If you are a professional gamer, you probably have tried different gaming mice and multiple mouse pads. But if you are here, then chances are you are probably wondering how big of a difference Ergonomic Mice For Gaming can actually make. Is it really worth it to settle for a fancy mouse when the one you own already works just exquisitely fine? To answer this question, let’s take a look at why gamers switch to gaming mice in the first place.
Why Switch To A Gaming Mice?
The biggest reason is the mouse sensor, which is responsible for accurately keeping up with the movements you are making with the mouse in real-time. This is notably vital in games that are time-sensitive types, like shooter games or rhythm games, that require you to take any action with the mouse before it’s too late. In games like these, you need a mouse sensor that is not going to fall behind. You need to remember that there are limitations in every mouse sensor.
They vary from speed and accuracy, especially how quickly you can turn it before it ends keeping track of your shifts accurately. Most ergonomic gaming mice usually have high-quality sensors with very sensitive tracking speed. So if you are whipping around in reaction-based games, you will be able to flawlessly execute those movements in-game without worrying about your mouse lagging behind.
🖱️ Materials
The next things that set apart gaming mice from normal mice are the materials, and parts used. Not only do gaming mice differ from office mice here, but this is also where gaming mice can start to differ from each other too. The manufacturing parts used in gaming mice, such as the switches, which are what detect when the mouse is clicked, are commonly higher quality than the ones used in non-gaming mice. Gaming mice also come in many versions and units and can become a preference when deciding what mouse to buy.
Various switches call for more or less tension to hold down in order to trigger the action. This can be useful in a gaming mouse because they can prevent you from accidentally clicking like if you are trying to sneak around to be stealthy or, for the delicate clicks, switches can make it flexible on your fingers over an extended period of time.
Either way, gaming mice can potentially offer a better experience when it comes to clicks versus regular mice. This difference doesn’t have an enormous impact except for the durability and maintenance, but it’s still something that you need to consider.
🖱️ Skates
Another advantage you need to know is the mouse skates or the mouse feet. These parts of the mouse are the pads found at the bottom of the mouse. The mouse skates have multiple uses and the first is to lift the mouse off the mouse pad at a distance that’s more optimal for tracking. The importance of this and the actual distance for this mostly depends on the mouse sensor just as mentioned above.
A smooth and predictable glide that can help you play more consistently is another function of the skates. This is very significant, and it’s doubtless one of the substantial reasons outside of having a stable sensor to purchase a gaming mouse. It’s because consistency is the key when trying to improve your movements.
🖱️ Size and shape
Now, as regular mice, gaming mice come in all kinds of shapes, sizes, and weights. This is a preference that differs from person to person, as people have different hand sizes and ways of gripping the mouse. But to differentiate them properly, gaming mice are often tailored not only to be comfortable to hold in the hand while resting but also to be comfortable when moving, twisting, and rotating the mouse.
It’s one thing to design a mouse that is comfortable and ergonomic to use while doing simple tasks like browsing the web. But it is an entirely different task to design a mouse to be comfortable while in motion. This is something a majority of modern gaming mice have kept in mind.
Does It Really Matter To Change Your Mouse?
As you can see, there are many reasons someone would want to buy a gaming mouse over a regular mouse. Admittedly, some of these reasons usually focus on the gripping, but there is no shortage of reasons. Summing up the advantages mentioned above, we can now solve the mystery: does it really matter to shift into gaming mice? Does it make your gameplay performance better than the regular mouse? And the answer is: Yes.
🖱️ Why yes?
When first starting out, one of the easiest ways to improve your gameplay is to get a gaming mouse. If you play FPS games. Why? This is because of the simple fact that without a decent sensor, you will never reach your full potential. If your mouse sensor is not reading all your movements properly, you could have the best aim in the world and still be losing fights with someone with a worse aim.
However, you shouldn’t expect to be just instantly good when buying a gaming mouse. It is not some switch that turns on that makes you good suddenly, as some would have you believe. Instead, think of it as more than a prerequisite. Because it is something all top pros use, but it’s not the only thing that got them there.
🖱️ Can it make you play better?
