Switch 2 Pro Controller Felt Amazing… Until It Didn’t

thatJohann

thatJohann

Member
I've always been a huge fan of the original Switch Pro Controller. To this day, I still think it's the best-feeling controller I've ever used. So I was really excited to try out the new Switch 2 Pro Controller. Right away, I noticed the smaller size, and at first, it felt amazing, like a clear upgrade over the original. I honestly thought it might be the best controller ever made.

However, after about a month of use, I've started feeling some discomfort in my right hand, almost like a carpal tunnel sensation. This never happened with the original Pro Controller.

Has anyone else found the smaller size of the Switch 2 Pro Controller to be a bit less comfortable over time?

Just curious, thanks!
 
thatJohann said:
I've always been a huge fan of the original Switch Pro Controller. To this day, I still think it's the best-feeling controller I've ever used. So I was really excited to try out the new Switch 2 Pro Controller. Right away, I noticed the smaller size, and at first, it felt amazing, like a clear upgrade over the original. I honestly thought it might be the best controller ever made.

However, after about a month of use, I've started feeling some discomfort in my right hand, almost like a carpal tunnel sensation. This never happened with the original Pro Controller.

Has anyone else found the smaller size of the Switch 2 Pro Controller to be a bit less comfortable over time?

Just curious, thanks!
Click to expand...
It feels comfortable upon first use, but over time I'm finding it very uncomfortable. It needs to be wider.
 
Baemono said:
Did you get hurt too ?

Click to expand...


oh wow, this is exactly the issue I'm referring to that never happened with the Switch 1 Pro Controller.
I read that you can't turn on your Switch 2 with the Switch 1 Pro Controller so that's the only thing holding me back from going back to the Switch 1 Pro controller.
 
I just picked up the PS5 DualSense after playing a few hours with the Switch 2 Pro Controller, and the hand pain is completely gone. I noticed the DualSense is wider and a bit heavier, but the grip spacing and overall feel in the hands is much more comfortable for me.
 
nope I still love it. I am a big guy with big hands but growing up using the small nes / snes / DS 1 2 3 they are just way more comfortable to me. I stress my hand more with big hulking controllers than small ones .. again I think it's just because I am more use to them and learned how to do small effortless movements.
 
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As somebody that used to question how people could think the Duke was too big it goes without saying I found the Switch 2 pro controller too small day one and not just over time.
 
Is this real (I didn't watch the video)? Because reading things like "this controller hurt me" stuck me as a joke.

"If ya think that's bad..."

CGvc5q13xRWZpu09.jpeg
 
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Magic Carpet said:
Was it too small? That is my man beef with the 8bitdo, It needs to be bigger. :(
Click to expand...
yeah the switch 1 pro controller for me had the absolute perfect size and grip. for some reason they decided to shrink the switch 2 pro controller making it less wide, so now it rests differently in your palms and that's causing major strain for me.
 
thatJohann said:
yeah the switch 1 pro controller for me had the absolute perfect size and grip. for some reason they decided to shrink the switch 2 pro controller making it less wide, so now it rests differently in your palms and that's causing major strain for me.
Click to expand...
This is my experience too. There really isn't a good solution right now for a Switch 2 controller that does everything. The 8bitdo Ultimate 2 is probably the best you're gonna do right now.
 
Magic Carpet said:
Was it too small? That is my man beef with the 8bitdo, It needs to be bigger. :(
Click to expand...

It's not that I found it small, it's just that IMO, it's not worth more than double the price of the Ultimate 2C which is a fantastic joypad with HAL sticks for - not even - 30 Eurodollars...

That, and the fact that the Pro2 dropped to 79.99 making only 10 Eurodollars more expensive than the 8bit do Ultimate 2.
 
Kacho said:
Feels fine to me. Just wish I could get one without the annoying buttons on the back.
Click to expand...
Shortcut them to select and start / screenshot :-p I've always found it very difficult on Switch 1/2 to hit the select button which is annoyingly used for maps in most open world games. This was very useful for my Cyberpunk playthrough.

Haven't had an issue with the Pro 2 controller personally and I've used it for over 100 hours between MKW, 2077 and DKB. I actually prefer it to the PS5 controller especially the battery lol.
 
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No issues yet. Then again, I'm not playing 5 hour daily sessions. Maybe 1-2 hours every few days for a month.

Honestly, the controller feels great. One of my favorites, even.
 
I agree that it should be bigger. It should also have its grips/handles flared out or angled out more like an Xbox controller to enable better comfort for your hands and the natural resting position of your wrists.
 
Polygonal_Sprite said:
Shortcut them to select and start / screenshot :-p I've always found it very difficult on Switch 1/2 to hit the select button which is annoyingly used for maps in most open world games. This was very useful for my Cyberpunk playthrough.
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I can't not mistakenly click them when I hold the controller. If I set them to any button it fucks my shit up.
 
Baemono said:
Did you get hurt too ?

Click to expand...

People are gonna just laugh this video off as soy boy nonsense but I decided to watch it and it sort of made sense when you see his hand on the controller.

I think the controller is uncomfortable for different reasons (mainly the thin ass grips) but it's probably down to hand size.
 
I don't see how this can feel amazing considering it pretty much the exact same thing as the Switch 1 Pro Controller, which was okay at best with no analog triggers and an utterly shitty dpad, which remained the same here. Not worth the price, that's for sure !
 
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maybe playing too much since you got the S2.

Are you using the back buttons? I imagine those could tweak some hands.

I'd just relax the grip. Give the hands some rest. Break out another controller once in awhile to vary the grip. I do joycons quite a bit and did it on Switch. Everyone hates them, but always thought they did many things better.

