My Elite is my favorite controller, but I can't get used to the paddles. Advice?

[TheMink]

I bought an Elite for PC gaming a while back, and I absolutely adore it. But when I place the paddles on the controller I feel like I have to completely change the way I hold it and I cant wrap my fingers around the controller anymore.

I have tried introducing them one at a time but I just don't feel as comfortable with them on.

Any advice?

 

[dm101]

I love the paddles on the elite and my scufs, but it took me a couple of months to retrain myself to use them with muscle memory. It just takes practice.
PS, I would never use face buttons again.

 

[ghostcrew]

Just adding them one at a time (as you have been doing) is all I can say. Try using one for something regular but non critical (like reloading) until you get used to it.

 

[Xiofire]

I feel your pain OP, I use my Elite without the paddles. I just couldn't find a grip on the controller that didn't either accidentally press them, or knock them off.

 

[Falcon511]

Keep at it. It took me a while to get used to the paddles.

 

[BigHatPaul]

I only ever used them for Dark Souls so I can freely manuver the camera while rolling and running. I'm eager to find other applications for it in more games, but haven't taken the time to play more games that I want to map specific buttons to the paddles.

 

[B3N1]

Just adding them one at a time (as you have been doing) is all I can say. Try using one for something regular but non critical (like reloading) until you get used to it.

Click to shrink...

This.

I only use the top 2 paddles, for A and B, so Jump and Crouch/roll in most games.

It's also fun to use them for shifting (the only time i deviate from the A/B setup) in the Forza games, but that takes more getting used to.

Adding all 4 was just an awkward mess to hold, and usually X/Y buttons have never been that important to warrant the loss in comfort.

 

[Nessii013]

It takes awhile to get used to, especially with how sensitive they are. What helped me was adding pads to the back of the paddles to increase resistance. I used SoftTouch Noise Bumpers and the smallest ones were perfectly sized.

I think they also may have helped with the longevity of the paddle buttons as well. A few months of having them off and some of the buttons started getting stuck.

 

[LavaBadger]

Only use 2, and use the smaller of the two. 4 never felt right and the longer paddles were too prone to accidental inputs. I moved the smaller two to the bottom 2 inputs.

 

[Zutrax]

Honestly I just took mine off. The controller is sturdy enough and of high quality to still be worth the money without that feature. I found a fair few games that one paddle will be helpful for me, but it's rare.

 

[Zephy]

I'd really like to try an Elite before I buy, because I'm excited about the paddles but I'm also afraid I would find them too uncomfortable. And if I don't use them, there will be little point in spending so much money to replace my regular Xbone controller.

I don't want to hold my controller like an egg that's about to crack.

 

[Calvarok]

they definitely feel kind of alien. basically what i would focus on is what you actually want them for. if there are only 1 or two actions you need to map then figure out which paddle set is most comfortable and take off the other set. if you want all 4, you just gotta tough it out. i personally still find the controller feels best without the paddles but they're undeniably useful. perhaps the series 2 or Scarlett elite equivalent's paddles will have a more natural feel

 

[LiK]

Try just resting on them slightly. The Elite paddles are more sensitive to presses than 3rd party ones from my experience. They feel odd at first but once you get used to their placements, you won't even think about them. Personally, I only use the right short one for jumps. I don't use the other ones.

 

[OG_Thrills]

Practice.

Once you remork the muscle memory to include paddle use, you wont be able to game without them.

 

[Deleted member 1238]

Don't use all four. Just use one for a jump button, and add one more for another button once you're used to it. I could never do more than two.

 

[Dringus]

I mean it's normal for it to feel foreign, takes patience/practice. I've had the Elite for years and still trying to teach myself to use all four paddles. I'm pretty spot on with two of them where they're second nature now (two on the right) but the other two I often forget about in the heat of the moment. Just keep at it

 

[alexbull_uk]

I don't have an Elite controller but I do have a Scuf and it probably took me a solid few months to get used to the paddles, but I couldn't be without them now. Think they just take a lot of adjustment, especially if you're already super proficient with a gamepad.

 

[Arch Almighty]

Keep it simple. My mappings are:

Top Left —> Y
Bottom Left —> X
Top Right —> B
Bottom Right —> A

Add one paddle at a time until it feels second nature. Use a face button you use most often to speed up muscle memory (For me it was A/Bottom Right)

 

[MJForum Poster]

Feel the same way, but everybody tells me to start small (just one paddle) and get acclimated to more as you go

 

[Yerffej]

One for running/clicking in of a stick is all you need, baby.

 

[Typhoon20]

I feel your pain OP, I use my Elite without the paddles. I just couldn't find a grip on the controller that didn't either accidentally press them, or knock them off.

Click to shrink...

Same issue here. Was hoping for a fix with the 2nd version of the elite but alas. And the grips, which I truly dislike, are still there. It always comes off after a while. I never had a grip issue with the normal xbox controllers. It's a great controller but those 2 issues are big for me.

 

[TheMink]

Thanks for the replies, I really want to give them an honest try as they seem undeniably useful.

I play shooters with M&K so thats out as a learning game.
I thought Souls would be perfect because I use the claw to run, but it's double mapped to dodge plus even with it on I still used the claw because I've been doing that for like 10 years haha.

The one I'm really think about is FFXIV, I got this awesome program called remap so I can map a keystroke to a paddle for instance. That way I can map a specific ability not on my crosses to a paddle.

