Stick TX vs Pistol Grip TX

[Falcon#5]

I never liked Pistol Grip back in the day.

Didn't feel right using one.

The 'Quick Drive' cars used them, and the proper kits seemed to have Stick type.

But nowadays, Pistol Grip seems to be the most popular choice.

Is one better than the other?

Or is it just a matter of preference?

Cheers.

[Butler]

I think its whatever you use when younger is what becomes the preference.

I don't know anyone who uses pistol, but I know for sure they as widely used as stick.

[mtbkym01]

It appears that 'stick' radio's are most widely used in the UK. Here in Australia I would suggest 98% (if not more) use 'wheel' radio's. It truely is a matter of preference. I originated with the good ole Acoms Techniplus radio back in the day, but did change to wheel radio's after a year or so (to be honest, probably only because that is what most racers had). Now though, I definately find the wheel type radio far easier to use due to feeling more proportionate, espaecially with steering.

It really is personal preference, there are some top racers in this country that do still use stick radio's, google Ian Haley and see what comes up.

[TA-Mark]

All of the toy RCs I'd driven when I was younger all had stick transmitters without proportional control. When I first bought a Tamiya (Repsol Escort) is came with a Futaba stick contoller and I had so much trouble trying to control the vehicle at speed. As a result I drove the Escort very little. It wasn't long before I was back at the hobby shop for my 2nd car (TA03F Impreza WRC) and with it I bought a 2PK AM pistol grip. With the 2PK I was able to control the speed easily and it worked fine with both models. The RC addiction was born!

I keep giving away the 2 channel stick controllers I seem to keep acquiring. I use the one 3PKSs for almost everything now, and the 2PK for the models I can't get FM or 2.4Ghz into.

The only vehicle I use now with stick controller is the 3-spd High-Lift, and only because I have no other choice. If there was a pistol grip controller with a gear stick on it I would have it instead.

When it comes to flying, I have no trouble using a stick controller. Sticks feel right for flight.

If I can ever get a FPV setup to work how I want it to without any loss of signal or lag, I'll fit the transmitter into a steering wheel and pedals controller for PC and drive like that.

If cars were meant to be driven with sticks, you wouldn't have a wheel sitting infront of you as part of the dash.

[Falcon#5]

Maybe it's just a matter of getting used to Pistol Grip?

In theory, they seem to be more precise, I have put a lot of thought into it.

I might just get one and see how I go.

But one thing for sure is, my original Falcon is keeping the Acoms Techniplus stick TX!

[tonysmini]

With me it depends on what I am driving, for the rally and racers then it's the pistol grips, if I am driving my Clod or I want slow speed precision, then it's the trusty sticks.

[Butler]

If cars were meant to be driven with sticks, you wouldn't have a wheel sitting infront of you as part of the dash.

lol I don't think the comparison is fair. I my beemer has pedals, not a gun trigger.

[EddScott]

Can't cope with wheel at all.

I blame it on being a leftie but I'm sure theres plenty of lefties who use wheels without a problem.

Stick for me (typical brit)

[Henk4Focus]

I use sticks on most of my cars as that the way I got them. Also like the feel of a pistol grip more when speed comes into play like on the TNX and Super Levant. Makes it a lot easier to control.

Beating around with my bashers the stick does its job just fine. Doodling around with the CR01 is also fine with the stick.

[Origineelreclamebord]

I can drive with both, no problem, though I must say that the last time I used a stick controller for an RC car was a while back My first controller was an Acoms Techniplus stick TX, and I really like it: Very simple, effective and comfortable to use, especially for a (nowadays anyway) cheap radio.

After that I had a few more stick controllers in purchases (but I never really trusted them as I didn't know the history of them). I them at some point got the TL01 RTR from my uncle (he didn't use it anymore), which included a wheel (Adspec GP). I liked it from the moment I first held it A basic design like the Techniplus really, but with attention to detail as it was comfortable as well.

To me it was clear though: the wheel was the way to go It felt very natural to use it, even more I guess than a stick TX, hence why I've got a Futaba 3PM 2.4Ghz nowadays!

[Saito]

As a kid (and most other kids my age) were into sticks. As mentioned, part of this was because the RTR Nikko/Tyco stuff usually came with one. We thought pistols would be odd to get used to (not really being sure which way to turn the wheel ; kids worry about stuff like that). After getting my hands on a pistol grip, using it became second nature of course and the wheel did add a good bit of precision to the steering input.

[Wez-li]

When I was younger I always had twin sticks, I tried a pistol/wheel transmitter when I got back into r/c, but couldn't get on with it, so it was back to the standard twin sticks for me!

[SteelRat]

Started off with a trusty Acoms 2ch Stick TX back in the day with my Monster Beetle, and whilst I always saw the logic of a pistol and wheel tx for a car, didn't think I'd really take to it. Had a go of a mates Revo with the pistol grip and it immediately felt more intuitive and "right". Have since bought a cheap HPI pistol grip controller, and can't really see myself going back. Like others though I do use sticks for 4 channel control.

[No Slack]

After using a stick controller for more then 20 years I changed to a wheel controller last year. It feels so more natural with steering. With sticks I always had to think when the car was running to me or away from me. With the wheel left and right are always logical. It was my son with his wheel controller that convinced me. He drove his car so easy that I had a try it myself.

For my CC-01 I am going to use the stick controller again as speed is not an issue.

