To be honest, sometimes I use my mouth -- honestly. Mode 1, hand-launch of fixed wing -- you have to use your mouth to advance the throttle stick, no kidding!
With mode 1, and a neck strap, you can hand launch with the right hand after raising the throttle with your left hand. Then you have both hands free again. No tongue or cheek there. for that matter.....LOL
As an "old guy" I learned thumbs 35 years ago but you get more shakey over time. Switching to pinch for drone flying helped a lot. It took a frustrating week of only flying pinch to kick the thumb habit.
I used to teach rc planes and helis......its what ever you're comfortable with,I thumb myself but theres no difference in my eyes.....each to their own....👌👍
Ahhh excuse me, don't overlook the biggest invention ever, a beer holder on your tx or goggles would be great. I made a compartment for a cold one in my homemade caddy.
I love how you point out that it offers both positives and the boys are stubborn as old dogs. Old mates flying backward under the roof almost converted me to try pinch. Ill stick to flat out crashing
when the guy on the left said "you play COD with pinching?" .... NO !!!! YOU PLAY ANY FPS WITH MOUSE AND KEYBOARD !!!! cuz we are PC gamers !!!! jokes aside ... i didn't managed to get my qwad in the air yet (unless we count the 2 times it just crashed after 1.5 seconds of flight) ... but i'm using both thumb and pinching, mr steele style (at least in the sim)
I learned to fly as a pincher in the 1970ies :) But when I found out about how to move an aerobatic plane around, I switched to thumbing. but then, in the early 2000ies, I started flying rc-helicopters and I got the feeling, thumbs don't work good enough 😀 Now, with the copters, I'm mostly flying as pincher. But on the 3D-Planes, I switch. The smooth F3A movements pinching the stick, the hard 3D-movements thumbs only. That's what I adopted for th copters too, and it's working fine for me.
You thumb on a game controller, but try flying a simulator on a game controller and you instantly realize how completely imprecise a game controller is.
I lowered my rates. Winning races on liftoff with Xbox controller. Just got a radio.. well, the dji fpv controller v2, now I'm trash at liftoff again lol. Gotta relearn.
A game controller is imprecise regardless of whether you thumb or not, there is a 3/8" deadzone on most console controllers. You can pinch your xbox controller all day long and get the same results as a thumber.
This is absolutly true. Before i get into FPV i thought i will be very good with thumb because i played very lot on xbox controller and playstation conroller. I was wrong. When i start simulator with xbox controller with thumb then with radio and also thumb, i felt this is impossible to fly and do precise tricks with thumb. I switch to pinch and i feel i learning faster and iam more confident with the controlls. Pinch is the best (for me)
I always thought it was weird to pinch, but I can see the advantages of it for me personally. Moving to full stick deflection while pinching becomes a lot more deliberate. It's more difficult to get to full deflection while pinching (meaning to achieve it is more deliberate) due to the grip changes necessary to pinch over thumbing. Rates make a HUGE difference from thumbing vs. pinching. With pinching, the majority of the movements need to happen in the center with full deflection happening less frequently and rates have to be adjusted as such. With thumbing, full deflection doesn't need to be as deliberate - it's easier to access ergonomically. Full deflection can happen more easily (possibly unintentionally) more often when thumbing. Thumbing gives you the full range ergonomically. With pinching, you don't have that luxury. It takes more effort due to the grip changes needed to accommodate one long finger (index) to meet the shorter thumb.
I've switched back and forth a few times now, and everytime I think I now fly better. Currently I'm back to pinching and I have to agree with Cricket; pinching definitely makes me more precise and more confident. I just had to find the right way to position my hands so they're stable and allow enough stick travel.
Actual grips: 1. Thumbing 2. Slightly more awkward Thumbing Option 2 is what people call ‘pinching’ but it is in fact thumbing as well. That’s why there doesn’t seem to be a difference. In this video Vort3x only choked on the gaps because it was suggested that he would. Belief is the most important thing when hitting gaps!
Jeffri Ranger yeah exactly! That’s what all these so called ‘pinchers’ do. In fact they’re still thumbing but just took a few packs to get used to the added finger
So there was a very good reason why pinching is better that I didn't see mentioned. As a new racer the nerves can kick in and start to get the shakes a little like if almost crashed. I found that pinching is much better to pretty much eliminate the shake nerves issue!! Major reason to go with pinch👍
My experience: (eight years of thumbing, fixed wing 3D planes and helis, 1 year of fpv. 3 months of pinching now) thumbing allows more rapid corrections, comparable precision in mid stick, but relatively poor precision in the outer ends of the stick movements. Pinching is precise in mid stick and outer stick, but is slightly slower for reflex corrections and combos. Cricket brought up a great point about throttle travel and pinch travel in general: decreasing throttle range either physically if your transmitter allows for it or digitally using a throttle curve that maxes out the stick at 70% or so has worked well for me. Also, increasing rates of course with pinch so that you can make rapid corrections without having to make the relatively slow movement to the end of the stick travel. Other things to keep in mind are thumbing can be very hard on your tendons os watch out for de quervain’s Tenosynovitis, which I had unfortunately. Pinching without taking breaks and stretching can also lead to a repetitive strain injury. Not such a big problem in the field but on sim take breaks and stretch! Tendinitis is a real concern for fpv pilots from experience
I do agree pinching gives you superior control, but just for the record, the thumb is the most useful digit humans have. It has by far the most articulation and precision of any finger, and is an essential part of everything we do with our hands. You’d have a very hard time doing basic everyday things without a thumb.
I started flying RC airplanes around 2001 and I was naturally a thumber. Over the years I've messed around with pinching here and there. I feel like you do get an advantage in precision with pinching but it comes at a cost. With thumbs you can make larger movements more naturally in my opinion. Interesting how the pincher in this video toned down how far his sticks travel, I feel like that could definitely make pinching feel more natural. I still think that if you stick with what is comfortable for you, you won't miss the other style. For a while when I was getting into Helis it seemed like everyone pinched so I made a serious effort to convert. When I went back to thumbing it was like a fish getting back into water for the first time in years. If anyone thinks that pinchers have a higher ceiling of potential, I would like to present Jase Dussia and Tarek Alsaadi as evidence. In my opinion, the best RC airplane and RC helicopter pilots in the world. Seriously, look these guys up you will be blown away with the skill they have. Both of them are thumbers (my point being you don't need to pinch to be top class), but there are tons of other top pilots in RC that pinch, so just do what comes naturally!
