Proper mouse usage?

[FireAza]

There's something that's bothered me for a long time about my mousing habits. I can't help but think... That I'm doing it wrong. You see, I've always used my middle finger to press the right mouse button, but one thing I've noticed is that on any mouse I've used, when I do this, there's no place for my ring finger to sit, it's kinda just gotta hang on the corner of the mouse. All the other fingers have a place, the thumb sits on a little indent in the left side of the mouse, the index finger on the left mouse button and the pinky finger in a little indent on the right side of the mouse. I've noticed that when I place my ring finger on the right mouse button, suddenly all my fingers have a place. Plus, I have a finger dedicated to the scroll wheel instead of my middle finger having to jump across.

So I'm wondering... How does everyone else mouse?

[Muspar]

I have never, ever, tried putting my ring finger on the right mouse button until just now. It had never even crossed my mind before, but now that I've done it I'm certain I've been doing it wrong for the past 15 years. Damn you, FireAza, damn you 9 times.

[JermCool]

I do it the same way as you, Aza. I think for me, it's just muscle memory from the first mouse we ever had (connected to the serial port, two buttons, needed a special driver to load it into MS-DOS, etc). There was no need for additional fingers, so the index and middle fingers were the only ones used. It's just carried on from there.

[FireAza]

Damn you, FireAza, damn you 9 times.

Bwah ha ha ha haaaa!

I do it the same way as you, Aza. I think for me, it's just muscle memory from the first mouse we ever had (connected to the serial port, two buttons, needed a special driver to load it into MS-DOS, etc). There was no need for additional fingers, so the index and middle fingers were the only ones used. It's just carried on from there.

I have a feeling that it's the same with me, that's just how mice were years ago, and I'm now used to it. As such, my middle finger seems to be stronger than my ring finger, I dunno if I would be able to re-train it or not though, I'm very used to it.

[Hirschof]

Unlike the WASD keys, I really don't have a set way of using the mouse because I constantly switch between different types of mice. I use something similar to a MX-518 at home so every finger as a set place. My work mouse is the standard two button with scroll combination so my middle finger switches from the right button to the scroll.

[ampersand]

A better question: how many use a trackball versus a mouse?

[BtEO]

Looking at the shape of my Logitech Performance MX (and the same is true of my VX Revolution, and my Microsoft Laser Desktop 6000 (and I suspect my old intelliMouse I've got hanging around somewhere is the same)) there is a clear ridge on the right side of the mouse which seems perfectly positioned to sit between ring and little finger.

I'd say we've all been doing it right, and you're crazy to think otherwise.

[StruckingFuggle]

Thumb on the ball, index finger on M1, middle finger on the mouse wheel, ring finger on M2, pinkie resting against the side of the mouse.

[adciv]

A better question: how many use a trackball versus a mouse?

Tackball, Logitech TrackMan Wheel, where the ball is under the thumb. It's fun in an FPS.

[thejerseyminx]

When I use a mouse I do it the right way. I put my ring finger on the right button. Though I rarely use a mouse anymore. Both my personal and work computers are laptops with touchpads.

What I don't do right is read poll options. Doh.

[Nukinblackmage]

I kinda flux. If I'm not playing a video game, I use my middle finger on the right button and either scroll / click on the middle button with my index or middle. If I'm playing a game, especially an FPS, I have my index on the left, middle on the scroll wheel, ring on the right.

[DVST8R]

Middle finger on the right button. My mouse isn't wide enough to fit 3 fingers on it.

[jencypavia]

The base of the palm of the hand is the part of the body designed to support the hand when resting on a surface. A mouse is used by moving its position over a surface, and resting usually occurs when mouse movements stop but with the mouse still being held in the hand. Mouse movements should be made using the elbow as the pivot point, not the wrist.

[Arres]

But the FINGERS Jency. What do I do with all these goddamn FINGERS?!

[SevTiZ]

I also formed my mouse-habits in the '90s, so I keep my middle finger on the LMB with my ring and pinky on the right side of the mouse. On the occasions when I find myself using a mouse with a scroll-wheel, I use my middle finger for that, then return it to the LMB when I'm done.