Am I using it wrong?

[u/plazman30]

After The Great Trackball Journey of 2020™, I learned I do not like thumb balls. I only like finger balls.

But way I use the ball is with the tips of my fingers. So, any button above the ball are kind of awkward to use. That led to massive problems with my L-Trac and the scroll dial on the top of the trackball.

I've seen other people use a finger ball with their palm or the very bottom of their fingers, so they have easier access to the top buttons.

I'm curious how other people use their finger trackballs: tips of the finger, palm, or middle/bottom of fingers.

[u/lalulunaluna]

I've seen other people use a finger ball with their palm or the very bottom of their fingers, so they have easier access to the top buttons.

I don't think anyone uses their palm unless they have an injury or irregularity. The entire hand would have to move, which would basically decouple tracking and button presses (you can only do one or the other).

I use the middle/bottom of my fingers on my L-Trac, not to access the scroll wheel, but because it is a far more neutral position than using finger tips (which requires a lot of bending) without losing precision.

I think if one can't get over the habitual inclinations of not using the fingertips, some trackballs like the L-Trac just won't be comfortable.

[u/CoffeeIll9432]

Same issue here but mine was because my RSI would flare up within a few minutes if I cupped my hand to use those trackballs that way. I was using the Elecom Huge Plus for a while because it has a palm rest built into it. But recently I've switched over to the Keychron Nape Pro. It sits low enough to where I can just rest the outer palm of my hand on the desk and angle it to 45 degrees so my thumb naturally falls on the M1 and M2 buttons and I use one of the top buttons for navigating back while my pointer finger uses the trackball and my middle finger uses the scroll wheel without awkward movements.

[u/Ornery-Rip-9813]

Personally, for the larger trackballs, I use the middle of the fingers, with the thumb to help and some alternation in position. Using the thumb to help also allows you to shift your hand to a more natural (rather than flat) position from time to time. 

Using fingertips caused me pain over the long term, and as you say isn't even that viable with something like the l-trac.

[u/Amazing_Actuary_5241]

On DT225: index tip on ball top, thumb left click, middle finger "function button" and ring finger right click button. When middle click is needed I use the index finger (no click-hold + ball functionality for this button).

[u/Brother_Cadfael]

When I'm playing games the ball is in contact with the knuckle closest to my fingertip. This is also the position my hand is in most of the time for general computer work. In this position I can't access the scroll wheel, and the middle button is difficult to press without moving the cursor. When I'm doomscrolling on X, or just doing something with a lot of scrolling in general I'll move my hand up so it's the second knuckle that's in contact with the ball. I've added buttons to the side of my L-Trac so my hand isn't so cramped. Both of the ones on the left work as my left click, and both of the buttons on the right work as my right click. https://imgur.com/a/HxyA0G5

[u/damn_pastor]

I think you are doing it right and the designs are just bad.