Clearly Pinching is more precise and smooth with no discussion. Started Thumbs and converted after 9 Month to Pinching. It takes a while to feel good but it´s the next level. Game Controllers are the worst when it comes to comparison because there Sticks are too short to do anything other than thumbs.
I used my thumbs for 12 years flying planes. Then took up quads a year ago when Mr. Steele and Tommy convinced me to try hybrid pinching. After about 30-40 packs of hybrid pinching, I couldn't go back.
I was thumbing on my FlySky 9X and FrSky X9D since 2012 and this year I started pinching and am more and more loving it and it all started when I bought the FrSky X-Lite. The smaller throw and how I can fit it in my hands makes pinching perfect, I still can't do it on the big remotes. PS I know Joshua Bardwell said the remote is not for pinchers but I feel the total opposite, it made it possible for me in the first place.
me also! and you can make more laps without sweating so much. more time and more calm. more secure to pick with both fingers and i can be more relaxed. Dumb the fingers start to roll over.
In my experience thumbs allows faster flying and easier full stick deflection. Pinching allows better control and precision. Video summarizes it, also depends on the location. I thumb if the area contains wide gaps like trees. You can zip through them like racers do. Then I pinch when flying near building. Especially the rail gaps. Overall it’s all about stick control. I think it is also determine by neurological feedback from your fpv visual to your fine motor movement on your fingers. Anticipating reaction time + orientation/obstacle awareness = fun And less crashing.
I just started flying a vr steam drone one week ago and the person who introduce me, taught me to start training using my thumbs. I might consider pinch technice in the future.
I think is up to your own choice, what you feel comfortable with. It is what you started with and taught those muscles and nerves to do early on. I myself mostly pinch, though I can do thumbs, I found with pinch I have better control, and a little more damping on a nervous shakes on the stick.
You kwad guys are a special breed. As a plane pilot I thumb AND pinch. Right stick on mode 2 is pinch and left is thumb. I change throttle lots to fly well so high movement with the thumb feels nice, but to be steady and smooth pinching on ailerons and elevator allows for that. Though I couldn’t do my hybrid hybrid hold without a neckstrap. No neckstrap I would totally thumb purely. Need to hold the remote
Hybrid pinch is really what we are doing. We use our thumbs for big movements and then the index finger is used for extra stability when your trying to fly precise.
Yep, “thumb is dumb” is practically a oxymoron. The thumb is the most dexterous and useful of all our fingers. (Let’s be honest if someone said I’m chopping off one of your digits right now or your head, NONE of us would choose thumb to go.) And the pinch method is always the thumb anyway, but assisted by a finger. So it’s primarily thumbs for everyone. Just some of us use a “guard rail” finger for extra feedback.
For the last month I've pinched left stick, thumbed the right. Used to thumb both. Got awful left thumb shake, so mixed it up. Works great for me. Using different stick ends too.
Learn both, why not? there's no bad habits or downsides to it in this case. Start with the one that's comfortable you'll benefit from learning both if you are flying an area very technical and slower Like anything else-you brace your hand for slower smoother more accurate movement, there's no real commitment or risk in learning both,use whichevers best situationally, you'll see the benefit if you try it and train it a bit. Even racing a car, tight technical track vs longer straights oval tracks everything's adjustments get changed. I still switch constantly depending how things feel or where I'm trying to fly. But I know there's benefits to both so I wanted to learn both.
before watching the vid I can tell you which ever way is comfortable is the RIGHT way...in my case as I fly planes more than quads, I use BOTH with Both...I Pinch the right stick and Thumb the Left...has always worked best for me and there is NO wrong way or right way...there is ONLY YOUR OWN WAY
In both pilots pinching was smoother. Thumbing, both were twitchy. before I ever flew I thought about it, and in my mind I couldn't see my self pinch. When I got my radio, the second I held the radio with a pinch grip I knew it was better. I haven't flown pinch with a mini quad ever, but I know I can because I have flown toy quads, the little ones with the tiny controllers, and I thumb those.
I have been playing video game consoles since game consoles started to exist. My first radio was a Turnigy Evolution. Of course I’m a thumber. But, I agree, the best pilots I know and appreciate are all pinchers. AND, I do believe pinching gives you more precise control. It’s a no brainer, doble the support on the sticks from opposite sides. I have tried pinching, didn’t feel comfortable (of course) and immediately went back to thumbs, but with time I’m confident I will transition. I fly with a Jumper T12 Pro now.
2 years later lol are you still thumbs, or pinching? i'm just starting to learn and thumbs is more comfortable for me but feel like i should just start with pinching and learn that way
@@wmfbmp5743 Pinching. I don’t even think about it anymore! It would be awkward to thumb on these kind of sticks anyway. Haven’t been flying much unfortunately, but every time I get better and better!
@@italiwoods cool, thanks! I'm just learning about everything and getting into it. I've been practicing in liftoff sim a little bit - but just on an xbox controller for now because I haven't decided on a remote yet. so thumbs is obviously easier with xbox controller lol, I've tried pinching with it but it's uncomfortable
It’s a mental thing in my experience having done both. As a pylon racer in the 90’s where everything was 200mph LOS, pinching was the go to for many pilots. Same for the nitro powered 3d heli guys. Since going FPV I naturally gravitated to thumbs. Just seems more natural (for me). I say do what works for you! My favorite pilot Drib thumbs and we’ll we all know his smoothness.
Non gamers like me starting out with small quadcopters, that usually have little controllers, practically have no choice but to thumb because of the stubby sticks. That was the case with first 3 cheapie drones I got. Recently I bought a Holy Stone HS170 that has a bigger longer stick controller so I could practice flying indoors using pinch method. I have a MJX Bugs 3 (no auto hold) and thought it would be good practice for it with the HS170 similar controller but alas the newer (7-2020) Holy Stone HS170 has auto hold with the throttle stick return to center style. Not much help for me. With the Bugs 3 controller I felt kind of spazzy using my thumbs on the longer sticks and pinching felt more controlling. I returned the HS170 and am waiting for delivery of a SYMA X5SW that looks like it will fit the bill. Thank you all for the informative video it was the information I was looking for.
