I made a remark in my LHS yesterday about how I liked the Futaba 9C's control sticks, the serrations on top keep your thumbs in place better than the old 4YG's smoth stick tops. I got pounced upon by some of the old timers who suggested that I "pinch" the sticks instead. The point was made that you're more sensitive when pinching, you can't slam the sticks to the extremes without meaning to do it, and your thumbs can't slip off. I haven't had a chance to actually try it on the simulator yet, but did some dry runs on the TX. Feels unnatural! But if thumbing is a bad habbit it would be better to try and break it now than 2-3 years down the road.

BTW I perfected the 6 point landing yesterday, and would have started on the 5 pointer if the Avistar didn't need some Epoxy therapy....

Andy

I prefer the pinch method. I tend to over stick when I thumb, like the old timers said.

I learned with thumbs on top of sticks. A lot of people pinch...just as many use thumbs. I tried to switch but didn't like it. I say go with what works best for you and feels comfortble.

I actually do both: I pinch the right stick, and thumb the left. Pinching can be more accurate, and waaaay back when I learned, it was the only acceptable way, but now that school of thought has changed (for most anyway). I teach students to pinch, but if they're more comfortable with thumbs, I'm not going to insist on it.

Whatever works for you is the best method

i'm with minnflyer, unless i'm flying heli, it is pinch for both then. funny part is all of that is 100% subconscious, I've never actually forced either method, just went with whatever my fingers wanted to do.

Still learning to fly (on my own) and have about 60-70 total flights primarily using an .061 on a powered glider. I started out thumbing and recently realized that as the stick walks around under my thumb that I will slightly reposition my thumb from time to time and that there is always a subtle bobble in the plane's flight because the stick must be in, or go to, the neutral position in order to reposition my thumb and I am not always in level 1-g flight when I do this.

Yesterday I was practicing very slow and low flight and got aggravated because the stick felt kind of out of place under my thumb and I was scared to reposition because the bobble would be unacceptable at 15' off the ground. so I grabbed each stick with two fingers and got instant control, so much in fact that my flying got better by an order of magnitude or so it seems.

I used to think that this position felt unnatural but now for me it is the way I will fly from now on. I also realized that my left middle finger naturaly touched the buddy box switch which was a bonus. Finger repositioning is now done unconsciously and no longer seen in the planes flight path. Once I felt I had run out of roll input but it was my fingers not used to moving that far. It was kind of like an exponential stick response without the computer. With the thumbs, I never really knew where the stick was compared to using two fingers. Maybe when the plane is up high and lazy I will use the thumbs but when it is on the deck I will definately be using finger tips to fly. My experience might not be the same as yours but yesterday was a really good day in my flying skills development because of switching to two fingers.

Greg

This is an interesting study. Let me use this analogy...

I hold my pencil wrong. I can write fine. My script sucks but if I slow down and print people can read it fine. I've tried holding my pencil properly but I can't write worth a darn that way. I'm 33 years old now and have been holding my pencil wrong for 28 years.

I think how you hold your Tx is probably the same thing. Whether or not there is a right or a wrong way to do things is relative. If you've learned to fly with your thumbs and you're good at it there is no real reason to change. If you feel your control is somewhat lacking then maybe you could try pinching.

I learned to fly with my thumbs, but some old timers made me change to pinching. As I sit here now, though, I can't honesly say which method I use, but I fly real well. I think it's just a matter of preference.

Forget what the oldtimers say. Go with what feels natural to you. I have been flying for about 4 years now and use my thumbs. Some of my flying buddies use the two finger method. If I were to poll all my clubmembers, I believe the results would be about 50/50.

If you are supporting the weight of the TX with your hands instead of the neck strap... you'll end up using the thimb on top of the stick almost every time.

The "pinch" method is more precice... and breaking the thumb habit is VERY hard. You have to go back to a trainer to do it even if you are an experienced pilot. It is worth the effort in the long run. (I flew using the thumb method for a LONG time... and am still having problems breaking the habit...)

Best for breaking the thumb habit is to use a transmitter tray to support the TX, having small "shelves" at the side to PREVENT you from putting your hand under the TX. Then stick soda straws on the TX sticks tomake them so long there is no way in heck to get your thumb om top.

At first your flying will suffer from the unfamiliar manner of holding the stick. (that's why you need to go back to a trainer) Once you are used to the new way... you will be glad you made the effort.

I started using thumbs. But I held the transmitter at first. I could not control the sticks well. A friend gave me a spare neck strap. When I used it I found I could pinch the sticks and have better control. Now I am a pincher and use a wide neck strap. The thumbs was mostly because we had no buddy boxes back then. I say whatever is the most comfortable to you is what you should do. And the heck with whatever anyone else has to say.

