Vortex Gaming

· When coaching new students, the first things I fix are sensitivity, posture, aim style, and grip style.
· These four factors significantly impact mechanical performance.
· Most players with poor aim lack mouse control, and proper daily aim training is more important than changing sensitivity.
· Constantly changing sensitivity won't solve aim problems and can actually harm consistency.

· It's recommended to set your mouse DPI to 1,600 or higher. Most high-end gaming mice perform better at higher DPIs.
· Higher DPI provides more precise micro-movements, slightly smoother tracking, and lower input lag.
· Polling rate affects input lag, cursor update smoothness, and tracking consistency during fast movements.
· 2,000Hz is the safest and most consistent choice, and 4K and 8K are even better if you don't experience frame drops or stuttering.
· The higher, the better, if your PC can handle it.

Setting	Details
DPI	1,600+ recommended Precise micro-movements, smooth tracking, low input lag
Polling Rate	2,000Hz: Safe and consistent 4K/8K: Better, but requires PC performance to support it

· Mouse acceleration software is unnecessary for 99% of players and can harm muscle memory and consistency.
· This is because it adds another variable: mouse movement speed.
· It can be useful for 1% of players (those using ultra-low sensitivity or with very little space for mouse movement).
· If you decide to try it, use it consistently for at least 3 weeks, track performance data before and after, and research thoroughly to find settings that work for you.

· The claim that muscle memory doesn't exist for aiming and that you can adapt to any sensitivity is partially true, but changing in-game sensitivity daily or weekly is foolish.
· In Valorant, consistent actions like clearing the same angles, engaging enemies in the same hallways, and maintaining the same crosshair placement are repeated, so using a single sensitivity for an extended period develops a certain degree of muscle memory and consistency.
· During aim training, it's good to use various sensitivities to address specific mechanical issues. For example, if you struggle with wrist-based micro-adjustments, you can use a higher sensitivity to focus on that problem.
· While a perfect sensitivity doesn't exist, there is a most comfortable sensitivity that suits your playstyle and aim style.

· The characteristics of a game significantly influence sensitivity choice.
· Counter-Strike favors low sensitivity due to its emphasis on horizontal movement and less verticality.
· Games like Apex Legends and Warzone prefer high sensitivity due to extensive horizontal and vertical movement.
· Valorant primarily involves horizontal mouse movement, but due to map design and agent abilities, it requires appropriate verticality and tracking, thus favoring low to medium sensitivity.
· In Valorant, you should be able to easily perform 90-degree or 180-degree flicks with a single mouse movement using your wrist or entire arm.
· The recommended EDPI range is a minimum of 160 and a maximum of 360, with 260 EDPI being ideal as a starting point.
· EDPI is the in-game sensitivity multiplied by the mouse DPI. (e.g., 800 DPI with 0.325 in-game sensitivity = 260 EDPI)

Game	Characteristics	Preferred Sensitivity
Counter-Strike	Primarily horizontal movement, low verticality	Low sensitivity
Apex Legends, Warzone	Extensive horizontal and vertical movement	High sensitivity
Valorant	Primarily horizontal movement, appropriate verticality and tracking	Low to medium (200~280 EDPI)

· You can find your ideal sensitivity using the '9-Week 20/10/5 Method'.
· Play for 3 weeks with three different sensitivities (current sensitivity, 20% slower sensitivity, 20% faster sensitivity).
· You can use 208, 260, 312 EDPI as starting sensitivities.
· Each week, play with a different sensitivity and track the following data: aim trainer high score, headshot percentage, average kills in Deathmatch, practice range performance, and personal feeling about the sensitivity (e.g., too slow, too fast).
· After 3 weeks, select the sensitivity that showed the best performance.
· If it's not perfect, repeat for another 3 weeks using the new primary sensitivity, 10% slower, and 10% faster.
· Finally, repeat for 3 weeks with 5% slower and 5% faster sensitivities.
· During these 9 weeks, maintain the same warm-up and aim training routine to ensure consistency in data tracking.

Period	Sensitivity Setting	Data Tracking Items
Weeks 1-3	Current sensitivity 20% slower sensitivity 20% faster sensitivity	Aim trainer score Headshot percentage Average Deathmatch kills Practice range performance Personal feeling
Weeks 4-6	Best sensitivity from previous weeks 10% slower sensitivity 10% faster sensitivity	Same
Weeks 7-9	Best sensitivity from previous weeks 5% slower sensitivity 5% faster sensitivity	Same

· You should adjust your sensitivity when changing your mouse, mouse pad, or overall setup.
· If you use a heavy mouse or a small mouse pad, you might need to slightly increase your sensitivity to easily perform 90-degree or 180-degree flicks.
· If you use a light mouse or a large mouse pad, you can lower your sensitivity to increase precision.
· High sensitivity is advantageous for speed, while low sensitivity is better for precision and mouse control.
· If your aim feels 'off' or you experience micro-jittering of your crosshair, it's time to lower your sensitivity.
· If you aim only with your wrist, it's good to slightly increase your sensitivity so you can perform a 90-degree turn without lifting your mouse multiple times.
· If you find it difficult to perfectly control your crosshair placement or track targets, there's a high chance your sensitivity is an issue.
· However, avoid changing your sensitivity just because of one or two bad games or bad days.

· Reduce unnecessary mouse lift-offs, especially when clearing angles.
· During aim training, learn to control your aim across all parts of your mouse pad, but for most gunfights, it's best to operate from your most comfortable 'anchor position'.
· Think of flicks as a two-step process: perform the initial flick with your wrist or forearm, then micro-adjust to secure the kill. Ideally, the initial flick should be accurate.
· Avoid slow dragging motions on your mouse pad. Mouse movements should be explosive, except when tracking an enemy.
· In the early stages of aim training, focus on precision, and gradually increase aim speed over time.
· Use the grip style and aim style that are most comfortable for you. Generally, it's recommended to integrate various mouse movements using your entire arm.
· If you use low sensitivity, perform large angle flicks with your forearm, and small flicks and micro-adjustments with your wrist and fingertips.
· If you use high sensitivity, you can focus on wrist and fingertip aiming.
· Posture is often overlooked, but ensuring overall body stability is crucial for aim stability.
· Keep your feet on the ground, avoid rocking in your chair, and place your entire aiming arm (from fingertips to elbow) on the table to maximize your wrist and forearm's range of motion.
· Sitting as close to your monitor as possible can help you focus on your crosshair and immerse yourself in combat. However, ensure you can see the entire screen without moving your neck.
· The biggest enemy of aim is tension management. If your mouse grip is always at 100%, your aim can feel robotic and shaky.
· The optimal grip pressure is between 60-80%.
· Maintain a slightly lighter grip for flicks or large movements, and a slightly higher tension for micro-adjustments or tracking.

· Your primary sensitivity is found using the '20/10/5 Method'.
· Scope sensitivity is a multiplier applied to your primary sensitivity when using ADS (Aim Down Sights) or sniper scopes.
· You should adjust your scope sensitivity based on your primary sensitivity.
· If your primary sensitivity is too low, slightly increase your scope sensitivity to easily perform at least 90-degree flicks even when scoped in.
· If your primary sensitivity is too high, lower your scope sensitivity to focus on precision.

· The most important things are comfort and consistency.
· In most cases, missing shots is due to poor aim, and you need a good routine to develop proper mouse control.