Overview & goals
This 30‑day challenge is a focused, time‑efficient training plan to help you consistently score 85%+ and make a strong push toward 90%+. It’s built on motor‑learning principles, short high‑quality reps, and immediate feedback from our scoring system. Sessions are 10–15 minutes per day—long enough to drive adaptation, short enough to avoid fatigue.
How the challenge works
Each week targets a different emphasis: roundness mechanics first, then centering, then closure, and finally performance polish. You’ll work at a baseline radius and baseline tempo (the combo that currently yields your best quality), then periodically test smaller/larger sizes and faster tempos to broaden your skill. You’ll log three numbers after “exam reps”: roundness, centering, and closure. Those numbers tell you what to fix next.
Metrics: roundness, centering, closure
Our app computes a best‑fit circle using the Kasa method. Your final score blends three components:
- Roundness – constant radius and smooth curvature.
- Centering – how close the fitted center is to the golden dot.
- Closure – how seamlessly the end blends into the start.
Roundness is the backbone of visual quality, centering prevents “egginess,” and closure removes the seam.
Week 1 – Mechanics & baselines (Days 1–7)
Goal: Encode smooth, whole‑arm motion and find your best size/tempo.
- Daily drills: Clock Drill, Size Ladder, Pacing (2.5–3.0s), Ghost & Go.
- Focus: Shoulder + elbow guide the arc; wrist stays quiet. Keep tempo steady.
- Exam reps: Three circles at small/medium/large. Pick the radius with the best median roundness and clean closure—this becomes your baseline radius for Week 2.
Expected change: Roundness +5 to +10 points as motion smooths out.
Week 2 – Stabilize & center (Days 8–14)
Goal: Make centering automatic while keeping roundness gains.
- Daily drills: Center Lock, Crosshair Drill, Grid Passes.
- Focus: Treat the dot as a magnet; keep the gap to the stroke visually constant. Alternate directions every rep.
- Exam reps: Three circles at baseline radius; log centering. If centering lags, slow tempo by 0.25s for a few sets.
Expected change: Centering +5 to +8 points with consistent anchors.
Week 3 – Closure & generalization (Days 15–21)
Goal: Remove seams and begin training outside your comfort zone.
- Daily drills: Closure Blend, Portal Drill, Direction Alternation, Mixed Radius.
- Focus: Aim through the start point and match tangent early; keep tempo steady in the last quadrant.
- Generalization: Add one small‑radius and one large‑radius set per session. Compare scores.
Expected change: Closures become invisible; total score stabilizes near your weekly best.
Week 4 – Performance & polish (Days 22–30)
Goal: Consolidate quality and make a conservative speed push.
- Daily drills: Accuracy block at baseline tempo + Speed block (‑0.25s faster). Only keep the speed push if quality drop is < 3 points.
- Mixed sizes: One set smaller, one set larger than baseline on alternate days.
- Exam days: Days 26 and 30—five best attempts, rest 20–30 seconds between reps.
Expected change: Many users break 90% here if Weeks 1–3 were consistent.
Your daily 10–15 minute session
- Warm‑up (1 min): Shoulder + elbow arcs, light wrist circles.
- Main block (6–8 min): Two chosen drills for the week’s focus (e.g., Clock + Pacing in Week 1; Center Lock + Crosshair in Week 2; Closure Blend + Portal in Week 3; Accuracy + Speed in Week 4).
- Generalization (2–3 min): Size Ladder or Direction Alternation.
- Exam reps (1–2 min): Two best circles at baseline settings. Log roundness, centering, closure.
Keep reps calm and deliberate. Stop before fatigue; quality, not volume, creates learning.
Plateaus, recovery & troubleshooting
Plateaus happen when reps stop providing a new signal. Change one variable: radius, tempo, direction, or device. If roundness stalls, increase tempo slightly to discourage micro‑corrections. If centering stalls, strengthen anchors with grid lines and bigger center‑dot cues. If closure stalls, zoom in and exaggerate the tangent match for five reps. See How to Break 85% and 95% and Speed vs Accuracy.
Recovery. Take one light day per week (short warm‑up + 2 exam reps). Shake out hands, stretch forearms, and keep shoulders relaxed. A fresh nervous system learns faster than an exhausted one.
Tracking & sharing
Use a simple log: date, size, tempo, and the three scores. Note which drill seemed to help. Re‑test the baseline on Day 15 and Day 30. Share your best score from the modal with friends (our app has built‑in share buttons) and challenge them to beat it—it’s great motivation.
FAQ
How long should I stay at one radius?
One week for your baseline radius, with small/large add‑on sets for generalization. As control improves, your best radius often grows larger.
What if I can’t practice daily?
Do four sessions per week minimum. Consistency matters more than volume. Resume the plan where you left off.
Can kids follow this plan?
Yes—use shorter blocks and playful targets. See Kids’ Circle Practice.