A method for enhancing detection of a user's hand relative to a head-mounted display (HMD) is described. The method includes sensing a disrupted portion of energy by sensors integrated within a pad device. The disrupted portion of the energy is generated when the hand of the user interferes with the energy. The plurality of sensors that sense the disrupted portion of the energy produce an energy image that mirrors a current position of the hand. The method includes repeating the sensing continuously to produce a stream of energy images. The method includes communicating the stream of energy images to a game console for processing each of the energy images to produce a model of the hand and movement of the model of the hand. The model of the hand is at least partially rendered as a virtual hand in a virtual environment that is displayed in the HMD.