For those of us with small-ish hands - this writer raises a small-ish hand without shame - the Joy-Con controllers are fairly comfortable when slotted into the Nintendo Switch. For those with bigger paws, though, it can be a bit of a cramp to use the right stick comfortably. That's to be expected with various Nintendo controllers and portables, but it can still be unfortunate for those that develop a claw while playing the system.
The Ben Heck Show has done a rather fun mod to get around it, which certainly isn't pretty but is functional. There's the show's trademark 'regrettable acting' at the start, but we found this to be a rather amusing and interesting watch; it turns out the way the joystick works in the Joy-Con is a bit weird.
A fun experiment, even if most of us manage with the current setup or buy a Pro Controller.
Comments 63
That looks even less comfortable to be honest.
"For those with bigger paws, though, it can be a bit of a cramp to use the right stick comfortably."
This is not just for those with bigger hands. The location of the analog in the right joycon is a real problem. I suspected as much before I tried it, and was confirmed after having played it. Cramping became a problem after 10-15 minutes. I have very average size hands; this isn't the issue. The issue is that the thumb was not meant to be in such a position for extended periods of time. There's a reason all modern controllers have prongs extended outward below the main front facing inputs.
The joy cons work fine for me and they don't hurt the ol' hands either. But this was cool. I just got done watching this on the youtubes before I seen you posting it. Interesting idea...getting that bulky extender for the 3ds vibe from that thing.
I have pretty huge hands and I find the joycons normally feel great. I've played in every conceivable configuration for all my games, just to see what it's like. For platformers, fighters, and Splatoon I prefer the pro controller or 8bitdo30. Every other game including Zelda play wonderfully with the joycon grip or portable console. Mario kart I prefer a single joycon in a steering wheel. My advice, don't mod your console, just find the most comfy configuration.
Maybe when they make the Joy-Con w/ the analog triggers for the GameCube VC they can make them more like this?
I still haven't played on a Switch, but I did sit with the controllers and the Grip for about 15 minutes and I couldn't get comfortable holding them no matter what position I used. Pro is day 1 for Mario. They better get that cap circle throw working with a button press by then, my Wiimote waggle days are long gone.
Good vid, I'm going to have both of my kids watch it just for the techno babble, they need to learn to use their hands more, we live in such a disposable society.
ProController is the way to go, sadly. It's very expensive, but I have one and I love it! Not a fan of the joy-cons
I can't play Mario Kart in handheld, my right hand is in pain after about two races but I certainly won't be modding my joycons. Table top mode with pro controller will have to do.
"it can be a bit of a cramp to use the right stick comfortably"
EDIT: My mistake, of course I don't mean the right stick in MK8D, but the face buttons.
Exactly! I have rather small hands, but I can't play more than two or three MK8D matches without my right thumb starting to ache.
The same thing happened with the Wii U Gamepad, I could only play MK8 comfortably with Wiimote+Nunchuk.
At first I really liked the fact that you can use the Joycons in MK8D just like the Wiimote+Nunchuk (with the only downside that 'look behind' is now on X rather than on ZR). But it became pretty uncomfortable quickly. Also, I often found myself not finding the right position to hold the right Joycon during races, because the right stick is too low or rather, there is little resting space (for my thumb) below it.
If I put the Joycons into the grip, I don't have these problems, but the whole benefit of the Joycon/Wiimote+Nunchuk setup is that you can lay your arms independently from each other on the sofa or whereever you want.
The grip (or the Pro Controller) eradicated this wonderful benefit, because your hands have to be in the middle, which is a lot more strenuous in the long run.
I don't see how the Switch is any less comfortable than any other portable unit
@shani what does the right stick have to do with MK8D?
@ValhallaOutcast Well so far it's the only Switch game where I felt this pain in my right thumb (as mentioned before, the same applied to the Wii U Gamepad and MK8).
Though you're absolutely right, of course it has nothing to to with the the stick but with of the face buttons (or more precisely, the A button). I wish the Joycons were a bit longer.
What's more troubling though are Ben Heck's statements about the quality of the Joycon's sticks. I really hope they last long...
