Ever had your finger slip off the thumbstick when strafing in Modern Warfare 2? Do you sweat like a marathon runner while playing Street Fighter IV? If so then you may need Grip-iT for your controller.
Grip-iT’s are small rubber covers designed to go over the analog sticks on either the Xbox 360 or PS3 controller and improve your grip. I spent a couple hours gaming with them, in the name of research of course, and came away impressed with how stable and comfortable they were.
Below are a few controller specific observations.
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Grip-iT on the Xbox 360 controller
Xbox 360
The analog sticks on the 360 controller are concave and feature four tiny dots meant to keep your thumb in place. This design helps a little bit, but the problem is over time these dots wear down and lose their usefulness. With the Grip-iT installed, there’s a level of control that I’ve never had before. It almost felt like my thumb was glued on to the stick. It wasn’t going anywhere.
While playing Modern Warfare 2 I definitely noticed a difference in grip. My aiming got better, running was easier on my thumb, and my stats went up. Believe me, I need all the help I can get in games.
One of the side benefits of using the Grip-iT’s is that they protect your controller’s thumbsticks from everyday wear. They’re so easy to put on and take off that you can keep your controller feeling “new” by periodically installing a fresh set.
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PlayStation 3
Confession time. I’ve always had a love/hate relationship with Sony’s DualShock 3 controller. I love it’s small compact size, but I’m irritated by it’s slippery and floaty analog sticks. They just feel loose to me. It’s the main reason I play so few first person shooters on the PS3. Simply put, I feel like I have less of a chance at success playing them.
Oh, and have I mentioned how much I dislike the sloped L2 & R2 buttons? Yeah I fixed that problem long ago.
Here is where the Grip-iT’s really impressed me. Installed on a DualShock, they added so much precision that I felt like I was using a whole different controller. I had much more accuracy when driving around in Burnout Paradise and I actually played the game better.
I will never go back to the regular thumbsticks again. If you have a PS3 I’d consider them essential.
Final Thoughts
I liked having the Grip-iT on my controller. Anyone who knows me will tell you that I’m super picky, even when it comes to game controllers. I wouldn’t use these unless I thought they added something to my gameplay experience. The fact is, they’re simple to install and they do what they say.
I was initially concerned that they might make the analog sticks feel bulky under my thumbs but that wasn’t the case. Truthfully, I forgot they were even on after about five minutes, which is the way that it should be. It’s like the old saying, the best special effects are the ones you don’t see. Ultimately, they feel like they belong on there.
I recommend Grip-iT to anyone who cares about accuracy in their gaming. For such a small price, you can improve the precision and comfort of your controller.
Grip-iT’s were provided for review by Total Control. They retail for $4.99 for two sets and come in black and blue. They’re available at ShopGripiT.com
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