Thumbs or Pinch for 3d flying??

[p4ddy]

I've noticed that most if not all 3d pilots actually pinch the sticks rather than use thumbs for 3d. I myself use thumbs for general flying & also 3d on the sim (except khaos which can only pinch). Is there a controll advantage with pinch? Should i train myself to pinch? What do YOU do?

[hb888]

I've noticed that most if not all 3d pilots actually pinch the sticks rather than use thumbs for 3d. I myself use thumbs for general flying & also 3d on the sim (except khaos which can only pinch). Is there a controll advantage with pinch? Should i train myself to pinch? What do YOU do?
I just watched this Jason Bell video with stickcam. He seems to do fine with thumbs.

http://video.helifreak.com/?subpath=finless/bborder2007&filename=bell450stick.wmv

I'm all thums :D

[InsomniaZZZ]

Thumbs came naturally to me due to playing with PS2 controllers etc.

I've tried pinching, since I inherently thought it is more precise. After a few seconds of flying though, I go back to thumbs. I can just hold the entire Tx better, if I have a few fingers wrapped around it. Perhaps it would work better if I used a Tx tray instead of just a strap?

[BoneDoc]

I started learning planks by pinching, so it was natural to learn pinch also when flying helis. I can fly thumbs, but I find that pinch is more accurate.

Btw, I can fly pinch even without a strap. I just cup the TX with my ring and small finger from the back, and the pad of my thenar eminence in the front.

[hurleybt]

I thumb it with my left hand, and pinch with my right... <shrug>

My dx6 is really unbalanced (bottom heavy) from the neck strap, makes it harder to pinch since it takes more fingers to stabilize the tx. I really need to get off my lazy butt and order one of those adapters.

[StarmanDXE]

I just watched this Jason Bell video with stickcam. He seems to do fine with thumbs.

http://video.helifreak.com/?subpath=finless/bborder2007&filename=bell450stick.wmv

I'm all thums :D
Can you put up a link to the posting with the link to that video? I'm getting an error message and it's telling me to clear my cookies (but I don't wanna :( :rolleyes: )

[tnavressdog]

it's telling me to clear my cookies (but I don't wanna :( :rolleyes: )

Mmmm... cookies... chocolate chip by chance? Just kidding. I think I'm just getting hungry at the moment... okay... carry on with the thread!

[InsomniaZZZ]

I'm getting an error message and it's telling me to clear my cookies (but I don't wanna :( :rolleyes: )

Follow the Login (http://www.helifreak.com/) link on that page, then click on the movie link again. Once I landed on the front of the website, somehow my cookie got refreshed and that did it. Of course, this assumes you have an account on helifreak...

[StarmanDXE]

Well, that didn't work for me at work, but it's working here at my apartment.

[p4ddy]

I started this thread & have'nt even checked it :rolleyes:

Just checked the poll & interestingly it's neck & neck. I really thought there would be a bigger gap than that. I'm trying now on the sim to get ALL my moves with thumbs. so i don't have to switch in flight which could prove costly :eek:

[clicky]

Oh - there is something interesting I have found out: I have started this hobby without knowing anyone and learned Mode 1. Thumbs. When I use my old Walkera's tx on simulator (it is set to Mode 2 now) pinch technique seems to be so natural with it. Strange, isn't it?

[p4ddy]

Oh - there is something interesting I have found out: I have started this hobby without knowing anyone and learned Mode 1. Thumbs. When I use my old Walkera's tx on simulator (it is set to Mode 2 now) pinch technique seems to be so natural with it. Strange, isn't it?


Yep :D So which are you starting to prefer mode 1 or 2 ?


(maybe nxt november eh?) :)

[clicky]

I started Mode 1 and now it is hard to drop back several steps and learn mode 2. Simulator is great - I can fly there (although keeping the altitude is much harder for me on mode 2), but I am scared to switch in real life too! :eek:

If not Nov. then maybe Dec/Jan? - who knows everything is still open :D

[Fearless Flight]

I started this thread & have'nt even checked it :rolleyes:

Just checked the poll & interestingly it's neck & neck. I really thought there would be a bigger gap than that. I'm trying now on the sim to get ALL my moves with thumbs. so i don't have to switch in flight which could prove costly :eek:
I don't think it has anything to do with what type of flying you are doing. I don't know of anyone who flys thumbs for one thing and switches to pinching for another type of flying. You have the style down pat weather you fly thumbs or pinching well before you are able to try any 3d.

[JWilliams2]

Thumbs, but I'm a newb. I bet most newbs do thumbs, so a better poll would be something like:

Newb, thumbs
Newb, pinch
Pretty good or awesome, thumbs
Pretty good or awesome, pinch

I didn't know people pinched. I did see a guy making a MESS (in a good way) of a heli on a simulator at the LHS yesterday and he pinched, though.

[StarmanDXE]

I wouldn't call someone who can do 3D a noob... :rolleyes:

[JWilliams2]

I wouldn't call someone who can do 3D a noob... :rolleyes:You are right; in fact, I got this confused with the 3d airplane thread, so my response is pretty meaningless :D

[RC Man]

For 3D you can definitely move the sticks faster with your thumbs.

I suppose if you wanted super precision for FAI competation that the Pinch method would give you more precise control.