And OMG..Vanover, I actually started thumbing the throttle and pinch right when I first started. I even had a umbrella PS4 style stick on the left and a regular on the right. :P
The lack of stick travel when pinching is EXACTLY why I converted to an X-Lite and hybrid pinch with the extended stick ends, which allow your index finger to be used as a guide without hitting the surrounding areas of the sticks. The gamepad ergonomics gives you more ability to move the sticks while pinching, and you can still mostly hit the ends of the throws because the throws are shorter on the X-Lite. It's also easier to remove your index finger as a guide for more aggressive rapid maneuvers. People when they see me fly keep being blown away that someone is pinching with an X-Lite, but it makes complete and perfect sense to me, and I'm never going back to a traditional style radio form factor nor thumbing.
Hey I’m pretty new to fpv. I started switching to the hybrid style. Just like you I had problems with my index hitting the surrounding area. You said the xlite alleviates that. Can you send me a link for your recommended controller?
@@shaunvaughn3323 Hey Shaun, I've well since moved away from the X-Lite. My personal preferred radio is the TBS Tango 2, but the Radiomaster Zorro is also good. It came out after the Tango 2, and perhaps had it not I'd be using it. I've held both and the ergonomics of both radios allows me to easily hit all points in the throw, but not have to settle for the shorter throws on the X-Lite. Hope this helps!
I used to thumb at first came to FPV from Videogames, and then I started pinching to give it a try. I prefer pinching overall on FPV. I only thumb on DJI drones now
Started with pinch swapped to Hybrid and never looked back. Next question. Strap on Vs strap off. Can't believe how many people need a strap I hate them.
awzan666 I used to fly with thumbs, now I pinch. I used to fly without a neck strap, now I use one. Now I can’t use thumbs or fly without a neck strap. Wtf?
I do like Vanover on the left I use to pinch, on the right thumbs. To fly more precise my opinion is that it is better to pinch, to race the Vanover style is the best! and he show us that it is possible to win ;)
You are both correct!!! winners, it really depends on your hand size, I have really big hands and when I try to pinch I find that my forfinger actually impedes my ability to throw the levers to full extents, so I use my thumbs. Either way it is a matter of muscle memory, as you practice and develop your muscle memory it will get to the point that you no longer have to think about the stick movements, your eyes see and your hands react proportionally.
If you look at the video when you pinch you're basically thumming you're just putting your index finger on the side of the stick, basically resting it there but you're mainly using the thumb more so to just thumb you just gotta move that index finger, it's like the same thing.
I thumbed for 12 years of flying planes and helis, but couldn’t fly quads worth a flip doing the same, I forced myself which was hard, to pinch, now I’m better on every platform.
Flying an Airbus it's a choice of fist or pinch. I usually fist for landing which requires big movements, but higher up I like to pinch for the smoothness. Thumbs are a bit like fists.
I agree with her about the benefit of variety, or trying to become proficient with both techniques. Because I do consistently fly a bunch of different quad frames, race and freestyle. Martian freestyle, qav-r freestyle, diatone racing, 190 racing, 7 in freestyle and 7 in long range. But in turn I am not great and either discipline, but I am good in all.
CRICKET BROOOO! I'm with you! I was thumbing for m'y first 3 months of FPV and then I really didn't feel in control of my quad (well duh! I was a noob of course) and then 7 months ago I decided to spend the whole evening on a simulator to pinch. I didn't see the added value of precision right away but then over the next month I actually improved a lot (or at least I felt like I did). reason I moved to pinching was of course because of the infamous Joshua Bardwell. I guess I learned that from him that day. At the end of the day... it's just a preference, a bit like, some people in skateboard are regular and some others are goofy. it doesn't make you a better a better pilot I think. And talking about *juicy*, most of the juicy pilots are actually using thumbs, specially the French ones 😉
46 years of RC and I still use thumbs. I have tried pinching many times and even spent an entire week straight trying to get used to pinching even a little. Spent two weeks on Velocidrone pinching. It just doesn't work for me. For ultra casual flying it was OK, but for anything else, forget it. I broke a lot of props pinching.
I'm an old git who went through his adrenaline dependency phase years ago. Flippy-dippys and rolly-pollys aren't for me. My flying 'style' is flat, floaty, precision proximity - nice and slow, like an old git should. I need small, gentle inputs for 95% of my flying, and I use mini gimbals. So it's thumbs only for me. You kids do what feels best for you; I enjoy watching a good pilot show their stuff.
Since I lack my right thumbtip, I am hybrid. Pinch for throttle, but for pitch & roll I start out pinching but have to push the stick with the tip of my pointer finger when reaching extremities. 👍 Good vid, thumbs up. I like Vanover's view. He watched others he considered better & adopted what appeared to work best. Try everything but give each style enough time to see if it is for you.
Have any of you thumb fliers tried the giant sticks ends that are basically like a game controller? Precision is a lot easier when the stick is giant grooved pad instead of a small pointy stick that floats around under you thumb.
The problem with pinching vs thumbs is mobility with pinching you gain fine control but you loose the ability to make rapid changes from one side of the gimble to the other. Its like comparing single handed tennis shots to double handed you have more precision with double handed but your reach is significantly compromised compared to single handed.
I also use vanover's hybrid pinching and thumbing flying. I felt like when I did a fast throttle up I would yaw a little bit which would cause my flying to be not so smooth. So I decided to pinch on my throttle and yaw and thumb on my rolling pitch so much better you have that much more control of your throttle
I've been flying DJI drones (for aerial photography) for about 6 years and I thumbed the whole time. But I've been flying RC for a lot longer (helis, nano quads, planes, etc.) and I pinched. But I had no idea that I flew each type differently until very recently when I learned of the pinching vs thumbing debate. When I realized it, it blew my mind. I was like "No way!!" Now I can't decide which to use for the drones! Pinching is more precise, which is why I fly the RC stuff with it (no GPS stability!) but that means I have to use the dumb fingers for gimbal and other controls when recording/photographing, and that sucks. Now I'm all confused and not sure what I should do, so I'm thinking of "mastering" both and switching as needed.
