Key takeaways
- Estimate head height at the angle you are clearing, allowing for elevation.
- Leave room for how far from the corner an opponent might swing.
- Practise on an empty map and check real rounds afterward.
Crosshair placement is where you aim before an opponent appears. A useful starting point is to anticipate the next angle you intend to clear, then move the crosshair as your viewpoint changes. The drills below are FPSing's coaching suggestions. Valve's site identifies the game; it does not validate a specific training benefit or rank these drills against aim training.
Estimate head height#
When you expect a standing opponent, use approximate head height as a starting point. Stairs, ramps, boxes and crouches change the likely target position. Avoid treating one screen-height line as correct for every part of a map.
As a drill, pause before each angle and ask where the opponent's head would appear at that distance. Then move through the angle and check whether your crosshair stayed near that point.
Pre-aim the likely appearance point#
Corners, doors and cover suggest where an opponent might appear. Place the crosshair near that opening rather than resting it on irrelevant open space.
Do not always hold the exact edge: an opponent can swing wider, and your own reaction and connection affect where you should wait. Try several offsets in practice and see which makes your first correction manageable.
Move the crosshair with you#
As you move past a corner, the useful pre-aim point moves. Track the next angle as it becomes visible instead of leaving your crosshair on a wall you have already cleared.
The goal is a smaller correction when a threat appears. You may still need to adjust quickly; this drill does not remove aiming or reaction from the duel.
Practising it without enemies#
Load a map you know and walk a common route. At each opening, predict the likely height and position, clear the angle, then reset for the next one. Run the same route again with a different possible swing width. In a real match, review a few duels to see whether your initial placement reduced or increased the correction you needed.
Combine placement with mechanical practice#
Placement and mechanical aiming address different parts of a duel. This guide does not establish that one produces more wins per minute of practice.
If your crosshair begins far from likely threats, practise route awareness. If it starts close but you still miss, add mechanical drills and review movement and shooting timing as well.
Sources
Updates and corrections
- Correction — Removed unsupported training-return and duel-outcome claims; presented crosshair placement as an editorial practice routine with situational adjustments.Previously: “Claimed ten minutes of map walking beats an hour of aim training and that placement wins most duels without evidence.”
- Update — Replaced a storefront image whose reuse terms were not documented with an original FPSing illustration.
Topics
- aim
- fundamentals
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