After 15 years of flying I am trying to switch. I have always been a thumb only flyer. As was my teacher.Now to try and be a better pilot I'm trying to switch. Holding the sticks between my thumb and index finger seems strange. I must admit though while putting around I do feel smoother. Problem is I can't move the sticks as fast. I wonder which way you guys fly and has anybody tried to switch? Seems to me I'll need more throw and less expo to compensate for the slower movements. Any thoughts will be appreciated.
Later david

This year I switched from being a thumb only (TO) pilot to being a thumb and fore finger pilot (TFF). It wasn't hard as I spent some time in G2 getting used to the new grip. I also think that a neck strap or a transmitter tray is needed for the TTF grip as you have two fewer fingers holding onto the transmitter... Now that I've switched I would never go back. I am much smoother, much more precise, and can make and hold much smaller control inputs.

I have found that about 40% expo work best with my new TFF grip. I think TO pilots use a lot more expo. Recently one of the best TO pilots at my field helped me setup my latest plane. He had so much expo in there that I didn't like it and I ended up taking most of it out.

I have not found that I cannot move the sticks as fast since becoming a TFF pilot...

It does not matter either way. Some TOC pilots use thumb only and some use fingers. A TOC pilot taught me to fly and I use fingers because it feels comfortable and he told me to stick with that. I have seen others thumb only. I fly freestyle and IMAC with fingers.

Tony Watkins

I use my thumbs only. Need all my other fingers for flipping switches

I use a tray and so use fingers. I find this very smooth.

I have the sticks lengthened to the max as it makes it easier to hold the sticks.

As for moving quickly, I find no problem as I use the tray. This means I dont have to hold the tranny and so I move my whole hand for really violent stick movements.

"Thumbs" (TO) only or "Thumbs and Fingers" (TAF) - I don't think it really makes a difference. When some of the top pilots in the world are TO and some are TAF I think it makes it quite clear that it's practice and natural talent that make you a better flyer, not how you hold you Tx

I Switched to Thumb and Fingers about 9 months ago and will never go back.
I have only been flying for about 3 years, so it wasn't so hard for me to convert.
I use a tray to allow maximal control, and actually beleive that my response times are quicker as well as more precise.

With the tray, it is easier to hit the corners than the thumb only method.
This is because you don't have to worry about holding the tranny, and are not limited to an arc motion created by the ball joints in the thumb.
Less thinking about applying the control, more doing. The plane feels almost connected to your brain, well sometimes.

I fly in a small rather isolated club and the older guys I fly with are rather set in their ways, so you can imagine the tray set up brought a few laughs at first.
But the laughing soon stops....... ( 4 pilots at my club now fly with a tray).

As some have pointed out, many world class fliers still use thumbs only, and good on them for it, it is a personal choice. At the end of the day, it comes down to what suits you better, but you owe it to yourself to try it, I doubt you will regret it.

Cameron McDonald

I use tumbs and fingers. Makes me feel like i am in more control because i am actually holding the stick rather than resting one finger on it.

I flew and competed as a thumb flyer for about 20 years and switched to thumb and finger flying (with a tray) about 4 years ago. With thumb flying there is tension applied to get very precise movement of the controls. Steve Stricker at one TOC pressed so hard on the sticks he actually cut his thumbs (Futaba stick tops are pretty sharp). With finger and thumb flying I feel much more relaxed on the sticks and can practice very precise flights longer without feeling tired.

I use thumb and finger on ail/elev and thumb on rud/throttle. I guess it's strange, but that's what came naturally.

Jw

Im a finger and thumb person using a tray

I was a thumb person untill i started to fly 3D and Funfly then i bacame fingers and thumbs, i use it slightly differtent tho as my fumb is at the top and my finger is on the side, i am trying to make myself fly true fingers and fumbs.

I find it gives me more precise movments and also i can get to the corners in a snap for example allot quicker.

I find it takes the weight off your hands so you can cocentrat on the flying, not on trying not to drop the tranny

I use a home made tray which is real light

I fly with only my thumbs, but I've heard there are benefits to using your fingers. The few times I've tried using my fingers I look down a minute later and I'm back to thumbs only. I feel that the fingers slow me down a bit. It's definately something I'd need to get used to to perfect.

Thanks for the input guys. I have started to use a neckstrap and am thinking about a tray. Making the sticks longer like someone here said also helps. At least on the SIM.
I still think I'm going to add 10-15% to all my throws. I just can't move the sticks all the way out as fast. Like Coomarlin I found myself going back to the thumbs without realizing it.
I really think it's smoother with thumb and fingers. And I think I can feel the stick centers better. Keep it coming, David

Well I guess you could say the same for mode I or mode II flyers.