How big are your hands to have to do this? I swear some men are just giants.
For some strange reason the idea of an N64 controller mod came to my mind when I saw this. Imagine the center analog stick and Z button attached at the bottom of the Switch... shudders I apologize for that morbid imagination...
That mod is hideous, although I agree that the analog stick on the right joycon should be at the top.
@Ryu_Niiyama More like "some men are just whiners." I have enormous hands and have never had an issue using the joycons.
@shani ....you use the right stick to play Mario kart?
I mean...that's a new one. I never have to touch it...
I've never had an issue.
@ValhallaOutcast it's less comfortable then the Vita and 3DS XL for me.
Even then, 3DS gives me cramps unless I attach the grip and I have a grip for the Vita. Play those more than any other so it's necessary. I know I'm not alone in this (I don't have big hands either).
@BLP_Software No, you're absolutely right, I meant the face buttons in MK8D.
I already clarified that in my second post half an hour ago, but now I also edited the other comment.
@crackafreeze I don't really like the joycon grip at all, but playing with separate joycons is surprisingly comfortable. They kind of comfortably nestle into my hands, and it feels like what the Wiimote+Nunchuk combo should have been in the first place.
Gyro aiming in this configuration with the right joycon is also very comfortable. I loved using my bow in Breath of the Wild.
@Ralizah I have wondered about that... I mean controllers usually try to keep a size within a median range (except the OG Xbox controller) so I wouldn't expect a ton of complaints yet I'm always surprised. I have larger hands for a woman (long fingers) but I know I can't compare to males with basketball player hands, but surely they are the minority right? It wouldn't make sense to make a controller that the majority of people can't play right?
@Ryu_Niiyama Most people I know who have used the Switch (really scientific, I know!) have no issue with the joycons. I think most of the people crying about it are used to larger, Xbox-style controllers that that give your hands a lot of room to spread out and get comfortable. They definitely sacrifice some level of comfort for the versatility they provide, although, frankly, as I said, I've fallen in love with the split joycon configuration and wouldn't want to play most games any other way.
Sideways joycons are evil, though. Even worse than sideways Wiimotes. It's a cool idea, but I would never use that configuration unless I absolutely had to.
@Ralizah Totally agreed on split joycon for MOST games. I wouldn't want to play Splatoon that way. And I'm not sure Arms (with motion turned off) would control so well that way. But most other games that's the perfect way to play.
I think most of the complainers just need to adapt to it and learn to use some different muscles or something. Or change how they hold it (pro tip: Don't try to grab onto the ends like the Joycon are handles on the Procon......rest the whole tablet on your fingers, stretched under it. I hold it that way for hours on end for everything from Lego City to USFII and it's never a problem. The thumbs place at a much more natural angle that way on the sticks.)
I think most people that dislike them are also not used to playing on Nintendo handhelds, as the button size, feel, and layout is pretty much a carbon copy of 3DS. When I first started with the 3DS it felt weird and small and cramped. A few thousand hours later it's as comfortable as chopsticks....thus my point
Edit: Actually my biggest problem with USF2 hasn't been the size. It's the rubber coating on the thumbsticks that keep giving my thumb some serious rugburn effect with how you have to slam around the stick. I went and got one of those stick caps that are made of a harder, smoother plastic and has a bunch of nubs on it for like $6 for 8 of them and two silicone bumpers I don't need, and USFII is a lot less dangerous.
@NEStalgia I agree, I think people who don't play on handhelds at all aren't used to the smaller, more tightly positioned buttons.
Split joycons weren't good for ARMS only because you don't appear to be able to lock the game into one configuration, so playing with them separated confuses the game and changes the control scheme back to gyro, which sucks.
For whatever reason, I didn't use split joycons during the Splatoon 2 testfire, but I'm dying to try it out in the full game, as I think it'll be super comfortable aiming with just the right joycon instead of the whole controller.
For me, the only games that really suffer from this configuration are 2D games, which are much more comfortable with a pad of some sort.
