RunRyder - Thumb to Pinch

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Main Discussion > Thumb to Pinch - how long?

JAGNZ
Elite Veteran
Location: Auckland, New Zealand

Ok, I've tried to move to pinching before but gave up. I am convinced it will make me a better flier and am really keen to give it a good go this time. I find modified pinch the best, thumb on top with index fingers in front stabilizing.

I have flown thumb since day one - about 2.5 years now. Based on your experience (for those that have changed) how long did it take you to get as good pinching as you were when thumbing??

Jason Greenwood

Fury Extreme, 2X T600N's, Trex 500, DSX9 2.4
www.3dheli.co.nz

06-10-2008 01:47 PM

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FBoss
Veteran
Location: Cincinnati, Ohio, USA

Ok Im still a newbee and a thumber. I just dont get wht the pich is better. Seems to me the thumb is way more natural and should just be faster. Ive tried to switch but it just feels so dang un natural

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06-10-2008 02:37 PM

menace
Veteran
Location: Sydney, Australia

with the pinch method, you're able to double the resolution of your inputs

also pinch can give quicker responses, and lets u use less expo

btw, im a thumber too, im trying to learn, but its a hard learning curve

!boo!

06-10-2008 02:50 PM

crofty
Senior Heliman
Location: Phoenix, AZ - USA

Hi,

I flew for almost a year thumbs. It was when I bought my first nitro that I realised you just can't throw the heli around with the same precision with thumbs and decided to change. The first few flights were hell. I would take off with thumbs then switch to pinching. On those first few flights I would make the occasional "going the wrong way mistake". Very nasty. I would then switch back to regain composure and land.

I think it must have taken about a month to get comfortable. That sounds short but that's flying on the sim every day about 10 flights a week. So it probably took about 50 flights to get comfortable. I've now been flying that way for another few months so I'd say 1 month to get comfortable and then another 2 to 3 to get to the point where it is natural. Was it worth it? Definitely!

I personally don't think one is better than the other it's a matter of choice and what is better for you. I was convinced that pinching would be better for me and I was right. I couldn't do clean aileron tick-tocks with thumbs as there was too much unintentional input given the amount of stick input you need. For me pinching solved that and other problems. It's much easier to make small tail corrections in tail slides for example. Generally I find it far more precise but I think this is more a personal preference.

I have nerves of steel but thumbs of jelly!

06-10-2008 03:02 PM

MMike
Key Veteran
Location: Holland,Mi-USA

Pinch = Need neck strap.

06-10-2008 03:02 PM

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menace
Veteran
Location: Sydney, Australia

well said crofty

!boo!

06-10-2008 03:03 PM

crofty
Senior Heliman
Location: Phoenix, AZ - USA

Oh and just another thought/comment to see if you feel the same way. The thing that gave me the most problem was finding a comfortable way to hold the transmitter... hold it with the little fingers only or use the last two fingers. I remember spending ages moving my hands around on the transmitter trying to get comfortable.

I have nerves of steel but thumbs of jelly!

06-10-2008 03:05 PM

crofty
Senior Heliman
Location: Phoenix, AZ - USA

And yes to the neck strap that is a must.

I've been using one since day one as I used to get really nervous and shaky when I was learning. I used to clutch the transmitter really hard and start raising it as the pressure rose. The neck strap was a great help me relax. I used to focus on making sure the neck strap wasn't getting loose. That helped me ensure that the transmitter was staying in the same place. Consistency is the key after all. I still don't think it carries any of the actual weight today but I use it as a flying aid.

I have nerves of steel but thumbs of jelly!

06-10-2008 03:08 PM

Shawn Pierce
Senior Heliman
Location: Galliano, La.

I'm in the same boat right now. I'm trying to switch to pinch right now as well so i bought the pheonix sim, i have realflight also. Now i can use my Tx to practice. I can do it all day on the sim with the pince but in real life i can't. It still doesn't feel right. I flew one hop with pinch the switched back to thumbs for the rest of the day. I guess more practice will help.

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06-10-2008 03:24 PM

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mlucia
Senior Heliman
Location: VT

Quote
you just can't through the heli around with the same precision with thumbs and decided to change.

I will have to disagree. There are many thumb flyers that are just as precise as pinchers.

It boils down to what ever is more comfy and works for you. There is no right or wrong.

I have been flying since the mid 80's with thumbs and it's to late for me to change

06-10-2008 03:27 PM

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crofty
Senior Heliman
Location: Phoenix, AZ - USA

Quote
I will have to disagree. There are many thumb flyers that are just as precise as pinchers.

