I never played scout much up until a year ago. I've been practicing off and on in attempts to improve my aim, and I'm definitely better now than I used to be. However it seems that recently (see: months ago) I hit a glass ceiling. I can play at least moderately well on organized pubs but it just feels that I'm in this weird gray area where, when I play, I am either not being challenged enough, or I am getting completely wrecked by more seasoned players.
I seldom am able to play DM or MGE for very long without becoming severely discouraged and quitting. Then I just avoid those sorts of servers for a while, come back, lather rinse repeat. It's even more frustrating when an opponent !removes midround because I simply cannot pose a threat. If that doesn't happen, I get nervous, shaken, and I perform even worse.
I know the key is "practice practice practice". I don't expect to get good overnight. I just want to feel like I am improving. My problem is that when I play these modes I feel so out of tune with other players and myself, I don't feel like I am learning anything. My aim is shoddy. My tracking is nonexistent. I try to pick up on what my peers are doing and apply it, but it never seems to work out. I don't know how to "practice smart", and whenever I try to learn I just fall flat.
As a minutely-relevant side note: The fact that I have a wireless mouse probably does not help. I've been wanting to get a wired mouse for quite some time, but I'm not sure what to shop for. Any advice regarding that is also appreciated.