That cute girl has taken the best position... Just take the best from both worlds. I also do both, when enjoying- thumb, when is important to be precise- pinch. Great video guys 👍
I actually do both. I used to play a bunch of NHL on the XBox and I couldn't get the fine detail with thumbs. That's when I started to pinch. I used athletic tape to extended the sticks just a little bit and then did pinch, but it was what they now call the hybrid pinch. Just having my index fingers slightly touching the sticks gave me that feedback to get me the detail. When I started with quads I immediately started using that same style. The catch is that I have a lot more freedom to move the sticks when thumbing and I can move them a lot faster, so I will switch off depending on the situation. I don't change like Jamie changes, though. I just move my fingers forward a little off the sticks so it's easy to go back and forth. I hybrid pinch probably 90% of the time, though. I primarily race, so the fine detail definitely helps. I've been practicing both in Velocidrone, though, cause I think it give me an edge to be able to do both.
I agree it depends on persons hands and controller used. I prefer game style controllers because the larger box controllers make my fingers fill like I am stretching to much with my index. Love thumb flying because I can really control my quad with my thumbs. But that's what feels right with my hands
I think you have already recorded video about it in a past, haven't you? I remember at least Mr Steele was there. Edit: the ending is the best 😁😁😁😁😁 Pinch thumbs up 😁😁😁😁
Ok I'm a pincher, but when he askeed "What do you use your thumbs for" the answer is... EVERYTHING. The thumb is actually what makes a human unique among other animal species.... it's like the most important digit we have. Apposable thumbs are what makes our hands so useful. They literally do EVERYTHING involving your hands. Without thumbs we'd be useless.
For freestyle, I am a thumber mainly because I learned to fly on a toy transmitter that was too small to pinch. But whenever I do precision flying, like cinewhooping, I fly hybrid: pinch on the throttle/yaw and thumb on the roll/pitch.
Cricket looks like his pinch is thumbs with the index finger leaning on the side of the stick. Maybe the figer on the stick helps dampen the movements, kinda like a leash on a dog
I did exactly as he said, started off with thumbs but over time I kind of forced myself to pinch and I can no longer fly using only thumbs, it's strange how I grab xbox one controller and use thumbs where for qx7 it's instantly pinch without any thinking about it :D I feel like that controll you get from pinching is way superrior and it just takes time to learn flying more agressive with it because at the beginning pinching also made me fly a lot slower and more careful which is a good thing while learning to fly overall.
I've played videogames since i was a child. I tried to fly with thumbs and it was so imprecise because of the gimbal's sensitivity. With thumbs I can make a smooth fly with no crazy stuff but if I want to get a little more aggro I need precision or I'll end up exploding my quad.
Starting with fixed wings I always thumbed. When I started flying quads the rates were so high that I needed more fine control. On the simulator I spent a week pinching and my flying got much better. Now I prefer the pinch!
I switched from thumbs to pinch in the simulator, it sucked for an hour or 2 getting used to it but within 1 day i cut my personal best times in the races by 40% at least, in some tracks i was twice as fast as my personal best. Wont work for everyone but in one day my times were sooo much better. It just feels like i can make tiny movements more consistantly because 1 finger prevents another from slipping or going too far.
![Thumb vs Pinch Control Method - Precise RC control Tips! [4K]](/img/n.gif)
To be honest, sometimes I use my mouth -- honestly. Mode 1, hand-launch of fixed wing -- you have to use your mouth to advance the throttle stick, no kidding!
Episode 2: Mouthing vs Tounging
Trust you Bruce.. 🤣
With mode 1, and a neck strap, you can hand launch with the right hand after raising the throttle with your left hand. Then you have both hands free again. No tongue or cheek there. for that matter.....LOL
@@richardcerni9996 Neck strap? I work-out man... I don't need no sissy neck strap. I hold my transmitter like a *man*! :-)
You have a Lizard Tongue?
As an "old guy" I learned thumbs 35 years ago but you get more shakey over time. Switching to pinch for drone flying helped a lot. It took a frustrating week of only flying pinch to kick the thumb habit.
I used to teach rc planes and helis......its what ever you're comfortable with,I thumb myself but theres no difference in my eyes.....each to their own....👌👍
What gives you the best control? Thumbs or Pinch?
Captain Uno: "hold my beer"
Damn straight
Fukin a I don't get smooth till I had a few lol
@@CripSkillz The joke is Captain Uno flies with one hand whereas everyone else needs two.
Pinch - thumbs lol both use thumbs if u have a look .
Ahhh excuse me, don't overlook the biggest invention ever, a beer holder on your tx or goggles would be great. I made a compartment for a cold one in my homemade caddy.
Corey’s face is probably my favorite part of this whole video. Thanks for having me guys, always a blast 😁🚀🦊
I love how you point out that it offers both positives and the boys are stubborn as old dogs. Old mates flying backward under the roof almost converted me to try pinch. Ill stick to flat out crashing
when the guy on the left said "you play COD with pinching?" .... NO !!!! YOU PLAY ANY FPS WITH MOUSE AND KEYBOARD !!!!
cuz we are PC gamers !!!!
jokes aside ... i didn't managed to get my qwad in the air yet (unless we count the 2 times it just crashed after 1.5 seconds of flight) ... but i'm using both thumb and pinching, mr steele style (at least in the sim)
I learned to fly as a pincher in the 1970ies :) But when I found out about how to move an aerobatic plane around, I switched to thumbing.
but then, in the early 2000ies, I started flying rc-helicopters and I got the feeling, thumbs don't work good enough 😀
Now, with the copters, I'm mostly flying as pincher. But on the 3D-Planes, I switch. The smooth F3A movements pinching the stick, the hard 3D-movements thumbs only.
That's what I adopted for th copters too, and it's working fine for me.
You thumb on a game controller, but try flying a simulator on a game controller and you instantly realize how completely imprecise a game controller is.
xD
I lowered my rates. Winning races on liftoff with Xbox controller. Just got a radio.. well, the dji fpv controller v2, now I'm trash at liftoff again lol. Gotta relearn.