I guess the best I can do is just put it on and hope I get used to it.


Edit:

For the record, people on the fence I found that the Elite has been 1000% worth it even without the paddles. Just one mans opinion.

 

[JINX]

Try only one or two on the side of your predominant hand, map them to A (Jump) and B (crouch.)

 

[Symphony]

That's the reason I stay away from any controller with buttons or paddles on the back, you're removing the area that the controller is designed for you to grip - the Vita had the same problem with the back touch panel. Hopefully on the next generation of consoles they'll redesign the controllers with rear controls in mind from the start to solve the grip issue, rather than the current approach where they're basically just tacked on to an existing design.

 

[Maligna]

What the heck are paddles?

 

[LiK]

What the heck are paddles?

Click to shrink...

 

[Lucifonz]

It's somewhat of a learning process, you have to re-train your brain to get used to it. The way that worked for me was using two (the bottom two specifically), then just trying my best to use them. After a week or slightly less it just started to click, but it was a mini-battle to get through that initial period.

These days I struggle to play without it. Mentally those paddles ARE A/B to me regardless of the game.

 

[I KILL PXLS]

It's definitely something you have to adjust to. I'd say start with just the bottom two paddles at first. Then introduce the top two. Otherwise just practicing with them until they become second nature helps.

 

[Zonal Hertz]

I removed my paddles and I think I've lost them now. It was too much for my brain to comprehend.

 

[Maligna]

Click to shrink...

I can barely even begin to comprehend what I'm looking at. Geez.

What do these offer that triggers don't?

 

[LiK]

I can barely even begin to comprehend what I'm looking at. Geez.

What do these offer that triggers don't?

Click to shrink...

Allows you to remap buttons in other places to the paddles so you can keep your thumbs on the sticks instead of taking them off for every press for face buttons. They make FPS games and action games in general more competitive and more comfortable to play.

 

[Elephant]

I remember Analog sticks first being introduced and refusing to use them because I couldn't get the hang of them. I think it might have been Jak & Daxter that finally convinced/forced me to use them, as I had used a standard controller on the PS1 since launch.

I'll be a late adopter with flappy paddles if the DS5 has them as standard. I'm actually quite looking forward to them. I'm sure to have trouble adapting to them, but I think they'll just "click" with me at some point.

 

[Spyware]

I can barely even begin to comprehend what I'm looking at. Geez.

What do these offer that triggers don't?

Click to shrink...

Triggers? Those are still there.

Paddles are up to four extra remappable buttons. You can put the face buttons on them so your thumb never have to leave the right stick, as most people seem to do.

I use two of them to replace stick clicks (L3/R3).

 

[jasius]

Buy a cheap second set on Ebay, throw away those long ones, they're reverse ergonomic, use the second set of short paddles from that set. I learnt that the hard way after a long session of God of War(with Brook X One adapter),

 

[Maligna]

Allows you to remap buttons in other places to the paddles so you can keep your thumbs on the sticks instead of taking them off for every press for face buttons. They make FPS games and action games in general more competitive and more comfortable to play.

Click to shrink...

Triggers? Those are still there.

Paddles are up to four extra remappable buttons. You can put the face buttons on them so your thumb never have to leave the right stick, as most people seem to do.

I use two of them to replace stick clicks (L3/R3).

Click to shrink...

Ah, I see. Yeah I can see how that would take some getting used to.

 

[LiK]

Ah, I see. Yeah I can see how that would take some getting used to.

Click to shrink...

Yea, it's weird at first but once you get used to it, it's hard to go back.

 

[Bricktop]

It's definitely a learning curve but eventually you'll get to the point that not having the paddles feels weird. They're game changers for a lot of games and I don't touch the face buttons anymore.

 

[dm101]

I don't have an Elite controller but I do have a Scuf and it probably took me a solid few months to get used to the paddles, but I couldn't be without them now. Think they just take a lot of adjustment, especially if you're already super proficient with a gamepad.

Click to shrink...

Absolutely. I couldn't play Battlefield without the paddles. I never take my thumbs off of the aim controls because of them.

 

[Mirage]

I don't personally have experience with them but changes like that are generally always going to feel worse before it feels better.

 

[Mad_Rhetoric]

put them on and practice 1 at a time. Just stick with it.

 

[watdaeff4]

One for running/clicking in of a stick is all you need, baby.

Click to shrink...

This is my most often use of the paddles. Though I do like using them for LB/RB functions as well because the way I hold the controller (index fingers on triggers) it's more efficient to use the paddles

 

[Observable]

If you really want to learn it quickly, map the face buttons to the paddles and then disable the face buttons completely. You'll have a bad week but you will get used to it.

Honestly I can't even imagine playing some games without them. I play Fortnite mostly and I could never play at the level I play at without the paddles. It's really worth it to learn to use them if you like shooters.

 

[Thewonandonly]

For first person shooters the paddles are a gaming changer. Get jump and crouch on paddles and be hopping everywhere. It does take a month or two to get use to becuase you have so much muscle memory most likely like I did. Once you get use to it though, you will play so much better trust me. I'm overwatch went from 3000 to 3850, sadly couldn't break 4000 but you know that's for the sweat of sweats

 

[m_shortpants]

I only use two of the paddles, but they've changed the way I play FPS games. can't play without them now.