If you want to play better, an excellent step is to get a gaming mouse. That’s good enough. It doesn’t have to be the best in the world as long as it suits you and has a decent tracking sensor, which is the most important part of a gaming mouse.
The good news is that almost every gaming mouse that’s come out in the past years more than likely has a sufficient sensor. With that being said, at higher levels of play, finding the right mouse for them isn’t going to be the same jump as a new player going from an office mouse to a gaming mouse. Still, that doesn’t mean it is not important for advanced players to try new gaming mice too.
When you are at an advanced level of play, you’ve likely done almost everything you can to get better and already have your own practice routine. So the only thing that remains is to fine-tune the little extra push you can get from finding the gear that best suits you.
How To Properly Grip Your Mouse To Be Better At Gameplays?
Now you have your gaming mouse. In this part, we will elaborate on the bare fundamentals of why and how you really should hold your mouse. The proper grip can be really impactful and make the biggest difference in how you aim. There are various ways how to grip your mouse and this depends on how you want to be comfortable.
🖱️ Palming the mouse / Palm grip
This is the most relaxing of the grips and is recommended for those who tense up too much when they aim. The palm grip style is literally that you have your palm do the work for you and you move your arm. This is harder on slightly higher sensitivities because you’re lacking the dexterity in your fingers, granted you got the dexterity with palming it. This is because you are going to be resting your thumb on the left side of the mouse and your pinky with the ring finger on the other side.
🟢 Pros = it’s more relaxed so you don’t have to worry about tensing up for your shot. You can have some dexterity in terms of your overall palm inside of your hand.
🔴 Cons = less precision, lower sensitivity can cause shoulder pain if you are constantly doing this motion.
🖱️ Fingertip grip
The fingertip style is the known fastest grip compared to other grip styles. This requires the most tension, especially whenever you are gripping the mouse. Also, you essentially touch most of your mouse with just your fingertips only. None of your palm and back are touching the mouse. It depends on your style. You can grip the mouse using your fingertips a little bit higher or lower, but don’t let your palm touch the mouse because it will be a claw grip style.
🟢 Pros = it can have a much faster move because of the higher tension and it’s believed to have the highest skill ceiling in terms of success. So if you’re trying to be having more dexterity, you can have the whole functionality.
🔴 Cons = it’s harder to master. It’s a lot of adjustment when it comes to gameplay. This is not your natural go-to because naturally whenever you grab a mouse, you are just gonna rest on it, but you can’t do this in fingertip style.
🖱️ Claw grip
This grip style gets mistaken too much for the fingertip. It is like a fingertip grip, but the back of your palm meets the back of the mouse. It blends both the palm and the fingertips. And with the claw grip, it digs more in the back and you’re essentially getting the best of both worlds.
🟢 Pros = really stable for long-range shots and can be a blend of palming and fingertip grip. It can really boost a bundle of exceptional pace and smoothness.
🔴 Cons = can be hard to do broader strokes because you have to mentally shift in a weird way from palm to fingertip.
🖱️ What grip should you use?
Essentially, if you’re playing a first-person shooter and you are sniping somebody from far away, you can do a fingertip grip. But then, if you desire to search in deep, you might set up clawing your mouse. If you want higher tension but still really want to palm the mouse, then you have your claw grip. Your hand size also comes to a factor.
So the biggest thing here is that there is not a one-size-fits-all in terms of success here. It really hinges on what drives best for you. Lastly, finger placement is everything. You don’t choose grips that are only aesthetically pleasing to make your gaming set complete. It’s all about the skills and shifting of the fingers for every play.
Bottom Line
To sum it up, if you’re serious about PC gaming and you play FPS games, then getting a gaming mouse is something highly recommended. And in terms of budget, gaming mice are not usually affordable. You need to invest in these and will require high maintenance. So if you think you have a tight budget, you can stay with your regular mouse.
Even if you do gaming as a hobby, it is still a much better experience to try gaming mice. If you’re going to be using a mouse for several hours on end for years to come, you might as well invest in getting a good one. But again, don’t expect to become a pro just because you buy a gaming mouse. Think of it more than something that unlocks your potential. So whatever mouse you have, training and experience will still get you to be a pro.
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