Mouse grip for POE

Having experienced recently a lot of strain in my palm and wrist while playing POE, I'm considering a change in the kind of mouse I use.

For what I've seen online, there are three kinds of mouse grip: palm, claw and fingertip. The palm grip is more comfortable but less suited for quick games. And claw/fingertip are more responsive but require shorter gaming sessions.

Which mouse grip do you consider more suited for POE?
Which one do you use?

I claw for everything, but I also realized I was clicking and gripping the mouse harder, probably thinking it would make my character do more damage. Once I started forcing myself to click as lightly as I do while web browsing my wrist strain went away

I bought a mousepad with a wrist rest on it. Helped a ton for me. Only other thing I can think of is try a mouse that allows you to rest your entire hand and palm grip while still giving you a claw grip feeling if that's your thing. I bought a Logitech G502 and it is perfect for my hand. YMMV though depending on your size.

With the exception of bosses and some endgame areas, I think POE has a mid gameplay speed. It's for sure not as fast as First Person Stooters like Overwatch or Call of Duty, that require quick reaction and a claw grip mouse. Also this fast games typically have short and intense sessions while POE aims for a more grindy and extended gameplay. In the end it may be a matter of what suits each player best: the kind of builds you tend to play, handsize, the amount of time you put into the game, etc.

Currently I'm using a claw mouse, and usually I get quite an amount of weariness when i reach the middle of the league. So I'm going to try next league a palm mouse. Something like Corsair Ironclaw or Razer Basilisk.

I have a fingertip grip. I have for over 20 years without even knowing there were different ways to do it, but far too much muscle memory to change now.

In recent years it has caused me some wrist/hand issues which have been greatly alleviated by the addition of gel wrist rests to my setup. Mouse is a Logitech G403.

I did try a Razer Naga a couple years back while playing WoW but found it incompatible with my grip. I squeeze the mouse between my thumb and ring finger while playing; aside from clicking this is my only skin contact with the mouse. Because thumb is needed for moving the mouse, I found I couldn't hit the side buttons and also move the cursor accurately at the same time. I gave it about three weeks at which point it was still frustrating and physically painful to use so I went back to my old ways.

Happy hunting!

2 decades worth of mouse work, grip lightly.
I have used trackballs, vertical mouse, touchpads, you name it.
Current is a basic Logitech mouse, corded, nothing fancy.

i've seen a fair bit of people saying playing PoE and only PoE really hurt their wrists. theres something else at play. im not sure a new mouse would solve your problems. i know it didn't for a good friend of mine. he just plays on xbox now since PC doesn't have official controller support.

that being said, i'll never use another mouse other than Razer DeathAdder Elite. its just too good and comfortable.

It's not the type of mouse you're using causing the problem you're getting.
The problem is when the forearm is in a direct line to your keyboard and mouse; but you don't need to do it with the keyboard as it lays lightly on the keys (well, mine does anyway).

What you need to do is alter the elevation of your mouse hand in a slight vertical-diagonal line below your elbow.

The first gamers to do this were Russian players; so thank them.
They also happen to be, by numbers alone, the best players in fps games the world has ever seen. Only one American seems to be able to consistently break that rule.

I do this myself.
Took about awhile to get used to it, because my hand is slightly below the knee level and it feels odd but incredibly right at the same time.

It's you hand pointing downward in a constant relaxed state, rather than pointing directly forward and pressurizing on a flat (even if it's soft) where your brain is trying to fight the orientation to your love of doing something.

I built my own desk to support this with a backward tilted surface elevated below my keyboard's platform for my mouse hand, for my hand pointing downward and loosely flexed at the wrist.

This is probably too detailed against showing a photo or referring a link.

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xMustard wrote:

i've seen a fair bit of people saying playing PoE and only PoE really hurt their wrists. theres something else at play. im not sure a new mouse would solve your problems.

Mmm, I think I agree with that. In my case physical constitution, bone structure, etc. may be a factor. But then, there are many health factors to take into account when gaming. If you are able to fix the most obviously important ones and at least take care of the rest, I think you will do OK. The mayor issue with POE is extended gameplay with a mouse, an interface not designed for being used for long sessions or a large amount of hours. Using the kind of mouse that fits you best can make a big difference. With the wrong mouse you are doing unnecessary work, and in consequence getting strain and/or pain.

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georgepine wrote:

It's not the type of mouse you're using causing the problem you're getting.
The problem is when the forearm is in a direct line to your keyboard and mouse.

(...)

This is probably too detailed against showing a photo or referring a link.

May be you are refering to the carpal tunnel syndrome? This health condition comes from the extensive use of the mouse, more precisely, comes from extended physical activity with your forearm and hand in horizontal possition, that is with the palm of your hand facing a flat horizontal surface like a table. This is an unnatural, non ergonomic position of the forearm and the body. The natural position would be vertical, that is "handshake" possition. Symtoms are at first numbness in the hand, then persistent pain in hand and forearm. That is the reason, I think, you suggest a table with a surface in a different angle.

I don't really have detailed information about this illness, but for what I know this problem comes up in people who not only make an extended use of the mouse, but more than that, people who spend a huge amount of hours using it, that is office workers that are constantly using a computer and other people who make a professional use of computers and mice, like programmers, graphic designers, etc. May be it's also the case of pro gamers.

But definitely, using a claw or fingertip mouse for long sessions may cause other kind of problems. This mice tend to exert stress in the palm and wrist because they are in fact designed to use this parts of the arm more actively. And then, palm mice put more more stress in the forearm and shoulder. What I am curious about is how is the experience of people playing POE with claw mice and people playing with palm mice, if there is a consensus about which kind of mouse is best for playing POE.

It would be great to have a link to what you are refering.

Sorry for the wall of text.