Thumbing it or Finger Pinch?

Scotty T · 07-01-2008, 10:53 AM

I'm getting to the point where I'm doing some decent 3D now. The 500 has pushed me into really doing more.

I'm thumbing it right now, but you think I'll need to eventually move into the finger pinch method?

MiniCwik · 07-01-2008, 11:02 AM

I actually do both, but would say more pinch and have voted that way.

What I mean is I pinch throttle and thumb pitch, but also put my index finger in front of the pitch stick as well.

Buz Killington · 07-01-2008, 11:13 AM

Besides the obvious personal preferance, is there any real adavantage to one over the other?

MiniCwik · 07-01-2008, 11:29 AM

Nah, just whatever you are most comfortable with ... it is just a personal preference.

Buz Killington · 07-01-2008, 11:33 AM

Kind of what i thought, someone once told me that with the pinch, you have more fine motor control than with the thumbing... i dont know if there is any truth to that or not.

oteskate · 07-01-2008, 11:48 AM

I personally find that I have more control as a "pinch flyer", but then again... I've flown pinch ever since my first day in RC, 20 yrs ago. It just always felt more natural for me and with the way I hold the Tx, I can reach all the switches, etc. very easily. If I fly thumbs, I'm all over the place.... CRASH! Haha.

HELINHAWAII · 07-01-2008, 12:08 PM

I can fly both ways but I'm more precise with the "pinch". But with "thumbs" I can move the sticks a little faster.

nickolai · 07-01-2008, 01:13 PM

i started out thumbing and i decided to try pinch and after an evening of practicing the pinch on the sim i was noticably improved over where i was thumbing. I tend to shake alot specifically my pitch hand and pinching helped in a big way.

Socal500 · 07-01-2008, 02:47 PM

Certainly some will argue. If there was a way to attach a piece of pencil lead to the point on your thumb that contacts the stick when flying thumb, you could easily do a test to show the difference. Try to write a word or some pattern then do the same with pinch. The precision of thumb alone will just not match thumb and index as they are designed to work together.

Not to say you cannot fly good thumbs only. I flew 20 years on and off using thumb. Switched to pinch a few months ago and within a few days could see the difference in control and precision. The trick is making yourself use pinch until you are comfortable doing it. I have seen to many try it for about 5 minutes and then give up because its just dont feel right. Its not going to just feel right immediately. After all that time flying thumb only, I cannot go back to it after just a few months of pinch.

lodi · 07-01-2008, 03:23 PM

I have found that a strap helps a bunch and has me doing more of a modified pinch/thumb thing.

View Poll Results: Are you thumbing it or Finger Pinch?
I'm all thumbs	107	54.59%
Finger Pinch Rulez!	89	45.41%
Voters: 196. You may not vote on this poll

07-01-2008, 10:53 AM	#1
Scotty T Registered Users Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Shelton, CT.	Thumbing it or Finger Pinch? I'm getting to the point where I'm doing some decent 3D now. The 500 has pushed me into really doing more. I'm thumbing it right now, but you think I'll need to eventually move into the finger pinch method?

07-01-2008, 11:02 AM	#2
MiniCwik Registered Users Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Michigan	I actually do both, but would say more pinch and have voted that way. What I mean is I pinch throttle and thumb pitch, but also put my index finger in front of the pitch stick as well. __________________ T-Rex 600 ESP picking up soon thanks to To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. T-Rex 500 CF w/ TT/Kasama tail/HS5245MG's/401/9257(flies superbest!) T-Rex 450 V2.5 w/ Scorpion -8 V2/CC 35A/HS65HB's/401/9257/Align V3 head & torque tube upgrade (flies superb) Crashing is half of the "learning" ... right?

07-01-2008, 11:29 AM	#4
MiniCwik Registered Users Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Michigan	Nah, just whatever you are most comfortable with ... it is just a personal preference. __________________ T-Rex 600 ESP picking up soon thanks to To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. T-Rex 500 CF w/ TT/Kasama tail/HS5245MG's/401/9257(flies superbest!) T-Rex 450 V2.5 w/ Scorpion -8 V2/CC 35A/HS65HB's/401/9257/Align V3 head & torque tube upgrade (flies superb) Crashing is half of the "learning" ... right?

07-01-2008, 11:48 AM	#6
oteskate Registered Users My HF Map location Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Arnold, MO.... and currently Long Island, NY (for now)	I personally find that I have more control as a "pinch flyer", but then again... I've flown pinch ever since my first day in RC, 20 yrs ago. It just always felt more natural for me and with the way I hold the Tx, I can reach all the switches, etc. very easily. If I fly thumbs, I'm all over the place.... CRASH! Haha. __________________ Jeff To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. St. Louis Whirlybirds Team Hirobo/MRC, Team BEAM KBDD, RC Booya, Switchglo, JGF, Castle Creations, Magnum Fuel

07-01-2008, 11:13 AM	#3
Buz Killington Registered Users Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Keene NH	Besides the obvious personal preferance, is there any real adavantage to one over the other?

07-01-2008, 11:33 AM	#5
Buz Killington Registered Users Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Keene NH	Kind of what i thought, someone once told me that with the pinch, you have more fine motor control than with the thumbing... i dont know if there is any truth to that or not.

07-01-2008, 12:08 PM	#7
HELINHAWAII Registered Users My HF Map location Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Clarksville, TN	I can fly both ways but I'm more precise with the "pinch". But with "thumbs" I can move the sticks a little faster. __________________ *Jesse* T700N FBL - V-Bar w/ 3DX Head T250 Super Pro - HS-5084MG Tail Servo X9303

07-01-2008, 01:13 PM	#8
nickolai Registered Users Join Date: Dec 2007	i started out thumbing and i decided to try pinch and after an evening of practicing the pinch on the sim i was noticably improved over where i was thumbing. I tend to shake alot specifically my pitch hand and pinching helped in a big way.

07-01-2008, 02:47 PM	#9
Socal500 Registered Users My HF Map location Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Huntington Beach CA	Certainly some will argue. If there was a way to attach a piece of pencil lead to the point on your thumb that contacts the stick when flying thumb, you could easily do a test to show the difference. Try to write a word or some pattern then do the same with pinch. The precision of thumb alone will just not match thumb and index as they are designed to work together. Not to say you cannot fly good thumbs only. I flew 20 years on and off using thumb. Switched to pinch a few months ago and within a few days could see the difference in control and precision. The trick is making yourself use pinch until you are comfortable doing it. I have seen to many try it for about 5 minutes and then give up because its just dont feel right. Its not going to just feel right immediately. After all that time flying thumb only, I cannot go back to it after just a few months of pinch. __________________ "Im a Virgin.. I'm just not very good at it"

07-01-2008, 03:23 PM	#10
lodi Registered Users My HF Map location Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Alpharetta, GA	I have found that a strap helps a bunch and has me doing more of a modified pinch/thumb thing.

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