Either way always felt like going to joycons or going back to Pro controller felt great each time.
 
thatJohann said:
I just picked up the PS5 DualSense after playing a few hours with the Switch 2 Pro Controller, and the hand pain is completely gone. I noticed the DualSense is wider and a bit heavier, but the grip spacing and overall feel in the hands is much more comfortable for me.
Click to expand...
I'm going to try and use the Dualsense with my foot as it's been hurting ever since I sprained my ankle. Hopefully it does miracles to me too. Next I'll be visiting my sick grandma and try to heal her broken femurbone with it.
 
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So far so good, I was pleasantly shocked at how utterly premium it feels with all that soft plastic. Still a shame about the lack of coloured buttons and analogue triggers but it's up there with the DualSense for GOAT controller (waverbird aside obvs)
Maybe my hand aren't butch and manly enough for the pain?
 
The guy with the Youtube vid, I know he seems like a baby spreading FOMO with his hand in the cast/guard thing, but when I actually watched the video the other day, the case he made for why it happened made sense. Now we're seeing repeated occurrence. There might be something to it.

I was going to get one of these when people said the dpad was fixed, but now that I know it's not. This isn't something I'll ever have to worry about. I would be much happier sending Nintendo money and being able to turn on my Switch 2 from across the room, but first world problems.
 
Strange, the Wii U pro controller was the worst. Reaching for the Y button you had to completely readjust your grip. Glossy too so all the sweat and dead skin just built up so easily.
 
I think I have around ~30h of Mario Kart World and ~50h of Donkey Kong Banaza clocked in now with the SW2 Pro Controller and haven't noticed anything yet.

Pretty much feels like the old one to me.
 
I think it's decent, but I've only been using it for a few days. I had a good sesh on BOTW and I don't feel any discomfort.
 
Us big handed people are suffering because of you tiny hand midgets.

Where is the diversity in controller sizes? We need representation!
 
Baemono said:
Did you get hurt too ?

Click to expand...

My thumb reaches comfortably past the Y button holding the controller normally.

Talks about tension between his thumb and pointer using the right stick… "I have to reach to press the select button" hahaha

Are we sure he isn't trolling? And wtf is that wrist guard he's putting on like he's the Mr Roger's of gaming. Too funny.
 
thatJohann said:
I've always been a huge fan of the original Switch Pro Controller. To this day, I still think it's the best-feeling controller I've ever used. So I was really excited to try out the new Switch 2 Pro Controller. Right away, I noticed the smaller size, and at first, it felt amazing, like a clear upgrade over the original. I honestly thought it might be the best controller ever made.

However, after about a month of use, I've started feeling some discomfort in my right hand, almost like a carpal tunnel sensation. This never happened with the original Pro Controller.

Has anyone else found the smaller size of the Switch 2 Pro Controller to be a bit less comfortable over time?

Just curious, thanks!
Click to expand...

I was ridiculed for bringing up similar feelings about the Pro 2 controller on another forum.

I have small hands. The Pro 2 still feels small to me. I was even treated to the typical online bullshit, such as one user telling me that I was wrong. Umm, okay? How can you tell me that a physical object that I am holding doesn't feel the way it feels to me?

So far I haven't had any physical issues with my hands after using the controller, thanks goodness. I am sorry to hear that you're experiencing discomfort. Don't keep using it if it's going to cause pain and discomfort! I believe the Pro 1 controller works on Switch 2, so that's your best bet for now if you're not into using JoyCons. I don't like JoyCons, and I don't like motion controls in general so the Pro controller series is what I use exclusively. I only used the Pro on Switch 1.

Another issue I am experiencing is the lack of grip on the Pro 2. It is too smooth and has no tactile feeling to it. At least mine doesn't. As an odd aside, I think air temperature makes it worse. It is summer where I live and it has been extremely hot. We have seen record-breaking temperatures. The air in our house is on a lot, and it is set low to keep this old house cool. I notice that when it is colder in the house, the texture of the Pro 2 becomes even slippier.

I very much enjoyed the Pro 1 controller overall, with my only major issue being the Home and + buttons low profile that lead to a lot of annoying accidental presses. Pro 2 is not faring better than the Pro 1 so far for me, but I will keep using it and try to adjust.
 
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Kacho said:
Feels fine to me. Just wish I could get one without the annoying buttons on the back.
Click to expand...
That's my issue button placement in the back. Always hitting by mistake. It's why I don't map anything to them. Those buttons need to be placed higher.

That maybe everyone issue with controller being uncomfortable later? Having to adjust their grip to not accidentally hit the back buttons?
 
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For what it's worth, I find a few controllers to be super uncomfortable, like the PS5 controller for example. But the Pro Controller 2 has been maybe the most comfortable controller I've ever used.

So everyone's experience is probably gonna be different.
 
Hardensoul said:
That's my issue button placement in the back. Always hitting by mistake. It's why I don't map anything to them. Those buttons need to be placed higher.

That maybe everyone issue with controller being uncomfortable later? Having to adjust their grip to not accidentally hit the back buttons?
Click to expand...
I hate the dopey buttons on the back of any controller. The Steam Deck and my crappy 8bitdo Ultimate have them and they drive me crazy.
 
Well, just tried the Switch 1 Pro Controller for a few hours and zero pain or discomfort.

Then I tried the switch 2 pro controller, pain started coming back.

Switched back to the switch 1 pro controller, pain went away.

In my case, the difference in width and height made all the difference.

Glad the switch 1 pro controller works as good as I remember.
 
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