When deciding on the best mouse for your gaming needs, a key consideration to keep in mind is your preferred mouse grip style. Some gaming mice will be geared toward one style compared to another, while others will be somewhere in the middle, or can be adjusted slightly to suit you. If this isn’t a particular topic you’ve given much thought to, it could be affecting your performance more than you think.

Before we get into it though, let me explain some obvious points – whilst we are not discussing what is the best mouse grip below, we are highlighting some general pros and cons for each grip style. Having said that, please keep in mind that this is extremely subjective, the pros and cons of each grip style change drastically based on the individual user, the games they are playing, their mouse sensitivity, their hand size, the mouse, the mouse pad, the players reaction time, the players experience level, how they sit, the seat height, distance from computer table and many other factors. Also, just to point out – most people don’t switch mouse grips, you are either one or the other or a hybrid, I guess you could try and teach yourself to grip the mouse differently but that’s on a whole other level. Anyways, without further ado, see the 3 main mouse grip styles below.

3 Main Types of Mouse Grips

There are typically three main types of mouse grips that PC gamer’s use – palm grip, claw grip and fingertip grip. Palm grip is by far the most popular with a little over 50% of players choosing the style, with claw grip at around 25% and fingertip at 20%.

Palm Grip

The most relaxed style of the three is the palm grip which has you resting your entire hand on the mouse. People who use this style are generally those who play for long periods of time and don’t require too much agility or quick movement in their games. As a result, while it may feel natural, it’s not really the most recommended grip for FPS games, and better suited for vehicle use etc. The reason for the lack of agility is that users rely less on their wrist and use their forearm and shoulder for movement.

When looking for a mouse that is suitable for a palm grip, you’ll generally want one that has a steeper back arch, and is wider and longer. Our recommendation is the Razer Death Adder Elite.

Claw Grip

Although gamer’s all have their own preferences, the claw grip is now the most commonly used grip by professional Esports FPS players. It involves using just the rear of your palm on the back of the mouse, with most of your palm and fingers arched to resemble a claw (so the index and middle fingers are perpendicular to the buttons). Players who adopt this grip can be quicker to aim as they use their wrists more than with the previous palm grip. One major drawback of the claw grip is you’re likely to fatigue quicker, and have more likeliness of developing carpal tunnel syndrome as you’re using your wrist more.

If you are a claw grip style player, try to find a mouse that is smaller (shorter and narrower) with a medium size arch. Our recommendation is the Logitech G pro.

Fingertip Grip

The least most used grip is the fingertip grip. If you use this grip, you’ll find you prefer not to rest your palm on the mouse at all, with only the finger tips in contact with the mouse. The whole benefit of this grip is that it favours speed above all else and is often paired with a high sensitivity. It is the most difficult grip to use skilfully, but once mastered, players can be very accurate while aiming quickly (if you get quick scoped the player may likely be using this grip). It’s generally not used for any sort of gliding movement. Similar to claw grip players, there can be more fatigue on the wrist when compared to the palm grip.

Mice that are designed for fingertip grip players usually have the lowest arch, and are both smaller and extremely lightweight. Our recommendation is the Logitech G602.

Claw Grip vs. Palm Grip

The type of grip you use will largely be down to preference, as well as what you’ve been using naturally ever since you first sat at a computer. That said, it’s never too late to adapt your grip style if you’re serious about improving your gaming prowess. Many people actually use a palm/claw hybrid grip, or have more than one mouse depending on the game being played. As mentioned above, the main differences between the two is that a claw grip will offer increased speed and agility, while the palm grip is better for gliding type movements. The palm grip will be more ergonomic to use for long periods of time to reduce fatigue.

To conclude, what grip you decide to choose is entirely preferential. If you are serious about improving your rankings in your gaming circle, it’s best to experiment with the different grips and practice as often as possible once you find the most favourable to your style and gaming tastes. After you have found the perfect mouse grip, you need to ensure you have the optimum mouse settings for the games you play.