ground view. X & O buttons for acccelerate & brake. Never give up on a race AI slow down dramically in the final 2 laps of every race.
 

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