A game controller is imprecise regardless of whether you thumb or not, there is a 3/8" deadzone on most console controllers. You can pinch your xbox controller all day long and get the same results as a thumber.
This is absolutly true. Before i get into FPV i thought i will be very good with thumb because i played very lot on xbox controller and playstation conroller. I was wrong. When i start simulator with xbox controller with thumb then with radio and also thumb, i felt this is impossible to fly and do precise tricks with thumb. I switch to pinch and i feel i learning faster and iam more confident with the controlls. Pinch is the best (for me)
Two different devices.
"thumbs are dumb what do you use thumbs for?!" Ugh everything haha
i used my thumb to like this
I always thought it was weird to pinch, but I can see the advantages of it for me personally. Moving to full stick deflection while pinching becomes a lot more deliberate. It's more difficult to get to full deflection while pinching (meaning to achieve it is more deliberate) due to the grip changes necessary to pinch over thumbing. Rates make a HUGE difference from thumbing vs. pinching.
With pinching, the majority of the movements need to happen in the center with full deflection happening less frequently and rates have to be adjusted as such. With thumbing, full deflection doesn't need to be as deliberate - it's easier to access ergonomically.
Full deflection can happen more easily (possibly unintentionally) more often when thumbing. Thumbing gives you the full range ergonomically. With pinching, you don't have that luxury. It takes more effort due to the grip changes needed to accommodate one long finger (index) to meet the shorter thumb.
I've switched back and forth a few times now, and everytime I think I now fly better. Currently I'm back to pinching and I have to agree with Cricket; pinching definitely makes me more precise and more confident. I just had to find the right way to position my hands so they're stable and allow enough stick travel.
Actual grips:
1. Thumbing
2. Slightly more awkward Thumbing
Option 2 is what people call ‘pinching’ but it is in fact thumbing as well. That’s why there doesn’t seem to be a difference. In this video Vort3x only choked on the gaps because it was suggested that he would. Belief is the most important thing when hitting gaps!
Hahaha
That's true
He used his unused index finger in unused place in front of the gimbals
Jeffri Ranger yeah exactly! That’s what all these so called ‘pinchers’ do. In fact they’re still thumbing but just took a few packs to get used to the added finger
So there was a very good reason why pinching is better that I didn't see mentioned. As a new racer the nerves can kick in and start to get the shakes a little like if almost crashed. I found that pinching is much better to pretty much eliminate the shake nerves issue!! Major reason to go with pinch👍
PINCH GANG
Lol you fly fpv drones ?
thumb gang
I have one question. Can you watch a video without seeing the controller and be able to tell if they're pinching or using thumbs?
No
Lmao...no.
My experience: (eight years of thumbing, fixed wing 3D planes and helis, 1 year of fpv. 3 months of pinching now) thumbing allows more rapid corrections, comparable precision in mid stick, but relatively poor precision in the outer ends of the stick movements. Pinching is precise in mid stick and outer stick, but is slightly slower for reflex corrections and combos. Cricket brought up a great point about throttle travel and pinch travel in general: decreasing throttle range either physically if your transmitter allows for it or digitally using a throttle curve that maxes out the stick at 70% or so has worked well for me. Also, increasing rates of course with pinch so that you can make rapid corrections without having to make the relatively slow movement to the end of the stick travel. Other things to keep in mind are thumbing can be very hard on your tendons os watch out for de quervain’s Tenosynovitis, which I had unfortunately. Pinching without taking breaks and stretching can also lead to a repetitive strain injury. Not such a big problem in the field but on sim take breaks and stretch! Tendinitis is a real concern for fpv pilots from experience
I do agree pinching gives you superior control, but just for the record, the thumb is the most useful digit humans have.
It has by far the most articulation and precision of any finger, and is an essential part of everything we do with our hands.
You’d have a very hard time doing basic everyday things without a thumb.
I started flying RC airplanes around 2001 and I was naturally a thumber. Over the years I've messed around with pinching here and there. I feel like you do get an advantage in precision with pinching but it comes at a cost. With thumbs you can make larger movements more naturally in my opinion. Interesting how the pincher in this video toned down how far his sticks travel, I feel like that could definitely make pinching feel more natural.
I still think that if you stick with what is comfortable for you, you won't miss the other style. For a while when I was getting into Helis it seemed like everyone pinched so I made a serious effort to convert. When I went back to thumbing it was like a fish getting back into water for the first time in years. If anyone thinks that pinchers have a higher ceiling of potential, I would like to present Jase Dussia and Tarek Alsaadi as evidence. In my opinion, the best RC airplane and RC helicopter pilots in the world. Seriously, look these guys up you will be blown away with the skill they have. Both of them are thumbers (my point being you don't need to pinch to be top class), but there are tons of other top pilots in RC that pinch, so just do what comes naturally!
Drew with the behind the Camera “You’ve been Crashing All Day!” 😂
Thumber All the Way! 👍👍
Clearly Pinching is more precise and smooth with no discussion. Started Thumbs and converted after 9 Month to Pinching. It takes a while to feel good but it´s the next level. Game Controllers are the worst when it comes to comparison because there Sticks are too short to do anything other than thumbs.
Sorry Stellar... I.m with Cricket. I like to have everything as consistent as I can. Thats why I'm still flying a three year old ZMR 250 Black-out.
Seems right ;)
I used my thumbs for 12 years flying planes. Then took up quads a year ago when Mr. Steele and Tommy convinced me to try hybrid pinching.
After about 30-40 packs of hybrid pinching, I couldn't go back.
*hybrid thumbing
Cricket: "Thumbs are dumb, the're not precise"
Minchan: "Hold my beer"
I was thumbing on my FlySky 9X and FrSky X9D since 2012 and this year I started pinching and am more and more loving it and it all started when I bought the FrSky X-Lite. The smaller throw and how I can fit it in my hands makes pinching perfect, I still can't do it on the big remotes. PS I know Joshua Bardwell said the remote is not for pinchers but I feel the total opposite, it made it possible for me in the first place.
