It’s no secret buying a claw grip mouse has gotten complicated.
Even 10 years ago people didn’t even know what claw grip was and now tech companies are building mice specifically for claw grip users.
With all the marketing hype and new features it can be difficult to tell what the best claw grip mouse looks like. With the marketing budgets of large companies the worst thing you can do is to buy a mouse only to find it isn’t what you wanted or worse breaks in a week.
We’ve looked at as many claw grip mice on the market as possible and have not only a list of the top picks but what features you should look for and what grip styles you should consider.
List Of Best Claw Grip Mice
1.Razer Viper Ultimate – The Best Claw Grip Mouse
There are two fantastic mice Razer manufactures in this category – the razer viper ultimate and the razer viper. They have all the same features except the razer viper ultimate is the wireless mouse option.
Razer have done a great job in recent years when in comes to technology and this mouse is no different, the razer viper ultimate uses the best pieces from other mice to create a beast of a mouse.
For starters the design is sleek and functional, there isn’t too much mouse for the palm and it is clear that the design was built as a claw grip mouse specifically.
The DPI is 20,000, which might not mean much to the average user but as we cover later, DPI relates to how far your screen cursor can move depending on how much you move your mouse. Higher is better as it allows for precise and accurate motions which the razer viper ultimate covers well.
The built in sensor is also equipped with 650 IPS tracking which means the mouse can move far in one fluid motion before it has to go back and check what you are doing. Speed is great here.
No more mouse errors where your screen cursor goes haywire, with this claw grip gaming mouse you’ll have accurate and smooth movements.
Ergonomic mice have become a buzzword recently but all it comes down to size and design. The size for the razer viper is average at 12.5 cm in length, good for average hand users while the arch is low geared towards claw grip users as a high arch can get in the way of the finger arch.
The Viper has a heap of extra functions including a scroll wheel and 8 buttons, perfect for gamers who want fast paced clicking and adjustments.
In terms of the side buttons, from experience they are placed well for claw grip users, not too low that the travel time to hit them is too far. The buttons can also be turned off easily so you don’t have to worry about mis-clicks.
The battery life is 70 hours, a bit lower if you choose to use the RGB feature but not only does it have a charging station but you can also play while it is plugged in as well so you’ll never have to wait to use or need a secondary mouse as a backup.
The other feature that the razer viper ultimate has that the wired connection model does not is the PTFE mouse feet which is the top of the line response you can get when using a mouse pad for tracking.
Dimensions:
- weight: light weight at 74g
- Length: 12.5cm suits average hands
- width: 6cm
- height: 3.8cm, not too high to impede claw grip users
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2.Logitech G Pro Wireless
The Logitech G Pro Wireless is a great all round gaming mouse, and works well for claw grip users. The wireless mouse is suited not only for gaming but office use as well. It has a discrete black design and even the buttons blend into the side of the gaming mouse.
In terms of size, it is well suited for most hand sizes and grips and will work for most people, the one downside with the design is that it does have the same arch as most mice, meaning a little higher than other claw grip specific mice.
In terms of a gaming mouse, it has multiple programmable buttons and the Logitech G Pro Wireless allows you to customize features through an app. This flexibility is what makes it one of the best mice on the market and one of the best claw grip gaming mice.
Like the razer, the logitech g pro wireless is an ambidextrous mouse making it great for everything including gamers who use two mice to play.
You can use the logitech g pro wireless as a wireless mouse of course but it also has a cabled option for when you run our of battery.
It does have a couple of downsides as a gaming mouse, for one the scroll wheel is average but more importantly the cabled option does create a bit of drag and the two side buttons might not be enough for rpg or mmorpg games.
Dimensions:
- weight: with the cable the weight is 117g and without it is a light mouse at 82g
- Length: 12.6cm great all round size
- width: 6.3cm
- height: 4.0cm, a little higher than some claw grip mice
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3.Zowie FK1
The Zowie FK1 quickly became the gold standard in the gaming industry when it came to the best claw grip gaming mouse, at the time it was one of the original well built mice specifically for the claw grip.
The zowie is still used as a gaming mouse by a lot of professionals in the industry and it’s easy to see why. It has a low height and the arch allows you to comfortably manage the claw grip without strain for hours.
The mouse has an outstanding 8 buttons, making it a fantastic mouse for serious gamers who want fast clicking action and quick adjustments. The buttons on the right side of the mouse fit perfectly with the ring finger while using the grip.
One issue I’ve had with other mice is the sweat and stuff on your hands rubbing off on the mouse and damaging the quality, the Zowie FK1 is finished with a plastic coat while feeling durable so no sweat gets on the important pieces.
It isn’t a wireless mouse, which makes sense for professional gamers who want the signal to travel as fast as possible and the cable is 2 metres long, fitting into any gaming setup.
It has even a better sensor than other mice which makes the cursor movements very smooth and you won’t have any issues with mechanical switches.
There is a reason the Zowie FK1 has been a staple claw grip mouse for years, it is a high quality mouse built for gamers using the grip.
