How can I shave off more time? (beginner)

[u/therapture3]

I know I'm really inefficient but I have no idea what to change to fix it, the problems I can see are:

1. Altitude control on turns. I either drop too low after a turn and eat grass or I overcompensate and miss the gate. Even when neither of those happen I still go too low or too high and it affects my speed.

2. I'm too slow on the zigzag, but I don't know what to change in my controls to be better. If I tighten my turns then I lose too much altitude, if I widen my turns I lose too much speed.

3. My first lap is always better than my second, whch is evident in the video.

I probably have more problems that I can't even identify. I'm a beginner when it comes to racing but I've flown drones for other purposes for about a decade. My friend got 35 seconds and he owes me dinner if I get 34 and I'm really really hungry. Would appreciate any advice.

61 degree angle, 135 FOV

[u/Lazy_Satisfaction970]

I'd focus on keeping the line smooth and consistent before trying to turn harder. Look ahead to the next gate and try to carry your momentum through the zigzags instead of correcting your altitude so much mid-turn. Clean laps usually get faster before they get more aggressive.

[u/therapture3 → u/Lazy_Satisfaction970]

thank you, this is good actionable advice, I'll keep it in mind for next session

[u/ScallionSmooth5925]

Slow is smooth and smooth is fast. I know this sounds like bulshit but give it a try

[u/FlyCrashRepair → u/ScallionSmooth5925]

Bob Lee Swagger, is that you?

[u/LightNing334]

I'd honestly focus on more controlled and slower flying. It's better to hone your precise skills, before you start doing larger faster courses. Try doing building free style

[u/therapture3 → u/LightNing334]

that sounds like a good idea, thank you, I'll put some hours into flying in tight spaces

[u/Cbgamefreak]

The secret sauce is throttle control.

[u/therapture3 → u/Cbgamefreak]

I'm running 99% of the race with the throttle jammed to 100 LOL

[u/progressiv_0]

I think you're making the same mistake as I did first. Use throttle to control your turns. Like fly into turns, lower throttle, turn, throttle up.

Try to keep your throttle consistent and only use it for micro adjustment. If you can't do that with that speed, you're not ready, lower your speed and try again.

So be consistent with throttle, position yourself into the turn so that you only need to pitch into the turn, without changing anything else. And if the turn is too hard you will loose momentum, maybe increase turn radius a little to stay with your speed.

Watch replays of first laps, you will get what i mean 😁 And keep learning!

[u/therapture3 → u/progressiv_0]

got it, thank you!

[u/macfirbolg]

The biggest thing I see here is that you are treating each turn or adjustment as its own separate thing in isolation, but should instead be treating every move as part of a cohesive, continuous whole. Right now, your drone is slewing all over as you try to push it into your turns rather than making the turns part of a line that works with the momentum and angles the drone wants to use anyway. Speed will come naturally, but the control gained from slowing down and making sure each movement is building towards a coherent whole will be invaluable at any speed. It’s like practicing a musical instrument: you don’t practice at ridiculous speeds or even the normal speed for the piece, but instead at a slower speed to ensure everything is perfect and gradually increasing speed while maintaining perfection.

[u/therapture3 → u/macfirbolg]

that makes sense, and I do feel like I'm behaving how you described. I'll try that, thank you

[u/mangage]

pre-turning

[u/therapture3 → u/mangage]

I'm turning too soon or I should turn sooner?

[u/mangage → u/therapture3]

Turn sooner. Ideal is to be turned towards the new direction already as you pass the gate or marker. This minimizes overshoot and keeps the line as tight as possible. Not something you can do on lap 1 but as you memorize the track you’ll start thinking and aiming towards the next gate instead just of the current gate.

[u/therapture3 → u/mangage]

got it, thanks!

[u/Thinks_too_far_ahead → u/therapture3]

Too late

[u/DiaryofTwain]

Your sliding out in your turns. Slow and or angle change

[u/therapture3 → u/DiaryofTwain]

sounds like you're saying I need to find the sweet spot between the two, thank you

[u/Braeden151]

Try racing at 80% effort and see the times.

[u/therapture3 → u/Braeden151]

that's a really interesting piece of advice, I'll try and let you know

[u/bustaone]

Cut corners earlier. You're drifting way past the turn points.

[u/One_Departure_5926]

Try and turn like formula drivers do. 1 long arc. Also trying to keep the drone "more flat" through the turn will help keep momentum/ thrust in the direction you are going... When your rolled really far over your essentially throwing on the momentum brakes in corners...

[u/spincycleon]

Grind first course on Minus two, that’ll teach you throttle control on turns

[u/VexedAI]

Is this a sim?

[u/wont_ → u/VexedAI]

yes, looks like Liftoff

[u/therapture3 → u/VexedAI]

yup, it's Liftoff, map 1-06, Haybales - Further Afield