It's a compromise, but the stick is where it belongs. No one would want that extender when using the joycon sideways
This is ugly af. Anyway, I've never had a problem with the controllers, and I once played Zelda in portable mode for over six hours. I have average sized hands for a woman.
@Ralizah I noticed that whenever you detatch the joycon and don't put them in the grip in ARMS, yeah, it just assumed motion controls. BUT that might have just been the testpunch, too....looking forward to seeing if the main game does otherwise when it has an actual config screen. I remember reading that you can set multiple modes including split joycon but not seeing how in the testpunch. I either just missed it or it's in the full game but not the test.
Splatoon....I'm not sure if that's going to work well. I made sure for the limited time to try I played "pure" with the Pro to make sure to make it 1:1 to Splatoon 1 as I could (I was rusty as heck but still had some skills....just not with my old main man, chargers... ) , WIth the game pace I'm not sure aiming with one hand will be intuitive enough to be able to play at a really high level. I was playing almost entirely S/S+ in S1, so precision counts. Given all the rust, that might not matter in S2
But yeah, learning the feel of handhelds takes some time when you're not used to it and a lot of console-only gamers seem to want to give up fast on it (or anything unfamiliar for that matter.) Personally I find DualShock buttons WAAAY too big, and WAAAY too spongey.
I'd be more impressed if they fit the switch inside of a Wii U gamepad!
I'd be happy if someone released an XL hand grip of sorts. I essentially can't even use the Switch in handheld mode because the joycons are too small.
I don't have a problem with the Joy-Cons because I dont' have a Switch...
These guys are so cool. Love what they do. My solution is long switch sessions are done with pro controller
I've never considered this a problem, however I've adjusted to the right stick placement by not using my thumb tip, but the pad nearer the first knuckle. The shorter travel compared to a conventional controller helps. Found myself doing this naturally.
It's certainly more comfortable than my OG 3DS. Now THAT gave me the claw. More like the 3DS XL I'd say.
Hmm,I feel like I'm the only one who moves the analogue stick with the middle of my thumb, while I use the top of the thunb to press the buttons at the same time?
I have big hands and in my opinion the only problem with the joy cons for my hands is that they are too thin and too flat and I struggle to hold them because of that. I use a pro controller but a simple plastic shell to put them in that makes them bigger and with ergonomic curves for the fingers to hold would be a much better solution and it would leave them perfectly intact too. Ruining them just to change the analog stick placement is nonsense imho
I'm yet to try a Switch but I'm not expecting any issues. I don't recall ever having issues with any controllers from Nintendo, Sony and Sega consoles. I never understand complaints from people I read online. I've seen many complaints about the Gamepad but I find it extremely comfortable. I like the idea of using the Joy-Cons split, as it means you can move your arms independanty, a bit like the Wiimote + Nunchuck but without the wire. That was another control setup I never understood people complaining about.
The idea was neat but their "comedy" is just so awful I had to skip most of it haha
I love Ben's work and how smart he is but there's something about him and his friends that really bugs me (and it's not their awful "comedy")
@Ralizah "and it feels like what the Wiimote+Nunchuk combo should have been in the first place."
lol wut. wiimote+nunchuk is the best case scenario as is. Certainly better than the two joy cons.
I'm waiting out for Switch XL. You know it's happening. That's the Nintendo way. They have done it forever with portables. Let's be honest. A bigger screen along with bigger Joy Con is inevitable. I figure Nintendo might have considered making sure this edition wasn't too big that way current Switch owners would even consider pickup up a a second one or trade in for one. Seriously, Nintendo is absolutely going to release an XL.
I'd like it if they made a grip for the Switch in handheld mode
Use two grips, one for each Joy-Con! It works great!
@shani
"If I put the Joycons into the grip, I don't have these problems, but the whole benefit of the Joycon/Wiimote+Nunchuk setup is that you can lay your arms independently from each other on the sofa or whereever you want.
The grip (or the Pro Controller) eradicated this wonderful benefit, because your hands have to be in the middle, which is a lot more strenuous in the long run."