Its really up to you.. Jase Dussia uses thumbs! Arguably the best 3D pilot (planes).
I started thumbing BUT WHEN I STARTED PINCHING I NEVER THUMBED AGAIN AND IT IS MORE PRESICE!!!!!!!!!!!!
same. never going back
me also! and you can make more laps without sweating so much. more time and more calm. more secure to pick with both fingers and i can be more relaxed. Dumb the fingers start to roll over.
In my experience thumbs allows faster flying and easier full stick deflection. Pinching allows better control and precision. Video summarizes it, also depends on the location. I thumb if the area contains wide gaps like trees. You can zip through them like racers do. Then I pinch when flying near building. Especially the rail gaps. Overall it’s all about stick control. I think it is also determine by neurological feedback from your fpv visual to your fine motor movement on your fingers. Anticipating reaction time + orientation/obstacle awareness = fun And less crashing.
Great episode. I live how everyone changed their opinion to both have good uses.
I just started flying a vr steam drone one week ago and the person who introduce me, taught me to start training using my thumbs. I might consider pinch technice in the future.
I think is up to your own choice, what you feel comfortable with. It is what you started with and taught those muscles and nerves to do early on. I myself mostly pinch, though I can do thumbs, I found with pinch I have better control, and a little more damping on a nervous shakes on the stick.
I use a combination of both, thumb for left stick and pinch for right stick.
You kwad guys are a special breed. As a plane pilot I thumb AND pinch. Right stick on mode 2 is pinch and left is thumb. I change throttle lots to fly well so high movement with the thumb feels nice, but to be steady and smooth pinching on ailerons and elevator allows for that. Though I couldn’t do my hybrid hybrid hold without a neckstrap. No neckstrap I would totally thumb purely. Need to hold the remote
Hybrid pinch is really what we are doing. We use our thumbs for big movements and then the index finger is used for extra stability when your trying to fly precise.
Pitch - roll with pinch 👌
Yaw - throttle with thumb 👍
I started with pinching because of the first video Rotor Riot did about pinching vs thumbing with Steel and Chad from a couple years ago.
Yep, “thumb is dumb” is practically a oxymoron. The thumb is the most dexterous and useful of all our fingers.
(Let’s be honest if someone said I’m chopping off one of your digits right now or your head, NONE of us would choose thumb to go.)
And the pinch method is always the thumb anyway, but assisted by a finger. So it’s primarily thumbs for everyone.
Just some of us use a “guard rail” finger for extra feedback.
It’s all preference it doesn’t matter. It’s all what’s comfortable for you and what you start with.
Bad ass I'm a noob and a Fan of Mr. Bardwell!!!! I'm thumbs and im loving it!!!
Pinching Master Race ✈✈
Have you tried picking up a glass without your thumb?
Oldman Data then what about a 5 litre can??
Yes
Have you tried picking up a glass with only your thumb, lol
Agree with Alex but I hybrid thumb as well but pinch for roll and pitch and thumb throttle and yaw it's a good balance for precision
For the last month I've pinched left stick, thumbed the right. Used to thumb both. Got awful left thumb shake, so mixed it up. Works great for me. Using different stick ends too.
Just discovered at the end of this video what I do with my left stick is 'hybrid'!
Working with both as I learn.
Thumb or pinch, the best part is the comraderie! Nice video.
Learn both, why not? there's no bad habits or downsides to it in this case. Start with the one that's comfortable you'll benefit from learning both if you are flying an area very technical and slower Like anything else-you brace your hand for slower smoother more accurate movement, there's no real commitment or risk in learning both,use whichevers best situationally, you'll see the benefit if you try it and train it a bit. Even racing a car, tight technical track vs longer straights oval tracks everything's adjustments get changed. I still switch constantly depending how things feel or where I'm trying to fly. But I know there's benefits to both so I wanted to learn both.
before watching the vid I can tell you which ever way is comfortable is the RIGHT way...in my case as I fly planes more than quads, I use BOTH with Both...I Pinch the right stick and Thumb the Left...has always worked best for me and there is NO wrong way or right way...there is ONLY YOUR OWN WAY
I flew my inspire with thumbs, then went fpv, and thumbs was not the way forward, had to make myself learn the pinch. Now, I FLY 😎
In both pilots pinching was smoother. Thumbing, both were twitchy. before I ever flew I thought about it, and in my mind I couldn't see my self pinch. When I got my radio, the second I held the radio with a pinch grip I knew it was better. I haven't flown pinch with a mini quad ever, but I know I can because I have flown toy quads, the little ones with the tiny controllers, and I thumb those.
I have been playing video game consoles since game consoles started to exist. My first radio was a Turnigy Evolution. Of course I’m a thumber. But, I agree, the best pilots I know and appreciate are all pinchers. AND, I do believe pinching gives you more precise control. It’s a no brainer, doble the support on the sticks from opposite sides. I have tried pinching, didn’t feel comfortable (of course) and immediately went back to thumbs, but with time I’m confident I will transition. I fly with a Jumper T12 Pro now.
2 years later lol are you still thumbs, or pinching? i'm just starting to learn and thumbs is more comfortable for me but feel like i should just start with pinching and learn that way
@@wmfbmp5743 Pinching. I don’t even think about it anymore! It would be awkward to thumb on these kind of sticks anyway. Haven’t been flying much unfortunately, but every time I get better and better!
@@italiwoods cool, thanks! I'm just learning about everything and getting into it. I've been practicing in liftoff sim a little bit - but just on an xbox controller for now because I haven't decided on a remote yet. so thumbs is obviously easier with xbox controller lol, I've tried pinching with it but it's uncomfortable
It’s a mental thing in my experience having done both. As a pylon racer in the 90’s where everything was 200mph LOS, pinching was the go to for many pilots. Same for the nitro powered 3d heli guys. Since going FPV I naturally gravitated to thumbs. Just seems more natural (for me). I say do what works for you! My favorite pilot Drib thumbs and we’ll we all know his smoothness.
