Getting the hang of things (or why do/did I suck at drifting?)

  • Thread starter MordredKLB
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MordredKLB

MordredKLB

19
United States
Austin, TX
MordredKLB
Hey guys, I've been lurking these forums for a few weeks now and wanted to talk a little bit about my experiences and get you guys recommendations/opinions.

I started trying to learn to drift about 3 weeks ago. For the record I have a Logitech GT wheel. When I started my drifting odyssey I decided to just learn with the wheel (because I can't do anything well with the DS3 in the game). I read that the learning curve was steeper, but it was obviously more realistic and once I got the hang of things I'd be better off.

I bought some cars, tried tuning myself, gave up and went with some tunes here. I was terrible. I practiced a lot. I was still really terrible. After literally hours of practice I could barely get bronze on most of the weekly challenges (couldn't complete one of the Italian ones). I'd spin out and hit a wall at the exit of every drift.

I practiced more, and ended up going with the BMW M3 '07 with this tune because so many people raved over it. The car was by far the best one I'd found to drift in, but I still sucked. Then two days ago I decided to give drifting with the DS3 a shot. On my 2nd run on one of the challenges I beat my high score. Within an hour I was very close to getting silver on one (like 150 points short). The DS3 was infinitely easier to drift with. I stopped spinning out after every drift, but I wouldn't say I was great.

Last night I decided to mess with the tune. Every single setting appeared to be way off, for me at least. I raised ride height to -12/-12 and changed stiffness to 9/8. Almost instantly I was getting silvers. I dialed the camber back to 1.5/1.0 and was getting close to gold. Stabilizers to 4/4 and I golded one track. Changed toe angle and I golded the other.

I don't think I had any crazy revelation, but a car I could barely control now drifts reasonably well for me around most everything, yet everyone loved TOK73's tune. Am I not advanced enough to appreciate it's benefits? Should I ever go back to trying drifting with the wheel, or am I just going to frustrate myself for no good reason?
 
I'd go back. I sucked with the wheel too but I kept at it until I got the hang of it. It took me 2 full months to finally connect drifts and take corners without spinning out. I would also recommend you trying comfort soft or medium to start with. People will say use comfort hards but I find it more frustrating as its harder to control your car for a beginner.

Key things to remember is throttle control and hand response. After a while you'll feel the drift rather than just force it. I kept it firm at the very beginning, meaning stiff hands and arms but then relaxed and let the wheel flow through my hands and it worked wonders. In other words, keep your cool and keep relaxed.
 
It took 2 months for me to master wheel drift. One day I was about to give up and quit it because I thought I would not be able to do it. Every day, 4/5 hours practice and finally I did it.
It comes like a CLICK - and you not only can do it (drift), you KNOW how to do it.
Its like learning to drive a bicycle.
I learn how to begin a drift, initiate. Then how to maintain it. Then how to exit the corners and straighten a car. most difficult, at the end was mastering transitions.
Don't give up, bro! everybody began one day.
Choose a Top Gear test track and just fool around, spinning and making small radius circles.
One more thing. Someone's car settings will not teach you to drift - they are for those, hwo CAN drift yet, only need to improve.
Watch wideo with onboard camera, see the hands movements and remember - be EASY on a wheel, let it go when it wants and catch it to fix the car's angle.
 
Go back to the wheel, take in everything these guys are saying and practice practice practice the moment I got it, it was like some sort of epiphany.. Its the best feeling 👍
 
Everyone is right.. i use a controller to drift. Ill be humble about it I'm pretty good, but the thing is, with a controller, you can't feel/you dont KNOW how much your steering wheel has turned, until you reach wheel lock, (which is too late on a controller) and you hit the wall, costing you 33,000 credits in chassis repairs.

While as on a steering wheel you can reach wheel lock in a second (depending on your rotation) and you can straighten your car immediately, so definetely go back. A little each day helps...

Good luck, from Team THRT...
 
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Just keep trying, I'm doing the same (I'm trying to learn with a PWTS). You just sort of get better the more you try it seems :)
 
Thanks for the advice guys. Guess I'll go back to the wheel. It's certainly a lot more fun using it, but it's just so much more frustrating.

For the record I've been using Comfort Mediums for my drifting since day one. Maybe I should try comfort soft and see if that improves things any with the wheel.
 
MordredKLB
Thanks for the advice guys. Guess I'll go back to the wheel. It's certainly a lot more fun using it, but it's just so much more frustrating.

For the record I've been using Comfort Mediums for my drifting since day one. Maybe I should try comfort soft and see if that improves things any with the wheel.
Click to expand...

Practice with Comfort Softs, and when you are ready, use comfort hards..
 
Team THRT Drift
Practice with Comfort Softs, and when you are ready, use comfort hards..
Click to expand...

Is this about online drifting or drift mode?

If this is about online drifting and tandems, forget about go for CS then CH.
Screw the CS, as more as you get used with CH, easier will be to master it and keep the pace with the best.
 
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Lazy Liquid
Is this about online drifting or drift noobe?

