Elite players use "feathering"—rapidly tapping the interaction key ( F ) to probe for the sweet spot without fully engaging the lock. Holding the key too long against resistance causes the pick to break quickly.
High Thievery skill and Dexterity are critical, as they increase the time limit and widen the sweet spot. What is a Scum Lockpicking Macro? Scum Lockpicking Macro 2023
This area becomes smaller as the lock difficulty increases (Rusty, Iron, Silver, and Gold). Scum Lockpicking Macro 2023