Non gamers like me starting out with small quadcopters, that usually have little controllers, practically have no choice but to thumb because of the stubby sticks. That was the case with first 3 cheapie drones I got. Recently I bought a Holy Stone HS170 that has a bigger longer stick controller so I could practice flying indoors using pinch method. I have a MJX Bugs 3 (no auto hold) and thought it would be good practice for it with the HS170 similar controller but alas the newer (7-2020) Holy Stone HS170 has auto hold with the throttle stick return to center style. Not much help for me. With the Bugs 3 controller I felt kind of spazzy using my thumbs on the longer sticks and pinching felt more controlling. I returned the HS170 and am waiting for delivery of a SYMA X5SW that looks like it will fit the bill. Thank you all for the informative video it was the information I was looking for.
And OMG..Vanover, I actually started thumbing the throttle and pinch right when I first started. I even had a umbrella PS4 style stick on the left and a regular on the right. :P
The lack of stick travel when pinching is EXACTLY why I converted to an X-Lite and hybrid pinch with the extended stick ends, which allow your index finger to be used as a guide without hitting the surrounding areas of the sticks. The gamepad ergonomics gives you more ability to move the sticks while pinching, and you can still mostly hit the ends of the throws because the throws are shorter on the X-Lite. It's also easier to remove your index finger as a guide for more aggressive rapid maneuvers. People when they see me fly keep being blown away that someone is pinching with an X-Lite, but it makes complete and perfect sense to me, and I'm never going back to a traditional style radio form factor nor thumbing.
Hey I’m pretty new to fpv. I started switching to the hybrid style. Just like you I had problems with my index hitting the surrounding area. You said the xlite alleviates that. Can you send me a link for your recommended controller?
@@shaunvaughn3323 Hey Shaun, I've well since moved away from the X-Lite. My personal preferred radio is the TBS Tango 2, but the Radiomaster Zorro is also good. It came out after the Tango 2, and perhaps had it not I'd be using it. I've held both and the ergonomics of both radios allows me to easily hit all points in the throw, but not have to settle for the shorter throws on the X-Lite. Hope this helps!
@@heroflying do you still hybrid pinch? Is the tango good for pinchers?
@@shaunvaughn3323 I do, and yes, the Tango 2 is good for hybrid pinching and pinching. Honestly, the Radiomaster Zorro is, too.
I hate to say but I'm a thumber. I'm just so used to it. I'll have to try out pinching. Awesome episode!!
I used to thumb at first came to FPV from Videogames, and then I started pinching to give it a try. I prefer pinching overall on FPV. I only thumb on DJI drones now
Started with pinch swapped to Hybrid and never looked back.
Next question. Strap on Vs strap off.
Can't believe how many people need a strap I hate them.
haha I much prefer to have a lanyard! We might actually have to make that video
Flying without a strap i feel like i need to hold the radio tighter to not accidentally drop it.
With strap of course!
awzan666 I used to fly with thumbs, now I pinch. I used to fly without a neck strap, now I use one. Now I can’t use thumbs or fly without a neck strap. Wtf?
No strap and all thumbs
I flew from the first day till now pinching because rotor riot told me to but I'm lovin it 😊
All I got from this video is that Corey's stick is longer than Vortex's lmao. And I'm a pincher, but everyone just do you.
I also pinch, unfortunately my stick ends got kinda messed up and i cant manage to find any replacements that arent for thumbs, got any advice?
@@gears367 Futaba and most of the radio companies make nice replacement ones.
I do like Vanover on the left I use to pinch, on the right thumbs. To fly more precise my opinion is that it is better to pinch, to race the Vanover style is the best! and he show us that it is possible to win ;)
You are both correct!!! winners, it really depends on your hand size, I have really big hands and when I try to pinch I find that my forfinger actually impedes my ability to throw the levers to full extents, so I use my thumbs. Either way it is a matter of muscle memory, as you practice and develop your muscle memory it will get to the point that you no longer have to think about the stick movements, your eyes see and your hands react proportionally.
If you look at the video when you pinch you're basically thumming you're just putting your index finger on the side of the stick, basically resting it there but you're mainly using the thumb more so to just thumb you just gotta move that index finger, it's like the same thing.
We have all to come to agreement that that ix12 looks sick
Thumbs BUT, I think I'm gonna learn how to pinch or even highbreed after watching your video. Respect.
I thumbed for 12 years of flying planes and helis, but couldn’t fly quads worth a flip doing the same, I forced myself which was hard, to pinch, now I’m better on every platform.
Flying an Airbus it's a choice of fist or pinch. I usually fist for landing which requires big movements, but higher up I like to pinch for the smoothness. Thumbs are a bit like fists.
I agree with her about the benefit of variety, or trying to become proficient with both techniques. Because I do consistently fly a bunch of different quad frames, race and freestyle. Martian freestyle, qav-r freestyle, diatone racing, 190 racing, 7 in freestyle and 7 in long range. But in turn I am not great and either discipline, but I am good in all.
I was a thumb guy - there is a learning curve to pinching but now I'll never go back!
CRICKET BROOOO! I'm with you! I was thumbing for m'y first 3 months of FPV and then I really didn't feel in control of my quad (well duh! I was a noob of course) and then 7 months ago I decided to spend the whole evening on a simulator to pinch. I didn't see the added value of precision right away but then over the next month I actually improved a lot (or at least I felt like I did). reason I moved to pinching was of course because of the infamous Joshua Bardwell. I guess I learned that from him that day. At the end of the day... it's just a preference, a bit like, some people in skateboard are regular and some others are goofy. it doesn't make you a better a better pilot I think. And talking about *juicy*, most of the juicy pilots are actually using thumbs, specially the French ones 😉
46 years of RC and I still use thumbs. I have tried pinching many times and even spent an entire week straight trying to get used to pinching even a little. Spent two weeks on Velocidrone pinching. It just doesn't work for me. For ultra casual flying it was OK, but for anything else, forget it. I broke a lot of props pinching.
I started pinching And my flying has definitely improved with tighter rolls and loops
I'm an old git who went through his adrenaline dependency phase years ago. Flippy-dippys and rolly-pollys aren't for me. My flying 'style' is flat, floaty, precision proximity - nice and slow, like an old git should. I need small, gentle inputs for 95% of my flying, and I use mini gimbals. So it's thumbs only for me. You kids do what feels best for you; I enjoy watching a good pilot show their stuff.
