Tips & Tricks
How To Grip Them
When gripping into a ClawMate it can be a good idea to still have part of your fingertip gripping the shell of the mouse.
Gripping purely onto the ClawMates can still work, especially if you prefer the mouse to feel wider, but you may experience a sensation of your grip not feeling as controlled as it was before. There is another solution for mouse width that i’ll cover a little later.
Give both a try to experience the differences and decide which works best for you.
Lengthwise Placements
The further forward you place a ClawMate, the more your finger has to extend to reach over in front of it. If you feel like your finger is constantly under tension gripping into it, and/or you feel like you have lost or reduced your ability to micro-correct, chances are it is placed too far forward.
You should be able to grip into the ClawMates without feeling like it takes more effort or strain than usual.
The further back you place a ClawMate, the more your finger needs to curl to reach it. If you feel like you have to apply more effort into maintaining your grip (not necessarily tension, but effort to get your fingers into place and keep them there), and/or your aim feels a bit clumsy, one or more ClawMates may be placed too far back.
As a general rule for the ring finger, your perfect position lengthways along the mouse is to have the ClawMate placed just before the point where you feel extra tension and that sensation of having to reach in front of it.
You want it to feel as natural as possible, so you want to avoid anything other than what feels comfortable and secure. This can be quite precise, where even a shift of a few millimeters can create or eliminate these sensations.
Another helpful reminder is to think of the ClawMates as a supplement to your grip, rather than being your grip. They should support your fingers and give them something to grip into. They should not feel like they're in the way or blocking you.
As a general rule for the pinky finger, the same recommendations of not wanting to feel that extra tension apply, but the precise placement may sit further back from that tension breakpoint, rather than being right before it like with the ring finger.
The goal with the pinky finger placement is to balance out your grip so your mouse feels as controlled as possible in your hand. For this reason, the exact placement can differ and doesn’t follow an exact rule.
My recommendation is to position it such that it feels like you are applying equal pressure to both the ring finger and pinky ClawMates (if you have opted to use one for each finger). If the pinky ClawMate is too far forward, you will feel like there is comparatively more tension on it, and if it’s too far back it will feel like there is less tension compared to the ring finger.
Placement Height
The height of your placement will dictate which part of your finger grips into the ClawMate, or how much you curl/extend your finger to be able to grip into it.
Generally, you will simply place the wedge at a height that lines up with where you want your fingertip to sit with your mouse grip.
There is one main exception to this for those who like to fingertip skate and/or those who like a more tactile feel to their setup. By placing the wedges a little higher up than a standard placement for the fingertips, you can instead have the end of your fingertips overhanging the ClawMate.
This allows you to create some extra lift to reduce the weight of the mouse on the mousepad and/or enable fingertip skating. Overhanging the edge of the ClawMate can also provide extra tactile feedback.
Whether this feels good and is beneficial will depend on the person. People tend to either love or hate it so it’s worth testing to see which you prefer. If you don’t want to adjust your setup to try it, a quick way to see which you may prefer is to look at where you place your fingers on WASD when playing. If you rest your fingers on the edge of your keys, you may prefer tactile setups with edge contact of the ClawMate. If you rest your fingers on the flat of the key, you likely prefer smoother setups and benefit more from avoiding edge contact.
ClawMate Orientation
The orientation of the ClawMate can dramatically change how it feels. The higher the face is angled, the straighter the gripping finger. This can be useful for those who prefer gripping the mouse with extended fingers further along the mouse. The more you open up that angle, the further forward you can comfortably place the wedge. If you prefer a more palm style relaxed grip, this can be a great option to try.
Angling the face downwards requires your finger to curl further around it. This can be useful for those who prefer a very aggressive claw style grip. To make this work, you will likely need to move the ClawMate further back along the mouse to accommodate the curled finger.
While it’s not mandatory for fingertip skating, it can help encourage it by allowing you to grip under the wedge and pull the mouse upwards.
Generally, unless you are seeking a particular way to facilitate your grip like previously mentioned, facing it straight on will work for most people. If it doesn’t quite feel right, even small changes to the angle can have a noticeable impact, so it’s worth experimenting a little to see what you prefer.
