Like my instructor said when I was a trainee: It is a long connection...the one between the brain and the thumb. If you fly that way you will definately react late.

I always fly a sortie on the sim before I head out to the field. That gets my thumbs going and works out any mistakes that I am going to make. I also fly the same or a more difficult model on the sim and I fly it at about 40% throttle. That way I have just sufficient power on the sim to make the turns and if I pull too hard, the wing tip will stall so I have to manage the turns. That improves control on the real thing

Ameyam