I've only used middle and index fingers, and my pinky finger for the shift/ctrl key. I was watching some videos and the pros position their ring, middle and index fingers on the control keys (1, 2, and 3). With it you can easily reach the 5 and 6 numbers. I've been trying it, but it's hard to adapt; lost 3 games in a row just because I was slow. I'm not sure if it will benefit that much.

So, how do you do it?

mOnion

United States5657 Posts

May 04 2010 05:57 GMT

depends how big your hands are. mine are tiny, very non-nada-esque

my pinky is for shift and control and A
then I use ring and middle and pointer to hit hotkeys
then middle and pointer for shortcuts depending on location.

mavz

United States36 Posts

May 04 2010 05:58 GMT

i use my pinky for shift and ctrl with middle/ring/index hovering around 1-3 or wasd (damn fps). idk how you use your ring finger for ctrl/shift it feels really awkward to me o.O

Chaoz

United States507 Posts

May 04 2010 06:00 GMT

On May 04 2010 14:58 mavz wrote:
i use my pinky for shift and ctrl with middle/ring/index hovering around 1-3 or wasd (damn fps). idk how you use your ring finger for ctrl/shift it feels really awkward to me o.O

Mistyped. I meant pinky.

jtype

England2167 Posts

May 04 2010 06:01 GMT

It's weird. Every game it takes a while for my hand to 'settle' on the keyboard. The first few minutes or so I have my middle and index fingers jumping back and fourth from spamming S D and 4 5 (when I'm playing Z), when I know that it is more efficient to have your middle and index constantly up on the numbers, then use your ring/little finger on the s/d keys.

Later in the game, though, my hand tends to hover more over the hotkeys and I use all my fingers for a better level of control.

Alou

United States3748 Posts

May 04 2010 06:13 GMT

I put it like I'm playing an FPS game just because I've been doing that for years. Can't make my hand switch to anything better :/

KiLL_ORdeR

United States1518 Posts

May 04 2010 06:13 GMT

DAy[9]'s mechanics podcast has an entire section about how to position you keyboard hand and mouse hand. I think you're doin it right, but it's basically whatever you feel the most comfortable with, and I don't think it is as important in SC2, since all the key are in the same general area of the keyboard, but it's still importan so check out the cast.

frequency

Australia1901 Posts

May 04 2010 06:20 GMT

Thumb is on alt 99% of the time, pinky is on shift/control etc and my other three fingers are doing everything else :p

GGTeMpLaR

United States7226 Posts

May 04 2010 06:22 GMT

I'm left-handed, my thumb is almost always using ctrl and my palm rests slightly on the spacebar (without pressing it down)

denzelz

United States604 Posts

May 04 2010 06:31 GMT

#10

I agree with other posters that playing FPS for a long time really affect your hand placement. My hand is just naturally in the WASD position. It took a long time to correct but thankfully, SC2's hotkey placement makes a lot more sense. No more having to hit P to micro mutas...or press S + U for ultras.

Chaoz

United States507 Posts

May 04 2010 06:37 GMT

#11

On May 04 2010 15:13 KiLL_ORdeR wrote:
DAy[9]'s mechanics podcast has an entire section about how to position you keyboard hand and mouse hand. I think you're doin it right, but it's basically whatever you feel the most comfortable with, and I don't think it is as important in SC2, since all the key are in the same general area of the keyboard, but it's still importan so check out the cast.

Do you have a link? I can't find it.

jtype

England2167 Posts

May 04 2010 06:40 GMT

#12

On May 04 2010 15:37 Chaoz wrote:

Show nested quote +

Do you have a link? I can't find it.

http://www.teamliquid.net/forum/viewmessage.php?topic_id=89581

http://www.teamliquid.net/forum/viewmessage.php?topic_id=99950

mOnion

United States5657 Posts

May 04 2010 06:41 GMT

#13

edit beaten.

DaggerRage

United States30 Posts

May 04 2010 06:42 GMT

#14

Pinky rests on shift, index through ring finger rest on Q,W,E and my thumb on space. Gives a nice range of motion.

Knap4life

Slovenia333 Posts

May 04 2010 06:46 GMT

#15

I have my hand over the numbers 1 , 2 , 3 and 4 , i can reach 5 as well and maybe 6 but i just cant bother moving my hand to keybind anything else to 7 ,8 and so on ;(

Twilexia

United States62 Posts

May 04 2010 06:55 GMT

#16

I keep my fingers on the normal keys (asdf). I'll use the pinky for CTRL and the other 3 fingers for the numbers.

I'm wondering though, it seems like a lot of the pros use the arrow keys, which are waaay on the other side of the keyboard for me. I don't really use them much, but is it generally considered skillful to use those keys as well (when navigating?)

EatCrow

Estonia333 Posts

May 04 2010 06:56 GMT

#17

pinky - shift and ctrl
thumb - c for chrono, z for zealots; b,v for building
ring, middle, index - numbers and most of hotkeys

jtype

England2167 Posts

May 04 2010 06:58 GMT

#18

On May 04 2010 15:55 Twilexia wrote:
it seems like a lot of the pros use the arrow keys,

I don't think it's common practice for any high-level players to use the arrow keys at all.

roark

United States187 Posts

May 04 2010 07:22 GMT

#19

On May 04 2010 15:55 Twilexia wrote:
I keep my fingers on the normal keys (asdf). I'll use the pinky for CTRL and the other 3 fingers for the numbers.

I'm wondering though, it seems like a lot of the pros use the arrow keys, which are waaay on the other side of the keyboard for me. I don't really use them much, but is it generally considered skillful to use those keys as well (when navigating?)

I have seen a few videos of live tourneys in Korea where they do infact use the arrow keys.

They use their left hand. I think it is so they don't have to look at the mini map, and more importantly to keep the mouse centered.

If you boost the arrow key movement speed to 100% it only takes a few taps to get around.

I dunno, I don't use it though.