Why centering drifts
Most people focus on the stroke itself and forget the relationship between the stroke and the circle’s center. The eye rides along the line, tiny corrections accumulate on one side, and the best‑fit center slides away from the golden dot. The fix is not brute force; it’s attention. You must watch the space between the dot and your stroke, and keep that space constant while you move.
Visual anchors that keep you honest
- Magnet dot. Treat the golden dot as a magnet. If the gap widens or narrows, steer gently to restore symmetry.
- Quadrant rails. Imagine faint rails at 12‑3‑6‑9. Your stroke should pass each rail at the same distance from the center.
- Grid cues. Turn on grid lines and note where your circle should cross them. Use these intersections as targets.
- Gaze ahead. Don’t stare at the pen tip. Look slightly ahead on the path; the hand follows the eyes.
These anchors are lightweight mental overlays. They prevent the subtle drift that isn’t obvious until you see a low centering score.
Pacing and radius: choosing a stable combo
Centering improves when your tempo and radius match your current skill. Too slow, and you micro‑correct; too fast, and you overshoot anchors. Start with a medium radius and a 2.5‑second tempo. After five reps, scan your scores. If roundness is fine but centering wobbles, slow to 3 seconds and try again. If centering improves yet roundness drops, your radius may be too small—bump it up one step. For more on size selection, see Small vs Large Circles.
Centering drills (5–7 minutes)
- Equidistance Drill (2 min). Draw at a steady tempo while keeping the gap from the center dot visually constant. Say “same, same, same” as you move to enforce rhythm.
- Crosshair Drill (2 min). Mentally draw a crosshair through the center. Pass each axis at equal distance. Alternate directions each rep.
- Grid Passes (1–2 min). With grid on, plan 8–12 evenly spaced intersections and hit them with consistent spacing.
- Exam Reps (1 min). Two best circles. Log centering and radius used.
Troubleshooting common drift patterns
- Right‑pull drift. Your attention lags behind. Look further ahead on the arc and slightly reduce speed.
- Top‑heavy circles. You slow down near 12 o’clock and over‑steer. Keep a uniform tempo; breathe out through the top.
- Off‑start bias. You push away from the start point. Rotate the canvas a few degrees to make the first quadrant comfortable.
A simple plan to raise your centering score
Week 1: Equidistance + Crosshair daily (5 minutes). Choose one radius and one tempo. Aim for stability first, not max values.
Week 2: Add Grid Passes and rotate directions every rep. Begin alternating between two radii. Expect a 5–8 point lift in centering with consistent practice.
Re‑test in Main Mode, then switch to Practice Mode levels with fewer dots to solidify control.
FAQ
Is centering more important than roundness?
Roundness dominates visual quality, but poor centering makes a good circle look wrong. Train both—see Roundness Explained.
Should I draw clockwise or counter‑clockwise?
Both. Alternating directions balances your pattern and reduces bias.