Any Suggestions for First-time Pad Users?

[WVStarship]

I'm an old guy (67) who has been enjoying simracing since the 1990s. I've always used a wheel/pedals up to now. About 6 months ago I decided to upgrade to DD and now have a Fanatec Podium DD2, meaning I no longer have PS support.

I decided to give GT7 a go using the gamepad. I have managed to get thru the B license, although I had a few silvers and settled with a bronze on the final exam. My biggest problem has been with breaking; I can't seem to get the feel for the trigger on the controller. It's either no brake or slam on the brakes. I also can't conceive of ever driving manual gears with a pad. The overall smoothness and gently applying throttle/brake appears to be completely lost without a proper wheel setup.

I realize that I need to practice many more hours to get better but the whole experience seems off, as I feel 'disconnected' from the car and the total driving experience. I know that many people do exceptionally well using the gamepad and any tips would be greatly appreciated.

Happy driving!

 

[Skilly]

It just takes practice. I like to use the face buttons on the right side for gearing up/down (square for up, x for down), since your left thumb and index fingers already have to do a lot.

Once you are able to get smoother inputs down with the left thumb you'll doing great.

Also, since it seems you're in the sim space, I would suggest not thinking about trail braking as you would with pedals. It's really difficult at first to judge with a pad. I would just think about it as 100% at the start of the braking zone, then 50%, apex. With the throttle you should just think about it in terms of squeezing it on, rather than any other type of application.

Also, just use more TC to start and lower it down as you go. No shame in it and since it's casual/single player you'll be fine with the little bit of time it potentially gives away.

 

[Mercia]

You could try swapping round to use the right stick for brake and throttle, once you get used to it can provide a more precise level of control, I prefer it personally when using a pad though you'll lose the haptic feedback etc. from the trigger (not played the game yet so not sure how big a deal that is).

It will free up say L1 and R1 for brake down and up as well which has a more natural, paddle gear feel to it.

 

[Toyota Camry]

I have the same issue on game pad of all or nothing trigger inputs, even when the 'stiff' trigger effect is disabled (this helped a bit though).

The trigger has a low range of physical movement and maybe its just me but they seem to have a deadzone or some weird logarithmic/exponential response curve.

 

[djdest]

Get a car and track combination that you enjoy, and get on time trial.
Now put in loads of laps, and as you get quicker then knock down the traction control a notch and keep up with your fastest times. Rinse and repeat.
After a while you’ll get quicker the more you turn off TC, until it’s fully off and you’re not on/off on the ”pedals”.
Thats how I did it!

 

[barak181]

Biggest tip I got about creating precise inputs on a controller:

Open up a custom race, free practice or some other mode that's going to get you on a track alone without the clock screaming at you. Bring your car to a dead stop. Press the brake in 100%. Let it go. Press it to what you think is 50% and look at the indicator on the HUD. The actual input is likely going to be off quite a bit. Find 50% and get the feel for it. Literally just sit there practicing finding different levels of accurate input until your fingers get the feel for it. You can do the same for the throttle while holding down the brake or e-brake, it'll be different than the brake "pedal."

That helped the accuracy of my inputs immeasurably.

 

[Toyota Camry]

Biggest tip I got about creating precise inputs on a controller:

Open up a custom race, free practice or some other mode that's going to get you on a track alone without the clock screaming at you. Bring your car to a dead stop. Press the brake in 100%. Let it go. Press it to what you think is 50% and look at the indicator on the HUD. The actual input is likely going to be off quite a bit. Find 50% and get the feel for it. Literally just sit there practicing finding different levels of accurate input until your fingers get the feel for it. You can do the same for the throttle while holding down the brake or e-brake, it'll be different than the brake "pedal."

That helped the accuracy of my inputs immeasurably.

great idea, thanks.