Thumb or Pinch.

[Sleepyc]

So Toro and I were discussing the finer points of pinching the sticks and thumbing them.
Coming from a plane background, I am a thumb-er.

Toro flys this way as well, but was considering switching to a modified pinch.

I have thought about this as well to help my plane and Heli flying.
So what are the thoughts. Can pinching the sticks really help out?
I have tried to switch to a pinch and it seemed to set my flying back almost 2 years...
It seems to be a really hard switch.

Thoughts?

[Trex Pilot]

I have not been flying for long, About a year, and i have always used my thumbs.I tryed to pintch them but i am just to scared to try and fly this way, What is the big deal about it anyway? I dont see what the pro's or con's are, i thought people just fly they way they feel comfy.

[Sleepyc]

The pro is that once you get the sticks moving a bit faster, while thumbing, the chance for a thumb to slip and let the stick spring back resulting in a crash grows substantially.
Also for precision flying, the pinch can give you a more stable movement.

There are pro's who do it both ways, but for teh average Joe, I think a pinch can help.

[toro]

been simming with mod pinch, and feeling way more comfortable with it... We shall see what happens on the real deal

[Trex Pilot]

Well while pinthing the knobs how do you hold the TX without droping it?

[Sleepyc]

Pinky and ring fingers. Or a tray.

I have a little assistor tray that goes on a padded neck strap, holds the transmitter real nice.

[Trex Pilot]

Ok i just tryed it on the sim and it does feel ok and i do have alittle better control just takes some getting used to.

[GunnyGlow]

FWIW I credit the fact that I am a thumb flyer with my background in gaming. I"ve had everything from an atari when I was just a weeeeeee little guy...to a 360 elite now. :D The thought of "pinching" the sticks was VERY foreign to me when I first got my "feet wet". Having said that....I"m beginning to think that pinching/modified pinch is the way to go. The thumbs, I think, have the advantage when reaching to the far inside corners of the gimbals....but pinching MIGHT mean more precision. And how often/long to we stay at full stick in any direction!? My thoughts.....random and maybe useless. But it is my first post!!! :D

[R.J.]

Pinch for precision, Thumbs for range of motion.

[glydr]

Thumbs - and mode 1 too.

<ducks for cover>

[flightcrazed]

I put my thumbs on top and hold the front of the sticks with my finger. Kind of a modified pinch. When I was learning from my dad, he would get on me for using just thumbs. I am a gamer from way back in the atari days as well, it was very hard not to just use thumbs. Now I don't even think about it. I think you get a lot better feel with the pinch or modified pinch.

[CSpaced]

Here's my 2 cents. I started out on heli's and have always pinched just like flightcrazed described - thumb on top, fingers on the front of the sticks. This also translated over to my plank flying. However I've noticed that when I roll the cyclic, or do a mad tumble with the plane, I switch to thumb mode to get the range of motion and then immediately switch back to pinch. This is not a concious desicion, it just happens naturally.

I've tried flying thumbs, but I feel like I might slip off of the sticks. I figured it was because I was so used to flying pinched, and that you just get so used to flying one particular way.

[joehelicopter]

:DPinch and thumbs combo here--depends on the maneuver....:eek:

[ericb]

I can not do the pinch for some reason. I tend to loose all control and accually have to think about how to move the sticks.

[dvmiller]

I started using thumbs flying planks when I was 16, I am 25 now and somewhat new to the helicopter realm. When I started with helicopters the guy who taught me had me use the pinch method, this gave me more control over small inputs that are necessary while hovering. After seeing the control input gained I relearned how to fly my planes with the pinch method. As stated earlier in the thread I find it hard to hit the corners with fingers but I feel that my overall contol is better. This is just my experiance an .02 you can take it as you like but I believe and feel you can do better with the pinch method than thumbs.

[AndyJewell]

I've been flying for about a year now... I started on thumbs when flying fixed...Then I was told about piniching...well modified pinching...tried that and thats all Ive used from then on. Like dvmiller said it gives you more control over the sticks for slight adjustments! But I have recently tried flying thumbs again to see if I can do it...didnt change my flying one bit apart from the bumby first thirty seconds of getting used to it again !:)

Andy

[AndyJewell]

I've tried flying thumbs, but I feel like I might slip off of the sticks. I figured it was because I was so used to flying pinched, and that you just get so used to flying one particular way.

