Smash 3DS How do you hold your 3ds for minimal cramping?

[0RLY]

My thumbs are in constant pain from being bent at all times because of how close the buttons are to the edges. My hands are roughly 8-9 inches measured from my wrist to the tip of my middle finger.

For those who will immediately suggest that I purchase a grip, can you suggest one that will offer a gamecube controller-like quality of comfort or better? Since I can't try them before I buy them, I would at least like feedback from dedicated smashers.

EDIT: Generally agreed upon solution
Hold the 3ds with your fingertips. Support the bottom of the 3ds with the tips of your pinky. Finger tip on the triggers. Thumb fully outstretched and not bent on the face buttons. Do NOT hold it like a gcc (what I was doing wrong). I still have no idea how to hold a 2ds.

 

[ソチャラ「Sóchara 」]

I had calluses developing on my thumbs after I got the demo so I wrapped them in medical tape. As far as overall comfort, I use an attachment for my 3DS XL so it feels like a controller. Gripping a rectangle is awkward.

Also, I'm trying to figure a way to add a gamecube thumb stick to my 3ds. If it works out, I'll post.

 

[RascalTheCharizard]

I just hold it the same way I hold it for every game other than Kid Icarus: Uprising. I don't know what to say, I haven't had a problem with cramping in the demo.

 

[Hitzel]

Just relax your fingers and straighten them out a bit. Your palms don't have to be scrunched up against the DS.

 

[Gidy]

Get a 3DS XL

 

[AbbiDood]

Get a 3DS XL

Absolutely not necessary at all.

I hold my 3DS similar to this pic, but you know, imagine the right hand being in the same position as the left one. lol

Have yet to have my hands cramp playing the demo, or Mario Kart 7 for that matter, while holding the console like this.

 

[0RLY]

I had calluses developing on my thumbs after I got the demo so I wrapped them in medical tape. As far as overall comfort, I use an attachment for my 3DS XL so it feels like a controller. Gripping a rectangle is awkward.

Also, I'm trying to figure a way to add a gamecube thumb stick to my 3ds. If it works out, I'll post.

I tried using bandages on my thumbs as well but they just slide right off. Medical tape would be much better if I had that. Hows the attachment?

How would you close your DS...? Oh I guess you could make it removable... but then there's the issue of it falling off mid gameplay. Interesting project...

Just relax your fingers and straighten them out a bit. Your palms don't have to be scrunched up against the DS.

That is exactly my problem. I try to hold it loosely like I would for EVERY OTHER GAME... but minutes into gameplay, and my hand just scrunches up and tightens around the DS. I have a similar issue with the gamecube controller, where my grip will just tighten to the point where I develop calluses on the inside of my middle finger! However, since my grip is still in the same place, it doesn't affect my gameplay or hurt. On the DS, it hurts several games in to the point where it severely affects my gameplay. After each game, I reset myself to a looser grip, but tighten up involuntarily every single game.

Get a 3DS XL

The XL doesn't feel any better on my hand than it's smaller counterpart. I would actually say it's worse since my grip tightens around the XL much faster than the ds does.

FOLLOW UP QUESTION
How broken in are your face buttons? I feel pain from sliding my thumb between buttons on the 3ds despite never having that problem sliding my thumb between buttons on my gcc. I don't even think my gcc is that much more broken in than my 3ds. What can I do about this?

 

[GrownCannoli]

I bought a 2ds for this problem. The 2DS feels very much like a Gameboy if you are old enough to have played with the original. It has very large L, and R buttons and the screen looks great. Its not as big as it looks in a good way and fits nice in the hands.

I recommend.

 

[Storm Eagle]

Get a 3DS grip. If you are from America, it should be quite easy t get one. If you are from Europe, Ebay would be your go-to-spot.

 

[JipC]

I have an XL, so one thumb on the circle pad, one thumb on the face buttons on the right & index fingers on the shoulder buttons
Played the demo for a total of 16+ hours and never got a single cramp
The weird thing about this though is that I played DKCR3D a while back and that game gave me major cramps in my fingers, I think because I was holding down the trigger buttons so much.

 

[Hitzel]

After each game, I reset myself to a looser grip, but tighten up involuntarily every single game.

How broken in are your face buttons?

How long have you had your 3DS? I stopped having this problem early into having mine, before I was done with my first game (OoT). It's probably best to just force yourself to hold the DS a certain way for some games against the CPU until it starts feeling natural. The 3DS bothered me (like any other Nintendo controller) so I figured out how to handle it properly.

My face buttons don't bother me at all, feels like hitting 360 buttons with a little less traction.

 

[Saikyoshi]

I hold it using this. It's advertised as a racing wheel, but it's cheap, the grips are useful, compact, and controller-like, and the triggers are actually a usable size. So a lot more versatile than it means to be.

Best 3DS-related purchase I ever made.

 

[CryoGX]

I have an XL with a Nerf case.


Demo hasn't cramped me once yet.

 

[pinkhairedprotagonist]

I hold it using this. It's advertised as a racing wheel, but it's cheap, the grips are useful, compact, and controller-like, and the triggers are actually a usable size. So a lot more versatile than it means to be.

Best 3DS-related purchase I ever made.

I can't see the picture right now but if it's the mk7 wheel then I use that, too, and it really is great. The triggers only feel a little weird, and last time I checked it was like 5-6 dollars on amazon.

Completely recommend it.

 

[King Zekrom]

I have a 2DS, gawk so the 2DS wraps perfectly around my hand, especially with those massive shoulder buttons. I haven't had any problems regarding cramps at all.

