The three grips

Palm grip. Your whole hand rests on the mouse, from palm to fingertips. It feels relaxed and favours larger, ergonomic shapes.

Claw grip. Your palm touches the back of the mouse while your fingers arch and press down from above. It favours a shape with a high back.

Fingertip grip. Only the tips of your fingers touch, and your palm hovers. It favours small, light mice.

PalmClawFingertip
Where your hand touches the mouse. Palm grip rests the whole hand on the shell. Claw arches the fingers and keeps the palm on the back. Fingertip uses only the fingertips.

How to find your grip

Sit as you normally play and notice where your palm sits. If it lies flat on the mouse, you are a palm gripper. If it touches only the back edge and your fingers curl, it is a claw. If it hovers above the mouse, it is a fingertip grip. Many players blend two grips, so choose the one you use in long sessions.

Hand size matters as much as grip. A mouse that is too large forces a palm grip even if you prefer claw, and a mouse that is too small can cramp. Measure from the wrist crease to the tip of your middle finger and compare with the maker's length.

Editorial photograph of a compact gaming mouse on a desk mat next to a keyboard
Mouse shape and size should match your grip style, not the other way around.
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Matching a mouse to a grip

Ergonomic, right-handed shapes with a raised arch suit palm grips. Symmetrical mice suit claw and fingertip. Weight matters less than shape: a light mouse that does not fit your hand is worse than a heavier one that does.

For latency and sensor questions see wired vs wireless mouse latency. To convert your settings between games, use the Sensitivity Converter.

Razer Viper V3 Pro54 gLogitech PRO X SUPERLIGHT 260 gRazer DeathAdder V3 Pro63 gLogitech G30599 gLogitech G502 X LIGHTSPEED102 g
Weights from the maker pages. Manufacturer-listed weights in grams for the mice in this guide. Lighter is not automatically better; shape and grip matter more.

Keeping it comfortable

Take breaks, vary your posture, and do not grip hard. If your hand aches during or after play, rest and change the setup. For persistent pain see a health professional; this site gives gear advice, not medical advice.