App Quickstart Guide
Quickstart Guide
Get up and running with VirtualDangle in minutes.
Available on Android (7.0+) and iOS (17.0+)
Note: Older devices may struggle with performance.
1 Prepare Your Space
For the best experience, ensure you have:
- Good Lighting: Bright, even lighting helps the AI track the puck. Avoid harsh glares.
- Flat Surface: A smooth floor or shooting pad where the puck can slide freely.
- Contrast: A puck that stands out from your floor surface (e.g., black puck on white ice/pad).
- Clear Area: Remove obstacles and ensure you have enough space to move comfortably.
Ideal training setup with proper lighting and clear space
2 Install the App
Download VirtualDangle from your device's app store:
Android
- Download from Google Play Store
- Requires Android 7.0+ with OpenGL ES 3.0
- Compatible with most modern Android devices
iOS
- Download from Apple App Store
- Requires iOS 17.0+ and a device with rear camera
- Optimized for iPhone 8 and newer, iPad models
Tip: Both platforms offer the same features. Your account and progress sync automatically between Android and iOS devices.
Important: Older devices may struggle with performance.
3 Set Up Your Device
Position your device using a phone or tablet holder. Choose one of the following two setups:
Option A: Using a Mirror (Recommended)
This setup allows you to view the screen while the rear camera tracks your puck movement - perfect for extended training sessions. Follow these steps carefully:
Step-by-Step Mirror Setup:
- Step 1 - Attach the Mirror: IMPORTANT: Loosely secure the wingnut - do not overtighten it at this stage. The clamp should be stable but allow for adjustment.
- Step 2 - Position the Mirror: Place the mirror attachment so it sits securely on the bottom of the clamp. Verify that the mirror is properly seated and stable before proceeding.
- Step 3 - Mount Your Device: Place your phone or tablet onto the mount on top of the mirror's bar. CRITICAL: Ensure the rear camera is positioned to look directly at the mirror's reflective surface. This allows the camera to see the floor while the screen faces you.
- Step 4 - Final Adjustment: Make any final angle adjustments. The device screen should face you comfortably while the rear camera has a clear view of the floor through the mirror reflection.
Step 1: Attach the mirror with the wingnut lightly snug (do not overtighten)
Step 2: Mirror positioned on the bottom of the clamp
Step 3: Device mounted with rear camera aligned to mirror surface
Step 4: Complete setup - screen facing you, camera viewing floor via mirror
Where to Buy: You can purchase a compatible mirror attachment at virtualdangle.com.
Important Safety Note: Never overtighten the wingnut during any step of the setup process. Keep it firm but not overly tight to ensure proper mirror alignment and prevent damage to the mirror, clamp, or your device. The mirror should be snug enough to stay in place but not so tight that it could crack or bend.
Enable Mirror Mode: After physical setup, you must enable Mirror Mode in the app settings (Settings → Mirror Mode) for this configuration to work correctly.
Option B: Direct View + TV Connection
- Position the device so the camera looks directly at the floor.
- Connect directly to TV via HDMI cable so you can see the targets while training.
- Preferred over casting to avoid slight millisecond delays.
- Works well for home setups with smart TVs.
TV setup - device connected via HDMI with camera on floor
4 First Launch
When you open VirtualDangle for the first time:
- The app creates a "Guest" profile automatically
- Guest profile provides limited time and game modes for trial
- Unlock full features by activating your license (see next step)
- You can play immediately without activation to test the app
Note: The Guest trial is perfect for testing your setup and puck detection before committing to activation.
5 Optimize Performance
Before your first session, run benchmark to find the best model for your device:
- Go to Settings → Benchmark Models.
- Tap Start Benchmark and wait for it to complete (takes a few minutes).
- Look at the FPS results for each model.
- Select the highest-performing model that meets your target:
- Recommended: 30fps+ for smooth, responsive gameplay
- Minimum: 25fps+ acceptable, may feel slightly less smooth
- Below 25fps: Not recommended, try a simpler model
Model Types: Models are organized by tier: Lite (fastest) → Base (balanced) → Max (most accurate). Within each tier: Ultra Low (fastest) → Low → Med → High (most accurate). Type2 models are better than Type1 at the same FPS.
Delegate Impact: The best model varies by device and delegate. Try different delegates: GPU First/NNAPI (Android), Neural Engine (iOS), or CPU Only (most compatible).
Why Benchmark? The staggering number of different devices requires testing multiple models to find the best fit. Benchmarking ensures you get the best balance of performance and accuracy for your specific device.
Important Warning: The app may crash during benchmarking. This is normal behavior when testing computationally intensive models. If the app crashes, simply reload it and the benchmarking will automatically continue from where it left off. Do not be alarmed if this happens. Benchmarking only needs to be completed once.
Benchmark results - select the highest performing model with 30fps+
6 Activate Your License
VirtualDangle starts in Guest Mode with limited features. To unlock everything:
- Open the app and go to Settings → License.
- Enter your 16-character license key (
XXXX-XXXX-XXXX-XXXX). - Tap Activate while connected to the internet.
- Once active, the status will show "Active" (or "Full version until: [date]" if offline).
Platform Flexibility: Your license key works on both Android and iOS platforms, subject to your license's device limit.
Important: Accounts are tied to devices. You cannot switch accounts across devices - removing an account deletes all users on that device.
License activation - enter your 16-character key and tap Activate
7 Create Your Profile
After activation, the app will automatically prompt you to create your first profile. You can create additional profiles in Manage Profiles.
Note: Your username appears on all leaderboards and cannot be changed after creation, so choose wisely!
8 Start Training!
Everything is ready. Time to play!
- Select a game mode from the Home screen (e.g., Light Chase).
- Press Start.
- Wait for the countdown, then follow the on-screen targets with your puck!
- Your scores will automatically sync to the global Leaderboards when you are online.
- Check Teams to join or create a team and compete with others.
Game in action - follow the on-screen targets with your puck
9 Explore Advanced Features
Once you're comfortable with basic training, try advanced features:
Shield Mode
Hide the camera feed to improve "heads up" stickhandling. Enable in Settings.
Ghost Mode
Advanced challenge with faint, blinking puck indicator. Requires Shield Mode. Enable in Settings.
Team Competition
- Create or join a team with a unique join code
- Compete on team-only leaderboards
- Up to 20 members per team, 5 teams per user
10 Common Issues & Solutions
- Puck not detected? Improve lighting, lower confidence threshold
- App crashes? Try CPU Only delegate or increase frame skipping
- Laggy performance? Increase frame skipping or use simpler model
- Can't create profile? Ensure you've activated your license first
- Scores not syncing? Check internet connection and license status
For more help, see the full troubleshooting guide in the main documentation.
Safety First: Always be aware of your surroundings. Do not use the app in crowded areas or near breakable objects. Train at your own risk.
Cross-Platform: Same game modes and features on both platforms. Your profiles, scores, and progress sync automatically!
Account Management: Accounts are tied to devices. You cannot switch accounts across devices - removing an account deletes all users and data on that device permanently.