Just buy a pro controller really it's expensive, (as much as most games) but still it's worth it with a nice feel. It also does what all the Joy con do, HD Rumble, NFC Reader, Gyroscope, all the good stuff.
@gatorboi352 my hands are giant, I can sped hours on the Switch in handheld mode no problem.
I worried it would cramp but never does, it is however cramped placement wise of the buttons, playing arms is a nightmare IMO.
Mario Kart works amazing, Zelda is ok... But all in all pro controller wins out
Kinda defeats the use of playing 2 players on the go, that right controller would be terrible to use on its side as a single controller.
I like the idea of it. To bad Nintendo would never do this.
Thanks to this I realised what was wrong with switch portable mode. Its just absolutely horrible to me, I can't just play swith on portable mode if it requires the left analog stick. Nintendo should really learn from this and make bigger and more comfortable joy cons for normal people.
I have large hands and have no problems with both switch and 3ds.
My buddy on the other hand has the same size hands I do and has issues but we noticed he naturally kinda claw grips all his controllers to begin with. I on the other hand tend to "palm" all my controllers.
@Alikan Uhh, Splatoon isn't out yet for the Switch. Is there something you aren't telling us?
I skimmed this video to see what the mod was and plan to watch it properly later. What I saw was fascinating, especially the analysis of the analog module. Everyone is different and I have no doubt that many have legit issues with this. The size and other design requirements of the joycons forced a number of compromisrs. Relative to other Nintendo pads, comfort was likely a lower priority since the joycons had to meet many requirements. I really enjoy what Ben and the crew do. This isn't meant to be a practical mod and they made it clear it is difficult.
@starcatcher77 global testfire 😉. Played enough to decide what I liked there. Unless it suddenly becomes an RTS or Tactical RPG, I think I got a good enough impression. Otherwise, yes, I am from the future and here to tell you Splatoon 2 is awesome! 😎
I haven't tried the joycons yet, but the Pro Controller is extremely comfortable! (Yes, I bought the Pro when I found it cheaper than my local retail before even having the console. Stuff happens).
The version of the Pro fits my hands better than the Wii U Pro and a BIG plus for me - it doesn't look always dirty due to fingerprints!
@gatorboi352 lol cool someone local! In Palatka but work in Gainesville.
I can't say I've had a problem with the position of the analogue stick, for me the main problem is the tiny buttons. I found them too small on the 3DS/XL/New 3DS XL and I think they're still too small on the Switch. I really hope we get XL joy-cons in the future with bigger buttons.
@SuperDude95 Same here, at this point it's better to use a Pro Controller instead
@ya_boy_six ha true
@shani at least in mk8 you can also use Y to accelerate, maybe it's more comfortable to you...
Kinda destroys the point of the joycon though...
I find the joy cons in the grip are really comfortable but the joy cons attached to the switch are basically unusable. I wish there was some sort of attachment which added the handle grips from the joy con grip to the switch in hand held mode.
@thor27 Oh I wasn't aware of that, thank you very much!
I actually played with the Joycons in the Grip yesterday and hat no thumb pain whatsover. I'll try it with Y later today.
I actually have pretty small hands, so the Joy Con size is not an issue for me. The video makes it even more inconvenient as bulky. Just get a Pro Controller, or get the Hori wired controller. It's cheaper too. (But you'll miss out on the HD Rumble and motion controls.)
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ugh - no - my eyes! - my stomac-
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@thor27 Thanks again for your useful hint!
I just tried it and it's way more comfortable. My right thumb now rests easily on the Joycon instead of being bent.
@MrGamerClock64 The Pro Controller has motion controls too!
@gspro15198 completely agreement with you. The grip is super confortable, but the Joy cons atached to the switch lack the ergonomic feel that the Wii U gamepad had. I can't play handheld mode for too long.
I have giant hands and the Joy Con are pretty uncomfortable when playing in handheld mode, BUT — if you just disconnect them and play in "tabletop" mode it's much more comfortable.
The Pro Controller can't really be beat, obviously, but I'd just play in tabletop mode with the Joy Con disconnected way before I ever tried to attempt a mod like this.
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