Focus tool or just placebo?

[pure geyser]

I wanted some feedback on a trick I used to do playing basketball that I wonder if I can apply it to valorant. I used to have a phrase I said to myself in my head prior to my shot, I always thought "focus on the point". This may not make sense, for my shot I didn't look at the rim I looked at the point in the center of the basket. Regardless, I literally incorporated this into my practice and I always had attributed it to me having a huge increase in my overall efficiency; I went from a 56% Ft shooter all the way to 73% over a summer. I was wondering if anyone has done this for in-game aim or really anything else? I was also wondering if anyone knew if there was anything substantial behind this kind of thing or if I'm just psycho? Appreciate any feedback on this. I don't want to frame this like I don't do it in val either, in clutch situations I think to myself "focus on the head", but the difference is I don't do this in practice in val. Range, dms etc I don't do this where in basketball I would do this 24/7.

[chrome arrow]

Continuing from #advice, looking at a target intently, makes my snap flicks more accurate more times, so it is logical to use. But i dont know if ur method is quick enough to not be considered overthinking and slowing u down.

U dont actually need to think the words focus on the head or anything like that

Just focus on the target

[pearl ice]

There are a lot of things in sports that translate over to aim too.

You focusing "on the point" is basically the same as you focusing on the enemy rather than the crosshair. Same principle. (copy-pasted from #advice )

Basically: you focus on where you want to aim. Your hand-eye coordination does the rest.

[pure geyser]

Yea mb I didn't realise this existed prior to posting in advice. Reguardless, this kind of thing takes 0 time at all, it would be for example when holding and angle or in a clutch. I basically say it to myself when I know there will be a fight. In basketball I was able to do this every shot since it was never unexpected. Btw I am not like a new person to fps, I have very good aim mechanics overall in Valorant im immortal 3 off 500 hours for example. I do not grind kovaaks but I do have relatively high scores you know, nothing insane but I can get like top 200-300 in pretty much any given scenario unless its dynamic clicking. This is just something I was wondering if it would be a tool I can use. I am super interested in psychology and neuroscience and I have never seen anything about this so I was seeking other anecdotes. I do not know if it is placebo or not or maybe the self talk part of it gives confidence, idk.

[chrome arrow]

I believe its related to focusing on one point/goal/target

Makes it easier

Can be related to confidence too cuz ure like” i have one goal which i trained already, now just execute”

In ur subconscious

[pure geyser]

also to give a bit more context btw, in Val my Hs% is actually super low. its 18%, however I have such a high clutch rate and this is usually the time I am able to have self talks aswell. Thats why I was wondering if maybe I incorporate it into a practice setting that it may help with fights where I may be thinking about rotates or positioning etc.

[pearl ice]

I think the talking to yourself is maybe a way to keep yourself calm too.

Calm aim is a very good skill to have

[chrome arrow]

Maybe u shoot a bit too fast

U know how we comm “1hp” to make the team shoot his body as quickly as possible? Thats cuz shooting to head is slower

Or mousecontrol/ crosshair placement not ideal, but idk

[pure geyser]

That may be true actually, thinking back I feel I do shoot too fast. I need to look at a vod to confirm but i get that feeling a lot.

my crosshair placement is one of my best traits I think it may be the click timing.

Hey super appreciate you two @pearl ice @chrome arrow. Getting feedback like this really helps me untangle my thoughts on stuff, super appreciate it. If you have any other advice feel free to lmk.

[chrome arrow]

👍

[normal spire]

If you are holding an angle or tracking something I think that's when it's best to have your eyes set on the head specifically, you might be able to have your eyes set on the head when flicking if your crosshair is close enough. If it's a medium or a long flick, at least for me, it's always been much easier (as in I've been significantly more accurate) to focus on my crosshair and then snap my aim to the target the moment I see them enter my peripheral vision, though you want to make sure you're using your center/focused vision as much as possible (I.E: good crosshair placement) as your peripheral vision will be slower to react and you will be slightly less and less accurate the farther into your peripheral vision you have to flick.

[pure geyser]

I never look at my crosshair when playing tbh. I have good crosshair placement, but I dont recall ever actually having my focus on the crosshair. I usually hold wide on the angle i am holding for (depends on the angle but a good 80% I aim pretty wide) and wait for the head and focus then flick to that. I use a wider crosshair (1424 Outlines) because I really do not look at it much. I am not sure if this is good or bad though, to me it seems intuitive to do but that doesn't naturally make it good.

[pearl ice]

You indeed don't want to focus too much on the crosshair unless you need it for moments where you need higher precision/target confirmation

I wouldn't overthink it too much

[pearl ice]

As long you have the crosshair in your peripheral vision to be able to gauge where the center of your screen is, then that is often enough for a majority of aim scenarios.

[tall pier]

Yo j I play basketball too, if you can make that dedicated thought a subconscious one, it'll probably help free up your mind for other thoughts. That's just how I play tho, everything is subconscious except listening for the coach or the pg to call for a play/screens/hedging/etc

[pure geyser]

I hear you but I am not super convinced that something being subconcious neccessarily makes it more effective. It could be the case that is true but I really do not know. However you are right that it frees your brain up to do other things aswell, I know in basketball looking back I wish I had been more vocal and maybe me practicing in this way had made it so I talked less in games. However I do not have this problem in Val, I also did not ever practice like this in val. There may be something to what your saying but I think the biggest thing to find out would be whether or not something being conscious or subconscious effects its efficiency. I kind of prefer @pearl ice approach to all of this, I just do the shit and do not overthink it (at least in the moment).