3 ms·

I did a whole lot of research on this topic — including replacing several defective sticks — last winter. The strangest thing I learned is, virtually everyone

I did a whole lot of research on this topic — including replacing several defective sticks — last winter. The strangest thing I learned is, virtually everyone uses the same thumbsticks. Sony and Microsoft etc. buy them all from a company called ALPS, whom I remember as mouse/trackpad manufacturers back in the nineties. So why do Switches seem to have so much trouble with this, while Playstations don't? my guesses… - Switches are just used a lot more (seems unlikely) - Switches get exposed to more dirt and crap by being thrown in backpacks and bags a lot (maybe?) - The clearance between the joycon and the stick mechanism isn't tight enough (doesn't hold up to scrutiny IMHO) Anyway, I've found that dribbling a little rubbing alcohol on the ball of the thumbsticks and rocking a few orbits usually clears it up for a few months, and I still derive enough joy from these cons to give them a pass on it.

bmurphy1976 5y ago
The joycon thumbsticks are nothing like the joysticks on the xbox/ps4 controllers. They may be the same manufacturer (which I'm skeptical), but they are clearly a different product line at the very least.
- Eric_WVGG 5y ago
  OEM replacement for Xbox Elite Controller - https://www.zedlabz.com/products/alps-3d-internal-analog-thumbstick-modules-for-xbox-one-elite-2-controller-threaded-thumbstick-internal-replacement-2-pack-zedlabz https://www.zedlabz.com/products/alps-3d-internal-analog-thu... OEM replacement for Switch - https://www.aliexpress.com/item/32840163595.html https://www.aliexpress.com/item/32840163595.html yes, probably different product lines (in fact definitely, the Xbox stick is threaded metal), but I dug into ALPS's inventory and they don't offer more than two or possibly three models in total.
  - numpad0 5y ago
    That second one can’t be for Joy-Con. The ones used in Switch is not that type of traditional 2-axis potentiometer.
  - bmurphy1976 5y ago
    That part is for the Pro controller, not the JoyCons.
jeffbee 5y ago
Maybe it’s because players put so many hours into breath of the wild, where you just hold the left stick straight up forever.
numpad0 5y ago
I think it’s the height and resulting design differences. Switch sticks are half as thick compared to normal ones, and internal design don’t resemble classical 2-axis joysticks.

bmurphy1976 5y ago

The joycon thumbsticks are nothing like the joysticks on the xbox/ps4 controllers. They may be the same manufacturer (which I'm skeptical), but they are clearly a different product line at the very least.

Eric_WVGG 5y ago
OEM replacement for Xbox Elite Controller - https://www.zedlabz.com/products/alps-3d-internal-analog-thumbstick-modules-for-xbox-one-elite-2-controller-threaded-thumbstick-internal-replacement-2-pack-zedlabz https://www.zedlabz.com/products/alps-3d-internal-analog-thu... OEM replacement for Switch - https://www.aliexpress.com/item/32840163595.html https://www.aliexpress.com/item/32840163595.html yes, probably different product lines (in fact definitely, the Xbox stick is threaded metal), but I dug into ALPS's inventory and they don't offer more than two or possibly three models in total.
- numpad0 5y ago
  That second one can’t be for Joy-Con. The ones used in Switch is not that type of traditional 2-axis potentiometer.
- bmurphy1976 5y ago
  That part is for the Pro controller, not the JoyCons.

jeffbee 5y ago

Maybe it’s because players put so many hours into breath of the wild, where you just hold the left stick straight up forever.

numpad0 5y ago

I think it’s the height and resulting design differences. Switch sticks are half as thick compared to normal ones, and internal design don’t resemble classical 2-axis joysticks.