Palm Grip vs Claw Grip – Which One Is for You?

As we watch professional gamers playing and doing their businesses, sometimes we zoom out of the game and the camera shows the teams lined up in front of their computers. Some players get really close to the screen, some look as if they sink into their chairs.

One thing that really amazed me was one e-sports player holding the mouse with fingertips. I had known that there was such a type before. Yet, it looked completely weird to me to see someone feeling comfortable with such a mouse holding style.

So, I did my research on whether there is one correct way to hold a mouse to maximize the gameplay performance. Seriously, can holding the mouse change the way we play? Can it improve our skills singlehandedly? After lengthy research, I think I have found my answer. So, in this article, we are going to introduce you to different playing styles and inform you about them extensively!

Is There a Right Way to Hold a Gaming Mouse?

If you want a short answer, no. There is not one correct gaming mouse holding style. It all depends on your preferences and anatomical features. Each grip type comes with its own advantages and disadvantages. Then, your gameplay shapes around these advantages and disadvantages. Claw grip or palm grip, it is like being left-handed or right-handed. It is your authentic style.

On the other hand, there is a correct way to hold a mouse unless you want some wrist problems in the long run. Whatever your grip style is, you need to grip the mouse not too gentle, not too hard. Just let it rest in your hands. Additionally, long hours of gaming can cause some wrist problems such as carpal tunnel syndrome. So, resting your wrist for 5 to 10 minutes for every hour of gameplay is crucial.

Long story short, let’s get to know the ways of these two grip styles: Palm Grip vs. Claw Grip.

1. Palm Grip

Palm Grip

The palm grip is clearly the most popular grip type among casual gamers and professional e-sports players. Moreover, the market share gets even higher if we are not talking only about gamers.

It is the way that your hand will naturally hug your mouse and that is the reason. You do not need to do something specific to have this style. Just lay your hands over the mouse and that will be all.

Apart from that, as your wrist does not have to carry your hand’s weight while holding a mouse, you will have better wrist support and fewer wrist problems.

On top of that, it is not all flowers and sausages. As we said, all of them have disadvantages as well as advantages. The reason why a lot of professional gamers do not prefer palm grip lies in the source of movements. If you want to move swiftly and accurately, palm gripping is not the best solution to this problem. As you use your arm as the origin of your mouse movements, it becomes slower. In competitive games such as League of Legends or Counter-Strike: Global Offensive, the pace can be the game-changer.

As an in-game advantage, if you are playing a game that requires you to have large glides, palm grip is a better performer. Similarly, in FPS games, palm grip can give you the distinguishing edge for more precise aims. The slower the movements are, the more precise your aim is.

Mice that are designed for palm grippers usually are wider and have a steep back arch. This is to support the wrist maximally. Some of the mice that are good for palm grippers are Logitech G502 Hero, SteelSeries Rival 600, Razer Basilisk Ultimate.

2. Claw Grip

Claw Grip

As its name suggests, claw grip is the style of holding a mouse as if your fingers are not fingers but claws. Not to confuse with the fingertip grip, I would like to explain the position a bit. In the fingertip hold, there are not many contact points with the mouse while claw grip allows your fingers to touch till the top joints. The palm naturally does not touch the hunchback of the mouse.

This type of grip is the second-most popular gripping style among computer users. It is the most suitable for gamers who play RTS and Action RTS games. As we said in the palm grip part, the origin of the movement is so crucial in the professional level of gaming. So, here, if you are playing a game that does not demand high precision and exact aiming, it could be better for you.

The source of the mouse movement is your wrist rather than your arm, so you will be able to move the mouse faster.

As a disadvantage, the claw grip has less control over the mouse when compared to the palm grip. Yet, if your game wants agility over control, you might want to change your holding style.

Another disadvantage is that it does not support the wrist as much as palm grip does. So, that means you need to take better care of your wrist and choose a fitting mouse to keep your wrist healthy.

Mice for claw grippers are usually short and have a really steep back arch angle. Try to pick a mouse that is lighter and smaller if you are a claw gripper.

Some of the mice that are suitable for claw gripping are SteelSeries Rival 710, Razer DeathAdder v2, Logitech G Pro and Razer Viper.

Conclusion

To sum things up, it is safe to say that there is no single correct way to hold a mouse but it is a matter of preference and game. You should go with the way you feel more comfortable. Lastly, you need to pick a mouse that is good for your holding style.

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