[TWINSET]

If cars were meant to be driven with sticks, you wouldn't have a wheel sitting infront of you as part of the dash.

lol I don't think the comparison is fair. I my beemer has pedals, not a gun trigger.

Pedals for steering?

Can't cope with wheel at all.

I blame it on being a leftie but I'm sure theres plenty of lefties who use wheels without a problem.

Stick for me (typical brit)

I think it's more 'brit' than leftie - I've converted to pistol except for 4channel crawling, and much prefer pistols now, although the ones that take 8AA batteries 'feel' better than the 4AA ones for some reason

I guess it's whatever's about at the time - the abundance of RTR kits with pistols now pretty much condemn sticks to fliers, tank drivers, truckers and crawlers now, I reckon.

[humbug]

As a kid, i always thought that the pistol grips looked like cheap gimmiky toys.

I have never actually tried one and it might actually feel better with a pistol transmitter, but I`ve always used stick controllers and they just had more of a sense of quality to them.

Not only in RC do I use stick, but i guess growing up as a gamer, using a D-pad for all those years made it that much more intuitive. And then games like granturismo evolved to using dual analogue... The addictivness of that game probably makes it hard for me to change from stick transmitters now.

I was considering changing when I upgraded to 2.4GHz... but i can be a cheap skate and use the 8 channel system for flying or any other RC hobby I feel like. Typical cheap skate Aussie

[Gruntfuggly]

Sticks for me - the only time for a wheel controller is when you need to drive one handed...

[TWINSET]

Sticks for me - the only time for a wheel controller is when you need to drive one handed...

Indeed

http://www.tamiyaclub.com/showroom_model.a...2963&id=169

[TA-Mark]

Not only in RC do I use stick, but i guess growing up as a gamer, using a D-pad for all those years made it that much more intuitive. And then games like granturismo evolved to using dual analogue... The addictivness of that game probably makes it hard for me to change from stick transmitters now.

Gran Turismo 1 -> 5 I've used wheel/pedals. Currently using a G25 Logitech with GT5. It shows who is quicker in the online seasonal time trials. Nearly all the top 100 are using wheels/pedals, and the top 20 all are. My PSX, PS2 dual analog and PS3 6-axis controllers are all new, unused, and still in their original plastic bag.

Funny is watching someone trying to drive GT5 with a 6-axis when damage is on and they messed up. 9 out of 10 times they exit the race then complain about the damage setting, or the TCS or steering assist being locked off. Then they rage quit. Too funny!

[digitrc]

I never liked Pistol Grip back in the day.

Didn't feel right using one.

The 'Quick Drive' cars used them, and the proper kits seemed to have Stick type.

But nowadays, Pistol Grip seems to be the most popular choice.

Is one better than the other?

No

Or is it just a matter of preference?

Cheers.

Yes.

When I first got a car 20+ years ago and went racing, EVERYONE in the UK ran sticks, it was incredibly rare to see anyone running a wheel, and all the magazine ads of the American drivers using them looked strangely exotic.

About 10 years ago, the RTR boom started. At first, a few of them came with sticks especially for the UK market, now they all come with wheels.

If you go to a race and see someone with a stick set, there's a 99% chance that they have been racing for at least 10 years. Some people have swapped over, but not many.

I can't race with a wheel but I can drive one around the garden.

[Scoman]

Can't cope with wheel at all.

I blame it on being a leftie but I'm sure theres plenty of lefties who use wheels without a problem.

Stick for me (typical brit)

I can`t do the wheel thing either.

I`m also a leftie...I like your theory, I`m going with that!

[TWINSET]

I can`t do the wheel thing either.

I`m also a leftie...I like your theory, I`m going with that!

You're giving us lefties a bad (worse) reputation!

The left hand does throttle whether it's stick or pistol, and the right still does the steering.

Short of changing the pots around on a stick-set, you're already converting to rightism - FIGHT THE RIGHT

[digitrc]

Some wheel radios can be converted to left hand operation by mounting the wheel on the back of the radio... ideal for those sinister lefties!

[markbt73]

With me it depends on what I am driving, for the rally and racers then it's the pistol grips, if I am driving my Clod or I want slow speed precision, then it's the trusty sticks.

I'm the same way. I like the faster response of a wheel for when I have to "flick" the wheels around, but I feel like I get better control of the throttle from a stick for crawlers.

[raysan]

Like many I started off with the sticks, a Futaba attack, on my frog. I used this and other stick controllers for ages and never thought i'd use pistol grips. After probably 15 years out of the rc car hobby (well just not buying anything new) i bought a 1/5th baja when they first came out. It came with a cheapo fm system pistol grip and I liked it straight away. I dont know if it was the grin factor of the big gasser or what but i buzed after every run those first few months. When I decided to start buying new cars again i chose the Futaba, first love with rc controller brands, 3pks 2.4ghz. Now I use that controller for just about everything. I'll admit that 1 reciever and servo costs about as much if not more than a cheap stick system but I thought why have a shelf full of controlers when i could have 1 system that really rocks and i could use for everything car related. Sticks are a different feel and i recon i'll try and rejuvenate the old well dead attack and accoms systems one day for vintage cars and the nostalgia feeling and i use sticks for the F350.

To answer the question. I rekon it is totaly personal preference, for me i like pretty much anything rc and am happy to use it all in any form.