diff --git a/src/useGame/useGame.ts b/src/useGame/useGame.ts
index 1133d2f..96da959 100755
--- a/src/useGame/useGame.ts
+++ b/src/useGame/useGame.ts
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 import { useState, useEffect, useRef } from "react";
-import type { GameManager, GameOptions, KeyLogEntry, FallingLetter, GameMode, Laser } from "../types";
+import type { GameManager, GameOptions, KeyLogEntry, FallingLetter, GameMode, Laser, ShipState } from "../types";
 import { useBoard } from "../useBoard";
 import { useCursor } from "../useCursor";
 import { useGameStatus } from "../useGameStatus";
@@ -18,12 +18,12 @@ export function useGame(
   const gameStatusManager = useGameStatus(undefined, gameMode);
 
   // Wrap renderBoard to include player position and lasers
-  const renderBoardWrapped = (letters: any = [], lasers: Laser[] = []) => {
-    boardManager.renderBoard(cursorManager.position(), letters, gameStatusManager.shipState, gameStatusManager.shipExplosionTime, gameModeRef.current, lasers);
+  const renderBoardWrapped = (letters: any = [], lasers: Laser[] = [], shipState: ShipState = 'normal', shipExplosionTime: number = 0) => {
+    boardManager.renderBoard(cursorManager.position(), letters, shipState, shipExplosionTime, gameModeRef.current, lasers);
   };
 
   // Game loop tick handler
-  const handleGameLoopTick = (deltaTime: number, letters: FallingLetter[], lasers: Laser[] = []) => {
+  const handleGameLoopTick = (deltaTime: number, letters: FallingLetter[], lasers: Laser[] = [], shipState: ShipState = 'normal', shipExplosionTime: number = 0) => {
     const playerPos = cursorManager.position();
     gameStatusManager.updatePlayerX(playerPos.x);
 
@@ -59,7 +59,7 @@ export function useGame(
       cursorManager.moveTowardTarget(deltaTime);
     }
     
-    renderBoardWrapped(letters, lasers);
+    renderBoardWrapped(letters, lasers, shipState, shipExplosionTime);
   };
 
   // Update gameMode when it changes (without recreating gameStatus state)
diff --git a/src/useGameStatus/useGameStatus.ts b/src/useGameStatus/useGameStatus.ts
index 3e2dca6..059cc76 100755
--- a/src/useGameStatus/useGameStatus.ts
+++ b/src/useGameStatus/useGameStatus.ts
@@ -15,10 +15,10 @@ const MARGIN_RIGHT = 50; // Safe margin from right edge
 const CANVAS_WIDTH = 800;
 const SPACESHIP_Y = 600 - 40; // Position of the ship on canvas
 
-export function useGameStatus(onGameLoopTick?: (deltaTime: number, letters: FallingLetter[], lasers: Laser[]) => void, gameMode: GameMode = 'letters') {
+export function useGameStatus(_onGameLoopTick?: (deltaTime: number, letters: FallingLetter[], lasers: Laser[]) => void, gameMode: GameMode = 'letters') {
   const [gameStatus, setGameStatus] = useState<GameStatus>("waiting");
-  const [shipState, setShipState] = useState<ShipState>("normal");
-  const [shipExplosionTime, setShipExplosionTime] = useState(0);
+  const shipStateRef = useRef<ShipState>("normal");
+  const shipExplosionTimeRef = useRef<number>(0);
   const [score, setScore] = useState(0);
   const [correct, setCorrect] = useState(0);
   const [missed, setMissed] = useState(0);
@@ -29,7 +29,7 @@ export function useGameStatus(onGameLoopTick?: (deltaTime: number, letters: Fall
   const lasersRef = useRef<Laser[]>([]);
   const lastSpawnRef = useRef<number>(0);
   const playerXRef = useRef<number>(CANVAS_WIDTH / 2);
-  const onGameLoopTickRef = useRef(onGameLoopTick);
+  const onGameLoopTickRef = useRef<((deltaTime: number, letters: FallingLetter[], lasers: Laser[], shipState: ShipState, shipExplosionTime: number) => void) | undefined>(undefined);
   const gameModeRef = useRef<GameMode>(gameMode);
 
   // Game loop
@@ -100,15 +100,21 @@ export function useGameStatus(onGameLoopTick?: (deltaTime: number, letters: Fall
           // Collision detected
           letter.state = 'exploding';
           letter.stateStartTime = currentTime;
-          setShipState('exploding');
-          setShipExplosionTime(performance.now());
+          
+          // Update refs for immediate rendering
+          shipStateRef.current = 'exploding';
+          
+          const explosionTime = performance.now();
+          shipExplosionTimeRef.current = explosionTime;
+          
           setDeaths(prev => prev + 1);
 
           // Clear letters and reset spawn timer after explosion animation
           setTimeout(() => {
             lettersRef.current = [];
             lastSpawnRef.current = performance.now();
-            setShipState('normal');
+            shipStateRef.current = 'normal';
+            shipExplosionTimeRef.current = 0;
           }, 500); // Match the 500ms explosion animation
         }
       }
@@ -122,9 +128,9 @@ export function useGameStatus(onGameLoopTick?: (deltaTime: number, letters: Fall
       currentTime - laser.startTime < laser.duration
     );
 
-    // Call tick callback if provided (now with lasers)
+    // Call tick callback if provided (now with lasers and ship state)
     if (onGameLoopTickRef.current) {
-      onGameLoopTickRef.current(deltaTime, lettersRef.current, lasersRef.current);
+      onGameLoopTickRef.current(deltaTime, lettersRef.current, lasersRef.current, shipStateRef.current, shipExplosionTimeRef.current);
     }
 
     // Continue loop
@@ -288,7 +294,7 @@ export function useGameStatus(onGameLoopTick?: (deltaTime: number, letters: Fall
     playerXRef.current = x;
   };
 
-  const setGameLoopCallback = (callback: (deltaTime: number, letters: FallingLetter[], lasers: Laser[]) => void) => {
+  const setGameLoopCallback = (callback: (deltaTime: number, letters: FallingLetter[], lasers: Laser[], shipState: ShipState, shipExplosionTime: number) => void) => {
     onGameLoopTickRef.current = callback;
   };
 
@@ -316,8 +322,8 @@ export function useGameStatus(onGameLoopTick?: (deltaTime: number, letters: Fall
     startGame,
     quitGame,
     handleTypedLetter,
-    shipState,
-    shipExplosionTime,
+    shipState: shipStateRef.current,  // Return ref value for immediate updates
+    shipExplosionTime: shipExplosionTimeRef.current,  // Return ref value for immediate updates
     updatePlayerX,
     setGameLoopCallback,
     setGameMode,