Mark Shuman

Glad you said "almost every time".

I've been "pinching" since I started (I hold the transmitter with my palms and three fingers). To me it feels more precise.

Keep in mind though; there are a number of world class RC pilots that fly "thumbs", so if you're more comfortable that way, I wouldn't worry about it.
Dennis-

My instructor (barrrick) is a definite OLD TIMER! He says the "pinch" offers more "feel", he also says...use the method you like. So I thumb it...

Thumbs rock! I've tried pinching. Feels too weird. I'll be thumbs forever.

I tried pinching, but my hands would start to cramp in about 30 seconds. I guess my hands are too large

Do what feels natural, comfortable..you can become a very good pilot either way...

I learned thumbs, and then switched to pinching. I also started using a neck strap when pinching, and that helped a lot.

I do find that I often go to tumb on the left stick and two fingers on the right though.

When I teach, I let the student do whatever is comfortable, I frequently don't even comment on how they hold the TX, it's most important to be comfortable than anything else.

Andy, I asked the same question a few months back. I got about the same aray of responses you did. I tried for a few months to switch to the pinch method. It does give you a better feel and makes the small inputs smoother. At least for me. The problem was I just could not move the sticks fast enough using the pinch. I have gone back to thumbs and added a good neckstrap.
This seems to be the best combo for me. Find the best combo for you and stick with it. I also have a new 9C. The new sticks are great.

David

Thumbs here!

Thumbs is better, the only right way, and it's more precice... for me. Actually I've tried pinch but I can't stand the strap around my neck. Seriously, it makes me crazy so even if I learned the better and more precice pinch way all I'd be thinking about is the darn rope on the back of my neck and crash while trying to adjust it. And even worse I'm the dreaded 1 stick pilot... set the throttle every once in a while and use my left hand mostly for picking my butt. As long as I can fly 10 feet off the ground the whole time I could care less how the plane yaws. It makes me happy and yes I use the rudder on landing thank you very much.

Thumb and forefinger here! I don't like to just thumb it. Do what ever feels best for you. I personally think I get better control with the two finger method, but others feel the same way about the thumb method. Just do what works for you and if someone has a problem with it, then it would be their problem now wouldn't it![>:]

Wow talk about stirring the pot! Thanks all for your inputs, I tried pinching the other night on the sim and found I felt fairly comfortable with pinch on right stick and thumb on left. I tried flying Slow Stick pinching Sun. evening but really can't make any comment, the wind was blowing it around so much it was all I could to do to keep it upright. Plus the pine tree in front of Debs had it in for me, I made three nice landings in it and one one the ground....

Andy

Thumb life baby, if you use your forefinger, then you have to use your pinky to point at hot girls(or guys) which makes you look even more queer than using two fingers to push a 1inch stick, two finger fliers are WEAK!!!!:-) J/K I'm a thumber though, it's like when I learned to ride a bike, we didn't have helmets, so I ain't wearing one now. I find that it's harder for me to keep the stick still with two fingers, maybe it's just me, but if I put my pinky and ring finger under the desk and pich my thumb and index it shakes back and forth as to when I stick my thumb out doing the same thing it only shakes up and down......man I need to quit smoking:-) And for the record, I'm not very experienced I'm just very opinionated.

Pat

One advantage I've found to the pinch method is that you tend to rotate the radio forward/down which puts the antenna in a better position for transmitting to the Rx. I've see a *LOT* of people who thumb and end up pointing the antenna DIRECTLY AT their plane, which gives you the worst possible range.

I agree with the folks who say 50/50; whatever works best for YOU is what you should use...

Those who gripe about it should shut up and fly....

I use the thumbs but i'm gonna have a go next time im up the field just out of interest could one of you put a poll box at the top to see what the trend is??

He, he, this is a great thread on the beginners forum!

I started flying on my own on slope soarers a year or so back, and naturally thumbed without even thinking about it.

When I started power last summer, my instructor slated me for using thumbs! Put my back up a bit, and I do find it difficult without a strap (no buddy boxes at my club). However, I'm starting to think it may make it easier when you just want to loosen your grip and let the stick slip through your fingers back to the neutral position, which IMHO is harder with a thumb without letting go completely. Now I'm getting closer to my A I can wear a neck strap wihtout fear that the instructor will strangle me, so I'll see if that makes pinching a bit easier.

Anyway, I'm forced to use pinching while I learn, and I'm persevering even when I go sloping on my own, so I'm gonna see how I develop over this summer.

I am all thumbs....Oh, and I fly that way too.