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Thumbsticks have changed the way I play games
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(Image credit: Future/Rosalie Newcombe)
Jump to:
- KontrolFreek thumbsticks
- GeekShare thumbsticks
- JSAUX thumbsticks
- FAQ
Thumb grips aren't the first accessories most people conjure up in their heads when thinking of what Black Friday gaming deals they might want to pick up year on year, but they should be.
I'm a huge fan of the little add-ons, but I can't deny that they often get forgotten about over more significant accessories, from the best PS5 controllers themselves to the best gaming headsets, and it makes sense. Bigger and more costly gaming peripherals investments should be given more thought, but a good set of silicon thumb grips can make or break my experience with any game, and I bet I'm not alone.
The quick list
- KontrolFreek | Available at Amazon
- GeekShare | Available at Amazon
- JSAUX | Available at Amazon
Best overall
KontrolFreek grips and thumbsticks primarily focus on improving precision and aim in competitive online games, however, they've also been known to collab with other IPs to produce flashy designs, like their recent Minecraft sticks, which is why they're my current go-to brand.
Read more below
Best designs
GeekShare creates thumbsticks that will elevate the cute factor of your favorite PS5, Xbox Series X/S, or Switch 2 controllers. It has thumbsticks based on everything from sparkly skulls to green aliens, and regularly collabs with iconic brand names like Sanrio to produce official versions of Hello Kitty and friends, if that's more your vibe.
Read more below
Best value
JAUX thumb grips are designed with performance and appearance in mind, but are the best for value as they come in packs of multiple sets, no matter what console you're grabbing them for. These sets can contain grips with different colors and levels of elevation, giving your controller the best of both worlds.
Read more below
KontrolFreek
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(Image credit: Future/Rosalie Newcombe)
(Image credit: Future/Rosalie Newcombe)
(Image credit: Future/Rosalie Newcombe)
(Image credit: Future)
(Image credit: Future/Rosalie Newcombe)
(Image credit: Future)
(Image credit: Future)Pros- Designed for competitive gaming
- Variety of grips per game genre
- Different height levels available
- Versions available for PS5/PS4/Switch/Switch2/Xbox
- Limited official designs
- Prices start at $16.99
Price: $16.99 - $21.99 Compatibility: Nintendo Switch/Switch 2/PS5/Xbox
If you've spent any time searching for thumb grips or thumbsticks at retailers like Amazon or Best Buy, you've likely come across ones made by KontrolFreek. The brand has been producing controller accessories for years, and its grips are focused on helping improve performance in games, no matter the platform.
Its performance-based thumbsticks are designed to improve comfort by decreasing the amount of force needed to move the controller levers in and out of its deadzone, so your hands feel less tired. This comfort is typically created by just the existence of its silicon-like material, as it adds a tiny bit of height to your basic sticks.
This is usually aided by some form of textured grip, whether it's just a series of small nodules like those found on the KontrolFreek Clutch for PlayStation 5 edition grips, or the crosshair-like design found on the First Person Shooter Galaxy Edition thumbsticks.
Sign up to the GamesRadar+ NewsletterContact me with news and offers from other Future brandsReceive email from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsorsBy submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.One of their standout features is different levels of height elevation. Unlike brands like GeekShare, which purely focus on cute designs and aesthetics, you can find KontrolFreek grips at both mid-rise and high-rise, which can help increase arc distance. That means you have a larger field of movement at your disposal, which can help increase your aim - something that's come in handy a lot when I've been playing Marvel Rivals on the PS5 and I'm up against keyboard and mouse-wielding advantaged players.
While KontrolFreek prioritizes producing grips that improve performance, it isn't immune to releasing versions that focus more on design, which is why they remain my favorite thumb grip brand in the market so far. In July earlier this year, the brand teamed up with Microsoft to launch official Minecraft grips for PS5 and Xbox Series X/S controllers inspired by the game's iconic Creepers. The bright green grips cleverly used the character's blocky body and creepy face as the textured grip. This was followed by other releases, like the 'Kitty Edition' grips designed in homage to streamer CaseOh and his adorable black cat, and I can only hope KontrolFreek releases more design-focused versions in the future.
GeekShare
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(Image credit: Future/Rosalie Newcombe)
(Image credit: Future/Rosalie Newcombe)
(Image credit: Future/Rosalie Newcombe)Pros- Range of cute designs
- Models that fit Switch/Switch OLED/Switch 2
- Regularly collabs with Sanrio
- Affordable and prone to discounts
- No Xbox Series X/S grip options
- Not designed for competitive gaming
- Lack of height variety
- Annoying to attach
Price: $9.99 - $16.99 Compatibility: Nintendo Switch/Switch 2/PS5GeekShare is a brand that's all about its super cute accessories. The brand debuted its 'Cat Paw' collection back in 2017, and has since built up a huge back catalog of well-designed thumb grips. From cute little rainbows, little green aliens, to official Hello Kitty and Kuromi Sanrio versions, they're all about producing the most adorable grips for your controllers, with a particular focus on the Nintendo Switch and now the Nintendo Switch 2.
