Leading targets

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Leading targets, also known as Deflection, is the practice of aiming one's weapon ahead of his or her target so that the projectiles will hit their mark. Over reasonably short ranges, leading is typically unnecessary when using firearms, but it is still relevant for sniping (where the bullet may take a second or more to hit its target), as well as for weapons such as bows that use lower-velocity projectiles. It is generally unnecessary for guided projectiles, although the guiding mechanism may lead its targets by itself.

[edit] In computer games

Modern computer games of the first-person shooter genre typically feature a number of relatively low-velocity projectile weapons, such as unguided rocket launchers, so leading targets is relevant to them as well. Additionally, even for high-velocity or hitscan weapons, there are issues of latency that require leading in some multiplayer games. Essentially, even if the shooter has the target exactly in his sights, by the time the shooter's computer finishes informing the server that he has fired, the target may have moved enough to avoid the shot.

ZDaemon, QuakeWorld and the Source engine, among others, use a lag compensation system which moves all players back to a point in time based on the shooting client's interpolation time and ping. Such systems eliminate the need to lead hitscan weapons, but introduce the risk of players perceptibly being shot after taking cover.