# the micro-flick-flick-flick problem

most tracking beginners have shaky aim - when aiming they move in jerks: each mouse flick is a separate action followed by analyzing the result and another flick, the crosshair moves all wonky - there’s overreacting and loads of unnecessary movements, making further analysis even harder.

# the visuomotor loop

this whole thing can be described with one term - the visuomotor loop (visuomotor feedback loop (yes, a new term was invented here, hooray)).

basically, it’s an information-processing cycle that the nervous system runs as fast as it possibly can:

stages of the loop:

1. visual analysis - the eye registers the target’s current position and trajectory: assessing distance, movement vector, movement speed.
2. information processing - the brain processes the visual data and calculates the required motor command: micro-calculating distance, predicting the route, calculating the turn angle and so on.
3. command execution. the muscles receive a signal and make a movement: the mouse moves to the required position.
4. repeat. the loop closes and starts again.

reactive tracking basically runs on this loop - it’s a sequence of micro-corrections happening so fast they look like one smooth action.

even pro players make the same micro-corrections, it’s just that their interpolation (smoothing between cycles) reaches a level where the movement looks completely smooth, each micro-correction gets added to the initial vector rather than being a new movement vector, plus an experienced system builds in a little trajectory prediction, anticipating the target’s next position.

# lil noob vs pro

beginner:

• sees the target -> takes ages to process the information -> calculates the movement (often incorrectly, with artifacts, unnecessary movements) -> the hand performs the action -> analyzes the result -> waits -> next flick

noticeable gaps appear between loop cycles: each flick feels like a separate, discrete operation rather than part of a continuous flow.

pro:

• sees the target -> fast, accurate information processing -> micro-correction, even if the initial movement was inaccurate -> instant analysis of the result -> next correction

a pro’s loop runs faster than a beginner’s, an experienced player can correct their previous movements well - for example, having been moving in a straight line - they can add an accurate correction within the same movement vector without it looking like a flick or shaking. These micro-adjustments overlap, creating the appearance of smooth, continuous tracking.

# how the skill develops

hours of practice in aim trainers let you optimize the speed and efficiency of the visuomotor loop,

the system learns to:

• analyze the visual stream faster
• analyze it well - form more accurate motor commands without unnecessary movements

: result: micro-corrections that used to be visible as distinct jerks start merging into one smooth movement.

# bottom line

shaking and jerking (flickshot with noticeable intervals) are signs of insufficient information-processing speed and accuracy, the system just can’t keep up with the required number of micro-corrections, so it has to make macro-movements.

smooth tracking is the result of a fast and efficient loop, micro-corrections happen so frequently they become practically invisible.

developing tracking skill means speeding up the visuomotor loop and optimizing its efficiency.

over time there’s better prediction, better interpolation, better synchronization, better analysis quality, artifacts disappear and so on.