Yeh another reason I normally fly the modified pinch way !:)

Andy

[Alan]

I am all thumbs. I tried the pinch and lost all control. So I am literally all thumbs.:D

[RC-Bearings]

I am all thumbs as well. I learend with thumbs many years ago. I tried fingers but the carpel tunnel and mild arthritis made pinch a little uncomfortable.

[Eric Olsen]

Every time I try to use just thumbs my teacher slaps the back of my hand and yells NO!

[Gmoney]

Thumbs do the flying! Arse checks do the PINCHING!

[l4m3r]

pinch method for me. someday i will learn to fly...i hope

[DVS]

I started off thumbs (first few months of trying to hover) but made the switch to pinch after practicing on the sim for about a week.

[Rush7]

Dang..... My short fat fingers just cant seem to pinch. Dumb thumbs here.

[sherman89]

I spent 30+ years holding the Tx and using thumbs flying airplanes, then I took up heli's. I had a world class F3C pilot as my instructor and since I did not have full command of the left hand (his exact words) I was put in a tray and started pinching with thumb and finger. After 3 very frustrating months and I am convinced all was worth it and now are very comfortable with tray and the pinch( I cannot fly the old way anymore). My left hand is finally in full command ( I do not crash much any more) and I will be staying with the tray and and the pinch. I have been doing the tray and the pinch for about 2 years now.

[tdearth]

I have been flying RC for about 45 years. I always flew with thumbs
until I started flying helis. I had so many bad habits from plane flying, like cutting the throttle,
that I needed to really work at a different mind set with the helis.
Going to the pinch method for helis tells my brain that I am now flying a heli.
I still fly planes with thumbs but use the pinch for helis.

Works for me.

Tim

[idsfdad]

Started out with thumbs, working on switching to pinch. I can see that it gives me more detail, but its been a <censor> to try to swap something I got used to.

- George

[BigGuyJT]

I'm a thumbs kinda guy. I'm not really a 3d guy so the precision of pinching isnt need. The neck strap irritates my neck as well.

[jasmine2501]

FWIW I credit the fact that I am a thumb flyer with my background in gaming. I"ve had everything from an atari when I was just a weeeeeee little guy...to a 360 elite now. :D The thought of "pinching" the sticks was VERY foreign to me when I first got my "feet wet". Having said that....I"m beginning to think that pinching/modified pinch is the way to go. The thumbs, I think, have the advantage when reaching to the far inside corners of the gimbals....but pinching MIGHT mean more precision. And how often/long to we stay at full stick in any direction!? My thoughts.....random and maybe useless. But it is my first post!!! :D

You use thumbs? I think you fly pretty good from what I saw, and overall I think it doesn't matter. That's why it's always such a huge discussion. There are no hard facts in favor of either method. It's entirely up to personal preference. I find that I can reach the corners easily with a modified pinch method (thumb on top, finger on the side) - but someone with shorter fingers might have trouble doing that. It's all up to the user.

[jasmine2501]

I'm a thumbs kinda guy. I'm not really a 3d guy so the precision of pinching isnt need. The neck strap irritates my neck as well.

I use a shoulder strap - it's a modified guitar strap, and it's very comfortable. I can't have something around my neck - I know what you mean.

[friz]

Pinch, no strap for me.

[Trex Pilot]

sometimes i use a strap depends on how i am feeling and how long i think i'll be flying.I i am just going out to track blades or adjust somthing NO STRAP

[GunnyGlow]

You use thumbs? I think you fly pretty good from what I saw, and overall I think it doesn't matter. That's why it's always such a huge discussion. There are no hard facts in favor of either method. It's entirely up to personal preference. I find that I can reach the corners easily with a modified pinch method (thumb on top, finger on the side) - but someone with shorter fingers might have trouble doing that. It's all up to the user.

I am a thumbs only flyer at the moment. Thanks for the compliment!! :cool: I am quite a bit better now. ;)

I use a shoulder strap - it's a modified guitar strap, and it's very comfortable. I can't have something around my neck - I know what you mean.