ClawMate Faces
The ClawMates are designed with customizability in-mind so you can set them up exactly how you like.
The ‘standard’ use looks like this, with the second largest side facing forward. This is a safe option that is comfortable and accessible. Depending on your mouse, grip style and even aiming style, this may not necessarily be the most performative option for you.
Placing the short and steep face forward may provide you with more control, particularly with micro-adjustments. The reduced surface area and edges gives your fingertips more room to move around which can feel less restrictive. The steep face can allow for more tension, especially with flick-heavy aiming styles.
The tradeoff for the extra control is potential discomfort gripping into the edges and on mice that are small for your hand, you may feel like your grip is less secure. There is a potential solution for the grip security that i’ll cover later.
Placing the long face forward functions similarly to the standard setup, except you have more surface area to work with. If you’re looking for extra comfort or have large fingertips this can be a good option.
You don’t need to use the same face for each finger, feel free to mix and match to suit your needs.
Extending/Shortening The ClawMates
If you feel like you would prefer a longer surface area to grip into, extending the ClawMates can be a great option. I’ve found this quite useful when using smaller, narrow mice. By placing two wedges next to each other you create a long surface that your entire fingertip, and even beyond can grip into.
This works especially well for narrow mice because your fingers naturally reach around the wedges. On wide mice with a large hump where you have to wrap your fingers around the mouse, the top end of the extended wedge may get in the way.
You can cut a wedge into smaller pieces to customize how extended you want them to be. The second wedge also doesn’t need to sit exactly in line. By placing it at an angle you can create a more gentle curve that can help when using extended setups on wider mice.
Similarly, you can cut a wedge into a smaller piece to shorten the ClawMate if that is something you would prefer.
Miscellaneous Tips & Tricks
Grip Width
If your mouse feels too narrow, or it feels like you have to squeeze in your finger(s) too far to grip the mouse there’s a few simple fixes.- Place some of the thick tape with only the backing paper layer removed in front of the ClawMate where your finger grips the shell.
- This is usually most beneficial for the pinky, but the ring and thumb may still be used if needed.
- If you are using the thick tape for the ClawMate, this can help make your finger feel flush with the mouse.
- If you are using a short face forward setup and prefer having the ClawMate propped up a little higher by the thick tape, you can add another layer of it under the ClawMate to maintain that height difference.
- Place some foam tape or mounting tape where your thumb knuckle grips the mouse (if applicable) to help pad out the width of the mouse. The thick tape in the pack will work too, but it’s a bit of a waste.
Getting The ClawMate Flush With The Mouse Shell
When using the thick tape you may notice the gap between the shell and the front of the ClawMate.
By placing your ClawMate with the front overhanging the edge of the tape, gripping into it will flatten it against the mouse shell achieving that seamless feel.
- This can slightly increase the angle of the wedge
- This can weaken the bond with the tape toward the back of the wedge
- If needed, add a layer of tape to the back to help hold it in place
- If needed, add a thin sliver of tape to the back of the base layer of tape for the back of the ClawMate to rest on if it’s coming loose.
Changing The Angle Of The ClawMate
With some strategic tape usage, you are able to customize the angle of its face.
Using thick tape as the base, add as many slivers of thick tape to the back of the base layer of thick tape as desired to change the angle.
- It’s recommended to have the front of the ClawMate overhanging the base layer of thick tape to have it sit flush with the mouse shell when it’s being gripped.
- Add a layer of thick tape to the back of the setup to help hold it together.
Making The Short Face Feel Less Dramatic
If you like having the short face forward but find gripping it feels a bit dramatic, particularly close to the mouse shell, this is what you can do.- Have the base layer of tape extend out a couple of millimeters in front of the ClawMate. This provides that tiny bit of extra support so your entire grip doesn’t feel like it hinges on the top edge of the ClawMate.
- Remove the adhesive of the exposed tape with a damp paper towel
- If you get any adhesive on your fingers, clean thoroughly with soap and avoid contact with mouth/eyes/nose
