If you’ve noticed, different people grip their computer mouse differently. From everyday users to programmers and gamers, every individual has a specific type of grip they feel comfortable using.

How we grip, a computer mouse is more important than you might think. This grip is directly associated with multiple veins in the wrist. Hold your mouse the wrong way, and you’ll end up with some problems.

That’s why, over the years, users and enthusiasts have come up with various ‘grip’ types for computer mice. Knowing which one is yours is important. Not every mouse works great for all grip types.

Knowing which type is yours will help you make a better, informed decision about which mouse to buy and will help you provide any strain that using the wrong mouse or grip may cause.

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Mouse grips are primarily divided into three types, namely:

• Palm Grip
• Claw grip
• Tip grip

Let’s talk about them in some detail

Palm Grip

The Palm Grip is the most common grip type out there. More than 50% of users are using the palm grip.

The popularity of the palm grip is because of its natural hold. The hand is kept on the mouse in a very relaxed and natural manner. This grip also offers the most support and contact points with the mouse.

Ideal mice for this grip type are generally wider, slightly long and have a rather steep rear. This is done to provide maximum are to rest the hand on and for maximum support.

Palm grips are no doubt the most comfortable for the hand, but they suffer from their own disadvantages.

While the palm grip is certainly useful for slow, gliding movements, it lacks the speed and agility required for repeated rapid movements like games. Hence, these types of mice are generally used by average consumers.

Claw Grip

The Claw grip, is not as famous, in spite of being only slightly different from the palm grip.

The reason? Contact points. Claw grip offers less contact point on the palm area which makes it different. In this grip, only the tip of the fingers and the back of the palm is used to make contact with the mouse and control it. Hence the name, Claw grip.

Mice made for this grip are usually shorter and have a less steep back arch. Overall, these mice have quite a speedy profile.

Compared to the palm grip, the claw grip is more suitable for repeated quick movements such as games. Hence, this grip is widely used by gamers around the world.

Fingertip Grip

The Fingertip grip is the most extreme of the three.

The Tip grip, as the name suggests, is a type of grip where only the tips of the fingers are used to hold are drive the mouse.

This grip is used to move the mouse as rapid as possible with the least strain on the hand and the wrist. Mice made for this type are very light, short and usually flat on the rear.

Everything about this grip is around speed. However, due to the minimal contact points with the mouse, this type of grip is not very suitable for movements that involve precise gliding and slow movements.

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