I had totally forgotten about you using a guitar strap!! I think my friend and I had a conversation about it the last time we were at CC. I think he said he was gonna give it a try. it's a good idea..!! :D

I"m thinking that if I end up switching to the pinch method I will invest in a tray. The one thing that bothers me the most about the pinch is having to hold the TX, pinch the sticks, and operate various switches. I just don't have enough fingers...:(

[flyordie]

thumbs flying my planes and for what ever reason i pinch with my helis>>>>strange i know lol

[brandonduley]

thumbs for me, cant seem to get the pinch method to be smooth enough. still working on it with the sim though

[Hellsiege]

Cheap strap that came off an old army wallet + pinch for me. I can do it w/out the strap in a pinch but last time I tried that it wasn't near as smooth as with strap.

[gonzales]

I originally learned to fly fixed with my thumbs. Now that I'm starting to get into Heli's, I've been forcing myself to use a pinch method. I picked up some larger TX sticks from http://www.progressiverc.com/. There are a few other places that offer similar products. They really do help. Now if I could only get used to using a neck strap...

[broggyr]

Ever since I've had cars, boats, tanks, etc for the last 20 years, I have always been a thumber. With my first heli, I was also thumbing. After I heard about the pinch method (didn't even know such a method existed), it was the most foreign-feeling, unnatural grip I ever used -- until I got used to it. Now, that's all I use on my heli - if I try thumbs, I tend to overcorrect, huge.

[Skid_Slide]

I fly with thumbs only, and forefingers up on the switches. I also fly commando without a neckstrap. :o

[tommy boy]

I put my thumbs on top and hold the front of the sticks with my finger. Kind of a modified pinch. When I was learning from my dad, he would get on me for using just thumbs. I am a gamer from way back in the atari days as well, it was very hard not to just use thumbs. Now I don't even think about it. I think you get a lot better feel with the pinch or modified pinch.

this is how i transitioned from thumbs to pinch. i did lots of sim time, then went out flew FP with a pinch mod. then went plane flying with pinch mod. once i got used to all that, i naturally progressed to full pinch. its easier to control when i'm feeling nervous.

neckstrap-never leave home without it. i treasure that radio too much! plus it eases the strain/stress on my hands. a tray would be even nicer, but seems too hot? anyway, i've just not ran across one i'm willing to try out.

[WavyDavy]

Thumbs for me, but trying to change to pinch. Just feels odd, so rather than risk my trex, I'm using Phoenix and my cx2.

[nexgen]

pinch, no strap. Try to do a crack roll (like the plug?) or other crack move with only a thumb on the tip...

[John 3D]

When I first learned to fly I was 16 and I thought that since the Tx was so much bigger than the toy ones I would have to find a new way to hold it. When I figured out how to hold it I had to figure out how to move the sticks. From day 1 I thought that since the sticks were so much taller compared to the toy ones, that I would have to hold them differently instead of just using my thumbs. The thumbs don't seem like they have enough control over the sticks by themselves. My instructor taught me to pinch the sticks and I got into the modified pinch cause pinching the tips of the sticks wasn't too comfortable. Now when I hold a Tx my fingers grip the sticks with the modified pinch naturally. My thumbs are on top and my fingers are on the front. I've always had faster stick inputs doing it this way. I also hold the Tx with no strap or tray but I realized that its easier to do EXTREME maneuvers with the strap. But 90% of the time I don't use the strap.

[praetorious]

I use both, pinch for precision, thumb for range of motion, for instance, madness on the cyclic is definitely thumbs....
then again, if you super glued your thumbs to the sticks...then they won't slip...but then how do you get yer thumbs off...
Better yet, take a pair of gloves, and stitch velcro to the thumbs, and the complimentary velcro to the stick!

[Mutt]

...

[jongurley]

I thumb with strap,,,, always flew airplanes like that and helis, I feel like my reaction is alittle quicker with thumbs,, the "only" time I pinch is if I am doing a crack manuever of some sort there no way to crack it good unless you are pinching,, it is a proven fact in general thumbing is quicker and pinching is more precise,, in theory

[torqmaster]

Thumbs, trying to convert to pinch but my fingers have a mind of there own.

[jasmine2501]

Thumbs, trying to convert to pinch but my fingers have a mind of there own.

I do not understand statements like this. If the pinch isn't natural for you, why force yourself to do it? It's like teaching left-handed kids to write with the right hand. If it isn't right... don't do it.

[DaySpeed]

I do not understand statements like this. If the pinch isn't natural for you, why force yourself to do it? It's like teaching left-handed kids to write with the right hand. If it isn't right... don't do it.