I never knew the ix12 did that! Thats awesome!
Since I lack my right thumbtip, I am hybrid. Pinch for throttle, but for pitch & roll I start out pinching but have to push the stick with the tip of my pointer finger when reaching extremities. 👍 Good vid, thumbs up. I like Vanover's view. He watched others he considered better & adopted what appeared to work best. Try everything but give each style enough time to see if it is for you.
Results are in, precise pinching and rumble thumbing
Have any of you thumb fliers tried the giant sticks ends that are basically like a game controller? Precision is a lot easier when the stick is giant grooved pad instead of a small pointy stick that floats around under you thumb.
The problem with pinching vs thumbs is mobility with pinching you gain fine control but you loose the ability to make rapid changes from one side of the gimble to the other.
Its like comparing single handed tennis shots to double handed you have more precision with double handed but your reach is significantly compromised compared to single handed.
Damn Kricket that backwards is sick.
I also use vanover's hybrid pinching and thumbing flying. I felt like when I did a fast throttle up I would yaw a little bit which would cause my flying to be not so smooth. So I decided to pinch on my throttle and yaw and thumb on my rolling pitch so much better you have that much more control of your throttle
as a new pilot this is the method I landed on too. Was nice to find this video and your post and see I wasn't the only one haha.
I've been flying DJI drones (for aerial photography) for about 6 years and I thumbed the whole time. But I've been flying RC for a lot longer (helis, nano quads, planes, etc.) and I pinched. But I had no idea that I flew each type differently until very recently when I learned of the pinching vs thumbing debate. When I realized it, it blew my mind. I was like "No way!!" Now I can't decide which to use for the drones! Pinching is more precise, which is why I fly the RC stuff with it (no GPS stability!) but that means I have to use the dumb fingers for gimbal and other controls when recording/photographing, and that sucks. Now I'm all confused and not sure what I should do, so I'm thinking of "mastering" both and switching as needed.
stick deflection and resolution might be a cool topic. kinda blew my mind that dude never uses full extents.
That cute girl has taken the best position... Just take the best from both worlds.
I also do both, when enjoying- thumb, when is important to be precise- pinch.
Great video guys 👍
I actually do both. I used to play a bunch of NHL on the XBox and I couldn't get the fine detail with thumbs. That's when I started to pinch. I used athletic tape to extended the sticks just a little bit and then did pinch, but it was what they now call the hybrid pinch. Just having my index fingers slightly touching the sticks gave me that feedback to get me the detail. When I started with quads I immediately started using that same style. The catch is that I have a lot more freedom to move the sticks when thumbing and I can move them a lot faster, so I will switch off depending on the situation. I don't change like Jamie changes, though. I just move my fingers forward a little off the sticks so it's easy to go back and forth. I hybrid pinch probably 90% of the time, though. I primarily race, so the fine detail definitely helps. I've been practicing both in Velocidrone, though, cause I think it give me an edge to be able to do both.
OMG...Cricket, FINALLY someone who does the same as me...it's all about muscle memory, not full deflection, just like FPV video games.
I agree it depends on persons hands and controller used. I prefer game style controllers because the larger box controllers make my fingers fill like I am stretching to much with my index. Love thumb flying because I can really control my quad with my thumbs. But that's what feels right with my hands
I thumbed for about a year, switched to pinching and noticed a big difference. Push pull wins
Started off thumbing and then switched to pinch by doing it in Liftoff/DRL for like a week
I think you have already recorded video about it in a past, haven't you? I remember at least Mr Steele was there. Edit: the ending is the best 😁😁😁😁😁 Pinch thumbs up 😁😁😁😁
Ok I'm a pincher, but when he askeed "What do you use your thumbs for" the answer is... EVERYTHING. The thumb is actually what makes a human unique among other animal species.... it's like the most important digit we have.
Apposable thumbs are what makes our hands so useful. They literally do EVERYTHING involving your hands. Without thumbs we'd be useless.
if anything, pinching is definitely better for precise throttle control, can see it clearly at 08:35
For freestyle, I am a thumber mainly because I learned to fly on a toy transmitter that was too small to pinch. But whenever I do precision flying, like cinewhooping, I fly hybrid: pinch on the throttle/yaw and thumb on the roll/pitch.
I do hybrid for racing
Its a known fact that pinchers are more precise, smoother, and more handsome pilots. Lol
Agreed
Hybrids are even more handsome and talented
@@mehulanand8623 i agree. Lol
Eh I’ve seen nice thumbs too
Le Drib : am i joke to you?
Cricket looks like his pinch is thumbs with the index finger leaning on the side of the stick. Maybe the figer on the stick helps dampen the movements, kinda like a leash on a dog
Whoah that reverse flying... nice!
I did exactly as he said, started off with thumbs but over time I kind of forced myself to pinch and I can no longer fly using only thumbs, it's strange how I grab xbox one controller and use thumbs where for qx7 it's instantly pinch without any thinking about it :D I feel like that controll you get from pinching is way superrior and it just takes time to learn flying more agressive with it because at the beginning pinching also made me fly a lot slower and more careful which is a good thing while learning to fly overall.
I'm just learning. I believe that, for me, pinch provides finer control.
I've played videogames since i was a child. I tried to fly with thumbs and it was so imprecise because of the gimbal's sensitivity. With thumbs I can make a smooth fly with no crazy stuff but if I want to get a little more aggro I need precision or I'll end up exploding my quad.
Starting with fixed wings I always thumbed. When I started flying quads the rates were so high that I needed more fine control. On the simulator I spent a week pinching and my flying got much better. Now I prefer the pinch!
Or you could just change the rates...
what about wombats no hands party stance? id like to see that attempted in a future episode...
Pitch - roll with pinch 👌
Yaw - throttle with thumb 👍
really nice visual difference - thanks for that
I switched from thumbs to pinch in the simulator, it sucked for an hour or 2 getting used to it but within 1 day i cut my personal best times in the races by 40% at least, in some tracks i was twice as fast as my personal best. Wont work for everyone but in one day my times were sooo much better. It just feels like i can make tiny movements more consistantly because 1 finger prevents another from slipping or going too far.