Yes your right. I worded that wrong. I should have said "I can't throw the heli around with the same precision." It wasn't meant to be a general statement as I agree with you that there are thumbers out there who can. It is personal choice and comfort. (I also should have spelled throw correctly too but lets not mention that!)

I have nerves of steel but thumbs of jelly!

06-10-2008 03:34 PM

Carey
Senior Heliman
Location: Allentown, NJ

Words of wisdom that reached me when first starting out:

'Switch to pinching while you still suck. You have less to lose.'

I pinch, and suck slightly less than I did at the beginning.

06-10-2008 04:16 PM

montarok
Key Veteran
Location: Brooklyn, NY

I flew thumbs for about 3yrs and got stuck in loops and rolls (Could never progress beyond that point). Then one day I saw the 3D video with Alan, and decided to give pinch a shot. I had to start all over from hovering. On the whole, it took me a season to switch. You've really got to stick with it, especially on the sim.

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www.carifuna.com

06-10-2008 04:46 PM

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Raptor Ken
Veteran
Location: Chauvin LA

I switched on the sim. Learned one hand at a time.

.

Aurora, TREX 600N Pro, Raptor 50, Raptor 90SE, EVO 90,

06-10-2008 06:20 PM

patriot21
Key Veteran
Location: Eagle Lake,MN

took me about a dozen flights... i would never go back now!!!

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06-10-2008 06:22 PM

Skarn
Senior Heliman
Location: Pasadena, MD

Well said mlucia!

I see no reason to switch to pinch at all! There are pro's that use thumbs only....there is NO correct way or better way! It's a matter of personal preference. With that said, yes apparently some can do more using pinch than they can with thumbs....that's them.

I fly thumbs, no neckstrap and zero expo and have no desire to change.

So if you are comfortable flying with thumbs...why go through the learning curve all over again if you can do it fine??

Skarn

It's better to burn out than to fade away...

06-10-2008 06:45 PM

Zaneman007
Key Veteran
Location: Texas - USA

I do both, pinch with the left hand and thumb with the right.

IMO....

Thumbing gives me more freedom. I find it easier to move the stick 360 degrees with full travel. But... I have tightened up the gimbals on my thumb side to help with keeping the stick centered for moves like tic tocs.

Pinching on the other hand does help with making really small movements, but... I find that I'm not always pinching, sometimes I'm just pushing up or sideways with the thumb and/or down or sideways with my finger.

I tried switching to all Thumbs, and gave it up. I have small hands. By using the pinch method on my right hand, I find holding the transmitter awkward, and being able access the throttle hold switch while pinching to be more awkward, for me at least. And as stated earlier for some reason, the finger in there just changes the mix, and seems to make it more difficult to fly, initially.

I'm sure that some moves like the "crack" moves would be extremely difficult to do with the thumb only.

If I were to try and switch again, I'd have to get a tray.

I'd rather be flying

06-10-2008 06:47 PM

emag remrofni

Key Veteran - Location: Los Angeles California -

There is no reason to change. It will not make you a better pilot It'll be like learning all over again and there is little to no benefit to pinching if you've been thumbing for that long. I can 3d all day using thumbs. Even look at Jason Bell, he flys thumbs.

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06-10-2008 06:57 PM

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JAGNZ
Elite Veteran
Location: Auckland, New Zealand

I know that Jason Bell and Lukas Riva fly thumbs and they are both good pilots. BUT, for most pilots, pinch seems to be smoother and more precise as well as removing aileron and elevator interaction.

I spent about an hour on the SIM last night pinching and I can see, that for ME pinching will be more precise but it will take a while for it to become as natural as thumbs are for me right now. I certainly don't feel like I am starting from scratch of course. Time will tell if I can persevere with it.

Jason Greenwood

Fury Extreme, 2X T600N's, Trex 500, DSX9 2.4
www.3dheli.co.nz

06-10-2008 10:46 PM

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InvictaRocks
New Heliman
Location: Santa Clara, CA

I've been flying gliders for about 30 years - Started with helicopters about 6 months ago. For some reason, as soon as I started with the heli, I started pinching, as well as sitting down. Well, the first time it went out of control and came at me, I quickly got over the sitting down part.

But the pinching remains. I hold the transmitter against my body as opposed to the strap idea, but I think I'll try a strap to see if I like it. My 9C is pretty heavy, and I can feel it get a little warm when I'm stressing a new move and holding it too tight. I think the pinching helps mostly with the collective actually, and I think that's why I started doing it with the heli in the first place.

I don't see a big problem going back and forth, so I don't think your "hurting" your advancement by trying the pinch.

06-11-2008 12:52 AM

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