I understand your statements, however, if pinch gives more finesse, trying to learn it for many is the only way to see if it works and maybe fly better. Can always go back to thumbs

I started to fly with helis 18 months ago, not knowing much, pinching was natural to me from the start, no neck strap. No problem to reach extremities with the sticks, long fingers ;)

[mhills51]

Pinch for me, but for differant reasons:rolleyes:. I still get really nervous flying when other people are around:eek:. I find that pinching the sticks slows the shakes down a tad. I think that's why I have two 450's. I can crash the first one and then I'm not so nervous and can fly the second.:p:D

[Dutchdude]

Thumbs for me as well. I want to learn to pinch (trying on sim quite a bit) but simply does not work very well. Also, my flying skills are not really up there, were i need "precision" .......... So thumbs for now and when i feel that i need more precision (meaning getting better at it) i will try to change to pinch.

[Swashbuckler]

I like the precision feel of lightly pinching the the sticks. Comes from operating precision machinery in my younger days.

[Ogre55]

Pinch for me, but for differant reasons:rolleyes:. I still get really nervous flying when other people are around:eek:. I find that pinching the sticks slows the shakes down a tad. I think that's why I have two 450's. I can crash the first one and then I'm not so nervous and can fly the second.:p:D

After my own heart!!

[jasmine2501]

I find that sitting in a chair gets rid of the shakes, but it does make it harder to run for it :)

[mhills51]

I find that sitting in a chair gets rid of the shakes, but it does make it harder to run for it :)

That's a good one:clap:. On another forum they asked what is worse on the flying field than a dog. I had to say, me flying anywhere around you.:eek::D

Here is my crasher and my flyer.

[Rotorwrecker]

I find on my futaba 8uhps and my JR radios, I put my thumbs on top and hold the front of the sticks with my finger as well . But on my 9z I use only my thumbs, I think its because of the gimbals on the 9z are more ridged on top and my thumbs don’t feel like they are going to slide off were is on the others the gimbals are more smooth on top thus the pinch method.

[Trex Pilot]

i tryed to do the pintch in the real world but it was a no go it did not end good lets say :(

[Dutchdude]

I've just ordered these: http://www.rchover.com/inc/searchresults?s=TXK1400RWCB&ss=TXK1400RWCB&n=612076

I wonder if those are comfortable. or what ever...............:blockhead:

(Rchover sucks by the way... they never reply on emails)

[DaySpeed]

I've just ordered these: http://www.rchover.com/inc/searchresults?s=TXK1400RWCB&ss=TXK1400RWCB&n=612076

I wonder if those are comfortable. or what ever...............:blockhead:

(Rchover sucks by the way... they never reply on emails)

I like to pinch the original sticks, however, those would go well with Trex Pilot avatar......:blockhead:

[mhills51]

OK I am starting the get trex pilot to change his avitar.

My kids keep getting sick!

[Rotorwrecker]

The gimbals look like they would be more comfortable. the surface area look
Wider for more contact with the thumb.
I mite have to try a set of those on one of my radios :transformer:

These are like the ones on my 9z I thought about trying

[RappyChappy]

I`ve been flying heli`s for 3 years now and use thumbs but thinking of changing to pinch. The reason for this is because when I`m trying something new and shaking so much, or cold, my throttle thumb (left) keeps jumping off the stick. I found out recently that a childhood injury to said thumb is the cause. A deep cut over the thumb knuckle. I`ll have to re-learn flicking switches etc. but a small price to pay compared to a crash.

[lextek]

I'm a thumber. I'm trying the pinch on the sim. Feels more stable, but awkward. I tried flying yesterday and didn't feel comfortable.

[smoothoperator]

ok guy`s I have tried both ways and thumbs it is ,, I nearly ran the copter into the ground with my pinch method ....... shew`````````

[smoothoperator]

The gimbals look like they would be more comfortable. the surface area look
Wider for more contact with the thumb.
I mite have to try a set of those on one of my radios :transformer:

These are like the ones on my 9z I thought about trying

where are those knobs available ?:clap:

[Rotorwrecker]

Thay have them here:clap: or go to page 1 at the bottom if you want RED ;)
http://www.heliproz.com/products.asp?dept=16&pagenumber=2&sort_on=&sort_by=