Thank you Valve for that bit of haptic detail!

[ReBoot]

Ain't got my Steam Deck yet, but there's Valve's official STL so here we go.

I hereby heartly thank Valve for molding the hand grips in such a way as to facilitate holding this thing with ring/pinkie fingers with ring/index finers resting on shoulder buttons/triggers! The Steam Controller was horrible to hold in such a way and there's enough other gamepads that want me to use one finger for both which kinda sucks for anything remotely requiring quick reactions.

I am rather grateful that the Deck to be molded in such a way as to facilitate the proper gamer grip

[Prezidentas]

The "crab" grip like you mentioned makes using the bottom buttons impossible (they need more force to activate than this grip allows to give). In fact, I just compared holding the Deck and the Steam Controller that way, and Steam controller is more comfortable.
Also, using two fingers on the bumpers means that the thumb needs to bend awkwardly to reach the bottom of the trackpad.

[ReBoot]

Originally posted by Red Star Gopnik:

The "crab" grip like you mentioned makes using the bottom buttons impossible (they need more force to activate than this grip allows to give).

To this 2 answers
-depends on your fingers. I can press the back pedals on my dummy quite hard. Hard enough for my fingers to turn white while I hold it this way
-even if I had to chose between better grip for optional buttons & better grip for the ones every gamepad has and a crapton of game use, the chice is kinda obvious

As for the Steam Controller, yes it's a major PITA (well, pain in the hands) to hold this way which is a huge reason why my SC is collecting dust.

Originally posted by Red Star Gopnik:

Also, using two fingers on the bumpers means that the thumb needs to bend awkwardly to reach the bottom of the trackpad.

Same answer as above. Well, that, and Steam Input. For obvious reasons, pretty much 0 games got native support for the Deck's trackpads. But once you go the input customization route, you can remap things however you like so you don't need the shoulder buttons & triggers simultaneously.

[Prezidentas]

Originally posted by ReBoot:

Originally posted by Red Star Gopnik:

The "crab" grip like you mentioned makes using the bottom buttons impossible (they need more force to activate than this grip allows to give).

To this 2 answers
-depends on your fingers. I can press the back pedals on my dummy quite hard. Hard enough for my fingers to turn white while I hold it this way
-even if I had to chose between better grip for optional buttons & better grip for the ones every gamepad has and a crapton of game use, the chice is kinda obvious

Originally posted by Red Star Gopnik:

Also, using two fingers on the bumpers means that the thumb needs to bend awkwardly to reach the bottom of the trackpad.

Same answer as above. Well, that, and Steam Input. For obvious reasons, pretty much 0 games got native support for the Deck's trackpads. But once you go the input customization route, you can remap things however you like so you don't need the shoulder buttons & triggers simultaneously.

I just figured out you can click the bottom buttons "up" and not only "outward" like I was trying kek. way easier now. too used to the Steam controller I guess