 

[wingedarcher7]

I just hold it the same way I hold it for every game other than Kid Icarus: Uprising. I don't know what to say, I haven't had a problem with cramping in the demo.

This, really. I don't get any cramps while playing on my 3DS XL. The only game I had that problem with that KIU and that was because all the weight is put onto your left hand while playing, so I had to rest the 3DS up against something for that game. But for Smash or anything else, I have no problems.

 

[Foosedogg]

Two ways. One, an XL with smaller hands, this is great because you have little of the system to hold in your hands and it's rounded unlike the original. Second, if you have an original, buy a copy of Kid Icarus Uprising. It might not help that much for a 2 handed game, but it gives more of a demo at a store feel because the stand sits there with the system in an optimal position.

 

[Fathom778]

Either with the stand I got with KI:U at launch, or I be a man and hold it normally.

 

[Newt Floss]

Absolutely not necessary at all.

I hold my 3DS similar to this pic, but you know, imagine the right hand being in the same position as the left one. lol

Have yet to have my hands cramp playing the demo, or Mario Kart 7 for that matter, while holding the console like this.

This helps me a lot thanks. After looking online I see that it also helps to put your right pinky under the 3DS to hold when playing stylus heavy games.

 

[0RLY]

I hold it using this. It's advertised as a racing wheel, but it's cheap, the grips are useful, compact, and controller-like, and the triggers are actually a usable size. So a lot more versatile than it means to be.

Best 3DS-related purchase I ever made.

THIS! THIS looks like th perfect answer. Most grips I've seen look like they would make me crap just as hard but this looks like it would actually help me hold the DS correctly! Do they make these for the XL?

 

[Ursaguy]

I dont use grips. I jut don't find it very difficult to hold my hand off of the DS.

 

[Saikyoshi]

THIS! THIS looks like th perfect answer. Most grips I've seen look like they would make me crap just as hard but this looks like it would actually help me hold the DS correctly! Do they make these for the XL?

I tried looking, but I couldn't find any, unfortunately.

I'm worried they won't make one for the N3DS, either...

 

[KurashiDragon]

Apart from a mild strain on my hands, I've never really had a problem holding my 3ds. I have a very relaxed grip with my middle fingers holding up the 3ds and my Index fingers on the triggers. If I had to give one suggestion to avoid hand cramps, don't actually hold it in your hands so much as you hold it with your fingers.

 

[MagnesD3]

I dont think Ive every had a cramp from holding a controller/handheld..

 

[zozo]

You play on a 2DS. That's how you prevent cramping. I'm so glad I have a 2DS.

 

[wingo]

You play on a 2DS. That's how you prevent cramping. I'm so glad I have a 2DS.

This made me cry.
And op, man up and become immune to cramps.

 

[HdTyvek]

I have large hands, but the 3ds XL hasnt given me any problems with cramps yet. not sure how ytou are holding it or if you have a XL or normal. just relax and dont be so tense

 

[Mr. Pants]

I was looking for a grip that would alleviate the thumb pain and feel more like a controller. I got the mario kart 7 racing wheel and it feels great. Makes playing smash much more comfortable and gives it the controller-like feel I was looking for. It helps with the thumb pain as well. There's a thread with info on all kinds of grips for 2DS, 3DS, and 3DS XL on the forums somewhere. I would recommend checking it out. If you're playing smash on a regular 3DS, I would recommend the mario kart 7 wheel.

 

[zozo]

This made me cry.
And op, man up and become immune to cramps.

Dude seriously, the 2DS is godlike for Smash.

 

[SS-bros14]

Don't get cramps when playing my 3DS, so yeah...

 

[PikaSamus]

I hold it by putting my left thumb on the Circle Pad, my right thumb on both the A and B buttons, my index fingers on the L and R buttons, and the remaining fingers are touching the back of the 3DS. My index finger currently is almost three inches, so I'm about the perfect size for a normal 3DS.

 

[Mechageo]

Absolutely not necessary at all.

I hold my 3DS similar to this pic, but you know, imagine the right hand being in the same position as the left one. lol

Have yet to have my hands cramp playing the demo, or Mario Kart 7 for that matter, while holding the console like this.

This is what I did with my 3DS but now Thai I finally upgraded to a New XL, my pinky fingers just won't reach and I'm on the same boat as the OP was.

 

[AbbiDood]

This is what I did with my 3DS but now Thai I finally upgraded to a New XL, my pinky fingers just won't reach and I'm on the same boat as the OP was.

I have a regular XL now and I still kinda hold it that way. Obviously your pinky doesn't have to be in the exact position like in that pic, I kinda just use them as something the 3DS can "lay on" I guess, not too sure how to put that into words.

 

[Mechageo]

I have a regular XL now and I still kinda hold it that way. Obviously your pinky doesn't have to be in the exact position like in that pic, I kinda just use them as something the 3DS can "lay on" I guess, not too sure how to put that into words.

Ah, I gotcha. Too bad the New XL has its power button down there.

 

[Pretty Princess]

I bought a "dreamGEAR" comfort grip specifically for smash 3ds, that only cost me like 7 dollars. I never had much of a problem playing without it, but it really helps when playing for a long time.

I just take it off when I'm playing other games, since it's easy to remove and put back on.

don't use the top half of it though, it's really ugly

 

[Newt Floss]

Ah, I gotcha. Too bad the New XL has its power button down there.

Your pinky only has to hold the back not the underside with the power button.