If this is about online drifting and tandems, Bull:censored:... for CS then CH.
Screw the CS, as more as you get used with CH, easier will be to master it and keep the pace with the best.
Click to expand...

No I'm talking about practicing. For online/offline, CH ALL THE WAY.
 
So I'm having a little trouble with the weekly challenges this week. Basically I can't find a Race Car that I can drift very well (with DS3 or wheel). I seem to be stuck with either cars that have too much power, or not enough (Amuse S2000). Does anybody have any recommendations/tunes for cars to try to make this a little easier?
 
MordredKLB
So I'm having a little trouble with the weekly challenges this week. Basically I can't find a Race Car that I can drift very well (with DS3 or wheel). I seem to be stuck with either cars that have too much power, or not enough (Amuse S2000). Does anybody have any recommendations/tunes for cars to try to make this a little easier?
Click to expand...

Try the premium Blitz ER34...works like a charm.
 
I bought the Blitz and that helped a bunch. Just missed gold within 20 minutes of getting it. Thanks for the tips guys.
 
MordredKLB
I bought the Blitz and that helped a bunch. Just missed gold within 20 minutes of getting it. Thanks for the tips guys.
Click to expand...

Check both the drift depot and Team Shmogt's drift tuning garage for drift setups for the Blitz car. I'm pretty sure I'm running Shmogt's tune on mine and it is a very stable drifter.
 
I've been drifting with a wheel for a few months probably and I still have a lot to learn. Aside from more control over the steering, I find one of the greatest advantages to be better throttle control. I like to think I am decent now, I can slide the lines but I have a problem being consistent, I couldn't do the same lap twice if my life depended on it whereas I see DS3 users that are able to repeat their lines exact lap after lap.
 
ive been drifting for a month on and off (more off than on lol) using my DFGT
Took a while to get to grips but i am getting there slowly

my pink bmw and etype are starting to come together.

a good rig helps! mine still moves so i am being very gentle. i could be more forceful if it was better lol
 
Are you guys on racing super softs in that vid???

You should give comfort tires a try. Once you get accustomed to the lower grip, I think you'll find you fight the car much less.
 
It's because the analog stick can go from left to right a million times faster than a 900 degree wheel can and moving a centimeter with the analog stick is equivalent to moving the wheel about 180 degrees or so. It makes it a whole lot easier to fix any mistakes you have during a drift.

BUT using a wheel has it's benefits. Be optimistic because that's the only way to get through this phase. I'm still in this phase and just need to connect my drifts. Just keep practicing. Try wide tracks like the Top Gear Test Track so you won't run off into the grass as often. It's a noob-friendly track when it comes to drifting. From there, make a transition to Suzuka and Tsukuba or whichever track you want to drift.
 
velly
i was on comfort softs, not sure what the others were on
Click to expand...

I was on CH's.

I found that learning to slide the car without throttle is the key. CH gives you that ability with ease (granted you've used it with the controller). After power sliding, I added small amounts if throttle (more and more as I go) to keep the drift going and to correct steering.

Also, I kept to one gear, usually third, until I fully grasp how to use the steering and throttle together without over powering a turn.
 
Bluntified
I was on CH's.

I found that learning to slide the car without throttle is the key. CH gives you that ability with ease (granted you've used it with the controller). After power sliding, I added small amounts if throttle (more and more as I go) to keep the drift going and to correct steering.

Also, I kept to one gear, usually third, until I fully grasp how to use the steering and throttle together without over powering a turn.
Click to expand...

are you using a DS3 or a wheel? i have just up graded to a wheel. it is easy on a controller but i am just trying not to spin out on the wheel...it will come to me..just need to keep on trying
 
velly
are you using a DS3 or a wheel? i have just up graded to a wheel. it is easy on a controller but i am just trying not to spin out on the wheel...it will come to me..just need to keep on trying
Click to expand...

Wheel. I use DS3 sometimes as I'm still not 100% with the wheel yet. I've been going at it for a couple months on and off and it finally clicked. I still have problems with e break drifts but power over drifts are easier now.

Tip: Use a car between 300-400hp and keep in one gear until your comfortable drifting. When you get that and you feel you need more power, try a gear up. I stuck to 3rd gear for a little while until I figured how to control the car.

Tip: When your exiting a drift, move your wheel/tires to normal/straight position. Rocking the wheel left and right (small amounts) help keep in control during counter steering. This will help you avoid the car snapping back when you exit the corner. You'll feel it, good luck.
 
I just recently got the big "CLICK" with my drifting... I'm still not perfect but am going smoothly with my drifts now... Got 20K points on Tsukuba today...

It happened with a BMW Z4, a very forgiving and smooth car to drift... I'll update this post with the tune a lil later... Try it and see, you may be as surprised as I was...

Also, give this a good read, it's very detailed view on everything could possibly know about GT tuning, yes it's from GT4 but everything still applies in GT5... This will help you to set up your own ride from scratch and teach you how to tune it to your own driving style... It helped me hugely!!!

Ant
 

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