How are you supposed to hold the controller?

[DSC00035.jpg]

After playing with it for an hour or so at a time, my hands get kinda tired, but it usually helps to hold the controller differently. This doesn't happen when I hold a regular controller. Is there some optimal way to hold it that I'm not getting?

As a side note, are you supposed to have one finger for the triggers and bumpers or two?

[maxRunner]

People have described a few different ways they like to use it. I don't think there is a right way to hold it but there are definitely wrong ways.

This thread might help.

[God Ginrai]

Originally posted by DSC00035.jpg:

After playing with it for an hour or so at a time, my hands get kinda tired, but it usually helps to hold the controller differently. This doesn't happen when I hold a regular controller. Is there some optimal way to hold it that I'm not getting?

As a side note, are you supposed to have one finger for the triggers and bumpers or two?

I always used index fingers only for the triggers+bumpers, resting on the triggers until they were needed on the bumpers.

How do *you* hold your controller? We can't really help you find a new grip if we don't know which one causes problems for you?

[Vepar]

Experiment until it feels comfortable.
That's it really... Theres no universal way to hold any controller.

What i found helpful is to not grip a controller hard. You don't need a lot of force to use any button or trackpad on it, and when i loosened my grip it felt way better.

[Mountain Man]

Adjust your grip until it's comfortable and all inputs are easily accessible. You can't grip it tightly like it's a 360 gamepad. I find that holding the Steam Controller "low and loose" works best for me. I've played many extended sessions without fatigue.

[descender]

it's simply muscle memory/reactivation. Your body is learning new movements with new pressures, and there will be a soreness/adjustment period over regular gamepad use. just like when you first played a guitar hero guitar and your hands hurt, or when you bought a wii for the first time and your arms were dead for days after playing rayman or metroid for the first time. :)

[God Ginrai]

Originally posted by descender:

Your body is learning new movements with new pressures, and there will be a soreness/adjustment period over regular gamepad use.

That doesn't always happen with new gamepads. I've never experienced it with any gamepads, for example.

[8BitCerberus]

I see most people that complain about the grips "pressing into" the pads of their palms at the base of their thumbs, when watching videos of them holding the Steam Controller, it's even painful to ME, and I'm only watching it. It's because they're holding it like they would hold an Xbox or Playstation controller. Hands turned inward, where their palms are essentially perpendicular, and squeezing to keep a grip on the thing.

This is the wrong way to hold the Steam Controller.

While there are several ways I've seen people holding it comfortably, the way that's always come most natural to me is turning my hands outward just slightly, so the palms aren't facing each other but every so slightly turned upward. Think of it a bit like you're about to cup your hands together to collect water and take a drink, that position just before they come together to form a cup, that's pretty close to the most natural feeling way I've come to hold the Steam Controller.

You want to cradle the controller, not claw-grip it. I've had several 3+ hour sessions, and even a 7 hour session with no fatigue from the Steam Controller. With my Xbox and Playstation controllers, I'm lucky to get 3 hours in without needing to take a break from tendon strain.

[madjr]

SHAPE / ergonomics:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yrF3vgTzO6k

[RambleCan]

To echo the others; just go with a looser grip. I've had some long sessions with it and haven't had any discomfort. I will say though that once you find the sweet spot for this and THEN go back to a PS4 / 360 controller it will feel REALLY weird. I was just testing Steam Controller and PS4 controller in Battlefront and when I went back to the PS4 controller it felt much less comfortable than the Steam Controller.

[Mountain Man]

Never mind...

[descender]

Originally posted by God Ginrai:

That doesn't always happen with new gamepads. I've never experienced it with any gamepads, for example.

You've also never used a trackpad with your right thumb before.

[God Ginrai]

Originally posted by descender:

You've also never used a trackpad with your right thumb before.

I own a Steam controller which I received midway through October, so yea... I have used a trackpad with my right thumb.

[descender]

Wow, for an entire month? /s

[God Ginrai]

Originally posted by descender:

Wow, for an entire month? /s

Well, considering that muscle discomfort is supposed to happen *before* you get used to something, the length of time does not matter other than to show that I didn't just say "well it doesn't hurt me" after holding it for 5 minutes at a Gamestop.

[descender]

I hear ya, just hard to gauge if people are really giving this thing the time it takes to adjust. Took me months to be able to play 2 expert GH tracks in a row without needing a break. The trackpad exertion by the right thumb is just a new experience for the finger.