With an emphasis on design, there isn't much variation in the height of the brand's grips. Unlike KontroFreek, any pair of GeekShare grips won't have e-sports fans and competitive players in mind. Instead, the focus is all about giving your plain Nintendo Switch controllers a fresh new look - and the opportunity to match your gamepads (and handhelds) with the rest of your cute and cozy setup.
As they're not as large as mid or high-rise KontrolFreek grips, they can be annoying to attach to your controller sticks. When using the Halloween set, stretching the little pumpkins and ghosts over my old Switch OLED Joy-Con sticks takes a while, and I can always depend on them shooting off and rolling to the floor during heated Marvel Rival matches if I'm using some PS5 grips instead. That's because they don't just click in place like a lot of KontrolFreek's designs, making the setup process a lot more tedious.
In my years using GeekShare grips, I've come to discover that they are definitely about style over substance, but they aren't necessarily bad in quality. Having any grips at all can keep your controllers protected against everyday wear and tear, and their unique, cute designs add a perfect textured surface that, in my experience, makes using any controller a lot more comfortable.
They're pretty affordable and start at around $9.99 / £9.99 on the GeekShare store and US and UK retailers. If you prefer official grips, like any of the ones made in partnership with Sanrio, you can expect to pay a little more.
JSAUX
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(Image credit: Future/Rosalie Newcombe)
(Image credit: Future/Rosalie Newcombe)Pros- Available for PS5, Xbox Series X/S, Switch and Switch 2
- Come in packs of three
- Varied height and grip types
- Different colors available
- Inexpensive and prone to discounts
- No character designs available yet
- Limited colorways
Price: $7.99 - $19.99 Compatibility: Nintendo Switch/Switch 2/PS5/Xbox/ROG Xbox Ally
Jsaux is a brand all about accessories, so you can bet it has thumbsticks available. They aren't as flashy as GeekShare's adorable options, nor as they quite as focused on improving performance as KontrolFreek, and instead are a bit of a middle-ground.
At just $7.99 for a pair, the PS5, Xbox Series X/S, and Switch 2 compatible grips are the cheapest I've mentioned so far, and it gets better.
I got hands-on experience with the 'Multi-Mode Joystick & Grip Guard Set for Switch 2' which includes a set of three different grips. The first pair looks similar to the size of GeekShare grips, and doesn't add a whole lot of elevation. Instead, they're more for keeping the sticks of your pricey controllers protected by adding a tiny bit of extra comfort through the act of just being made from a softer material.
The second pair is 3mm higher, and designed to "enhance Joystick precision" and is my go-to selection of the set as it adds a tiny bit of extra elevation without looking out of place on my Switch 2 handheld.
The third pair works similarly to KontrolFreek's high-rise grips, as it adds an extra 7mm of height. Jsaux's marketing spiel states that this provides "superior aim control" which is just another way to say they also work toward improving your arc distance. These are the ones currently on my Switch 2 Joy-Con, and they've made the action-packed active battles of Pokemon Legends Z-A a lot easier to dominate, especially as the elevation makes swinging around the camera more precise than without.
Jsaux has yet to collaborate with any popular brand names, so its designs are usually all-black. If you have a Switch 2 you can grab the grips in neon blue and red colorways to match your Joy-Con controllers at least.
FAQ
What are thumb grips?
Thumb grips are little covers often made of a silicon-like material that can be placed on top of the sticks of a compatible gaming controller. They often feature a textured pattern to add more grip, different levels of height to help improve comfort and aim, and occasionally they feature unique designs to up to cute factor of your favorite controllers and handhelds.
Do you have to own a pair of thumb grips?
No one needs a pair of thumb grips, especially as you can easily use the controller of your PS5, Switch 2, Xbox Series X/S or your PC without one. They aren't a necessity for playing any console, however they can improve the comfort of controller-based games. Not to mention, just their existence on top of your gamepad's stick can protect the stick from wear and tear and stainage, which makes them an advantageous accessory to have at your disposal.
- View all gaming thumb grips at Amazon
- View all gaming thumb grips at Best Buy
If you're hunting for some gaming accessories this November, our Black Friday PS5 deals hub is full of discounts on extras for your Sony setup. Check out our Black Friday Xbox deals hub and Black Friday gaming laptop deals for more gaming savings too.
TOPICS Black Friday SteelSeries CATEGORIES Nintendo Switch Nintendo Switch 2 PS5 PC Gaming Platforms Nintendo PlayStation
Rosalie NewcombeSocial Links NavigationHardware EditorEver since I first held a NES controller in my hand I've been obsessed with gaming, and the hardware it runs on. I could hook up a NES and SNES to a telly, without instructions, before I could walk. Even now, nothing is more exciting then taking a console, or handheld, out the box for the first time and setting it up. This obsession transformed into a love of games and game music, which lead to my music degree and dream of becoming the Scottish Nobuo Uematsu. After sharing my love of games through music, I began to share my love through words on sites like TechRadar and iMore. This lead to becoming a Hardware staff writer for PCGamesN, and later the Senior Tech Writer for Dexerto, covering all things Steam Deck, PlayStation and Nintendo. With that experience, I was able to level up as Hardware Editor for GamesRadar+, where I'm still just as Nintendo, PlayStation and gaming tech obsessed as ever.
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