I have not yet tried TFF flying and I might do so next time I am out.

I used to fly thumbs only, until I got G2 and started attempting knife edge flying. I found that I kept holding the rudder input and not releasing the stick to center, primarily because you really need to manage the throttle a lot in the KE. Since the throttle doesn't center I found that I had a hard time feeling where the center was on the left stick with only my left thumb on it. Needless to say I biffed quite a few virtual planes and almost lost a real plane by making the same mistake.

I got so frustrated one night that I layed the TX on the table while flying G2 and what do you know, I can feel the center better and the feel of precision is MUCH better "to me". I liked it so much I bought a Petal RC tray and now I feel naked when I fly without it.

It takes some getting used to but my nod goes to the fingers and the thumb, in this case MORE is better, at least it was for me.

I fly with 2 fingers, I have small hands and I think it gives me more control. My buddy who is a very good pilot just switched to thumbs and it has helped him alot. He has big hands and wasn't able to hit the corners while doing snaps very well. So basically what ever works for you.

I use thumbs for pattern and fingers for 3D. with fingers i find it easier to hover.

Hello everyone.
I am only flying for 6 years but I am basing this on a few years' research at the flight academy.

Using thumbs and fingers is a better way to control your plane for the following:

each finger (index of thumb) is responsible for different movements of the stick.
for example - on the elevator/aileron stick (mode 1),
the index finger is responsible for pulling (up) and rolling to the right
while the thumb is pushing (down) and rolling to the left.
try doing each of those separately or even better, try to do the opposite movement
with each finger and feel the difference for yourself.just to get the idea of how much accuracy you are losing by using only the thumbs.
And since it is more comfortable to take the sticks out (for example knife edge by rolling to the right and applying left rudder), which is the common way to do, you get better control on your plane.
This way you don't apply too much pressure on the sticks and can move them around a lot smoother.
As for speed - you should fix the expos and not less important the sticks height to your convenience to get best results.

I found out that most "old school" pilots use thumbs only, although the do agree that using both fingers is better (old dog, new tricks...).
As for me, I use both fingers and no tray!

I hope I passed the idea right, anyway, it is based on research.

Best of flying to all, TOs and TFFs.

Gabi

I've been using thumbs for close to 30 years now. Never really tried to use thumb and fingers.. just felt too strange. Might give it a go on a sim 1st.

I've always used thumbs and fingers, but no tray. I can't imagine controlling my planes well enough with just my thumbs. But I find that I often become uncomfortable holding the TX while using thumbs and fingers - I stretch my middle and index fingers too far apart during flying. Some of y'alls comments are making me want to try out a tray.

Go for it, other than the better control it allows, it's a hell of alot more comfortable.
With a strap that crosses over and under each shoulder, rather than the conventional neck strap, you can fly all day without the slightest bit of discomfort.
And when you need to adjust your hat or sunnies etc, you have two hands free.

I switched to thumbs and fingers when I got into heli's about 4 or 5 years ago. Made me a little more precise I felt. I can still fly using thumbs, but feels clunky, only time I think Id like using thumbs is on some 3D stuff when you need to stuff the sticks fast that extra finger there slows me up tad..

Anyone know a brand of transmitter tray that has the shoulder straps like cameron recommends? The only tray that Tower carries is Robart, which looks to have only a neck strap. I can feel the strain already.

Thanks.
Kurt

I like Robart's tray. Who would use a cupholder on their TXtray? If you can't be without your precious beverage for few minutes..

I use a neckstrap while flying with my thumbs.

P.S. To John V: I'll have to pay attention next time Karl's out there and see how he flies... Just out of curiosity....

I am a TFF kind of guy, It was natural for me to grab the sticks with both thumbs when I first began and after all the pivot points to the center of your palm I guess kind of like using a track ball. The problem is that I think it's unstable, kind of like trying to balance a pencil on your finger. You're pushing down instead of the direction you want the stick to go.
So the first thing my instructor tought me was to use TFF. I've been flying that way for 14 years now. It seems that we have only had one instance in this post where someone converted to TO and liked it. Personally it seems to me that TFF has more control - although I admit it seems like more hand movement. I tried TO recently and nearly crashed the plane. Had to switch to TFF real fast LOL.
All this talk of a tray has me intregued as well. I use a neck strap, but will consider a tray.
RickP