Are you considering switching to play with claw grip from normal grip, or are even looking to completely replace your mouse and keyboard for this unique style of play? Read more as in this blog post, we will take a deeper look into the advantages and disadvantages of playing with the claw grip on controller on Fortnite.
What Is Claw Grip on Controller?
The simplest way to describe claw grip on controller is to take a look at how you would normally hold a controller and then shift one finger on each hand towards you. This would mean that instead of using your thumb solely per analog stick, you would be using your thumb and index finger for controlling the analog stick. Then, your middle finger would be on RB/LB or R1/L1 while the ring finger would be on RT/LT or R2/L2.
It is important to mention that there isn’t a right or wrong way of holding a controller with the claw grip. It is more of whatever feels more comfortable for you.
The Benefits of Playing With Claw Grip
The claw grip isn’t known to have a lot of added benefits over the normal grip, however, this one advantage is enough to make you consider.
1) More Control:
Due to the nature of how you are holding the controller, with the claw grip, you will have quick and direct access to all of the buttons/analog sticks on the controller. This means that you will hardly ever need to decide between two actions that are often impossible to be completed simultaneously when using normal grip. One of the biggest advantages of claw grip on Fortnite is that you can jump and shoot at the same time. While this takes some time to master, it is definitely worth it.
The Disadvantages of Playing With Claw Grip
Claw grip on controller has recently gained a lot of criticism as a lot of the community playing with claw grip have started to complain about a variety of side effects cause by prolonged gaming time
1) Cramps
Like anything, if you play for hours upon hours a day, especially if your wrists/fingers are in an unnatural position for a prolonged period of time, it is not uncommon for you to start getting painful cramps. While they can go away quickly, the last thing you want is to get a cramp in the middle of a fight when every second is crucial to your success.
2) Finger Pains
Cramps come and go, and it is normal to get a cramp after you have been playing for a couple of hours. The problems are likely to start escalating as soon as you begin to feel discomfort or any kind of a pain in your fingers. It is one of the most common side effects of playing with the claw grip amongst the Fortnite community.
3) Wrist Injuries
If you ask a controller player what their opinion of claw grip is, many will tell you that it is simply not worth it as a lot of players, particularly the older ones begin to experience different kinds of problems with their wrists over time. One of the main ones being carpal tunnel which is extremely painful and can put you out of competitive Fortnite for a while.
4) Big Learning Curve
If you want to truly become a great controller player using the claw grip, you are in for a big surprise. Why? You will not only need to learn how to play properly using the claw grip but will also need to learn the ins and outs so that you can actually benefit from the unique advantages that are presented to you with this rather different playstyle.
If you’d like to become a master of claw grip and learn how to dominate your next Fortnite tournament, feel free to use some of the best creative maps we have ever played on which we guarantee will help you out a ton.
Is Claw Grip Better Than Normal?
As much as we would like to provide you with a straightforward answer, we can’t. Let’s just say that it is very subjective and that quite a lot of things can factor in whether playing claw can make you a better player.
For example, what type of controller are you using? Some people are more comfortable with PS controllers over Xbox. Xbox is renowned for being slightly more difficult for people with longer fingers due to the placement of the analog sticks.
At the end of the day, practise on a daily basis and continue to develop your muscle memory. That will determine whether the claw grip is worth it for your particular case or not.
Final Thoughts
Claw grip on controller has been out for a while and despite the hate that it receives from the community due to the side effects it causes, there are plenty of Fortnite players that actively take advantage of the unique benefits that it brings to the table.
So, whether you decide to make the switch to claw grip or not, it is our duty to tell you that if you find this playstyle comfortable and can dedicate a sufficient amount of time to practice playing claw, you are set to dominate the controller scene with ease.