Dimensions:
- weight: 89g
- Length: 12.8cm great general size
- width: 6.0cm
- height: 3.7cm, working well for claw grip
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4.SteelSeries Rival 3
The SteelSeries is the best budget mouse for the claw grip gamers. Why is it the budget option?
Well while the mouse is well built the max CPI isn’t as high as other gaming mice on this list and it’s not as precise, it should still be fine for most casual gamers.
The adjustable polling rate makes the movements feel smooth and controlled and the latency suits all gamers from casual to pro.
It has two side buttons on the left side of the mouse which are customizable through the software, compatible with windows and apple. The buttons are a bit stiff and the scroll wheel is a bit low which makes scrolling a little harder given the finger position of the claw grip.
In terms of using the claw grip, the back of the mouse is high positioned with the front clickable part lower, suiting minimal contact with the middle of the palm.
It is a wired mouse, not wireless, which can be a turn off for some but the cable is well built and doesn’t get in the way of performance.
Overall for those looking to try out the claw grip and for casual not professional gamers the budget option provided by the SteelSeries is an excellent choice.
It has all the features for a well built claw grip mouse without costing an arm and a leg for a mouse, of course with the reduction in price you do miss out on some button functionality and things that can make or break professional gamers when every second and every accurate cursor movement counts.
Dimensions:
- weight: 79g without the wire
- Length: 12.1cm a bit on the small side but this works well with the grip
- width: 6.7cm, suits those with wider than average hands
- height: 3.8cm, suiting the claw grip perfectly
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5.Ninox Venator
Ninox designed the Venator as a way to compete with the big boys like Logitech G and Razer Viper and they’ve done a great job at creating a gaming mouse that is a great mouse for those on a budget.
To start it has an ambidextrous design and boasts an optical sensor clocking in at 3360, a great sensor for office users to professional gamers.
The DPI is super flexible, and can be changed from 400 up to 12,000 DPI and comes with built in selections for the novice who doesn’t know what setting to choose.
The arch at the back over the middle of the mouse mean it is suited for claw grip users while the design makes it look great for gamers, this mouse looks flash and high end like a gaming mouse should.
Given you’ll be looking at it and using it for months or years it is worth getting something you enjoy looking at and this mouse blends in well with any gaming setup.
The Ninox Venator has 6 buttons in total, 2 side buttons a scroll button and DPI button as well as the main ones for clicking. The travel time between buttons is average and would suit casual gamers.
The lift off distance hovers around 2 millimetres and supports two polling rate options which is great for gamers.
Outside of the dimensions there is one more feature worth mentioning, the longevity of the Venator. It is a bit creaky when you click or move the mouse quickly which makes us wonder how long the mouse will last before further issues start to crack.
This is a super lightweight, great for gamers who don’t want any drag when moving quickly and it will allow you super accurate mouse movements. It will take some time to adapt coming from a regular mouse but the transition is worth it.
Dimensions:
- weight: 79g super fast movements
- Length: 12.2cm a tad small but works well for those who value speed
- width: 6.2cm, ergonomic
- height: 4.0cm, with the arch at the back the height works well for claw grip
Factors To Consider For A Claw Grip Gaming Mouse
Gaming mice have gotten complicated, whether it be genuine technological advances that make for better gaming experiences or marketing hype by manufacturers a gaming mouse isn’t just a mouse anymore.
There are several features you should consider before buying a new gaming mouse.
Connectivity
First off the bat is if you want a wireless mouse or wired mouse.
As a rule of thumb, a wired mouse is generally faster as the signal is travelling over cables while a wireless claw grip mouse can move faster but the signal might travel a bit slower.
Clickability
New gaming mice don’t just have two buttons you can click they also have extra button features designed for RPG games. For those looking for this extra functionality this can be a factor to consider.
Weight
You might not notice it at the time but a lightweight mouse moves faster than a standard mouse. For the claw grip we recommend the lightest mice available.
Mouse Size
This one depends on the user, specifically the size of your hand should determine how big the mouse you get is. If you want precision don’t get a mouse too big or too small for use.
Longevity
This comes down to quality, the best claw grip mouse is one that is built to last not only over time but also after frequent use.
If it’s something you are going to be using for maybe hours a day don’t go with the low quality, cheap option.
Lift Off Distance
This is a fancy term for how far the mouse has to be away from a surface to still register a signal. As another rule of thumb, lower is better. As a higher lift off distance can cause unpredictable movements you didn’t account for.
Dots Per Inch (DPI)
A high quality DPI will increase accuracy and consistency of movement. This is an important factor feature for gamers. A great gaming mouse and quality budget mouse should have a high DPI.
What Are The Different Mouse Grip Types?
There are three different mouse grips – the claw grip style, the palm grip, and the fingertip grip. Despite what influencers and opinionated gamers will have you believe there is never a one size fits all best mouse grip, and if you find one grip uncomfortable you shouldn’t change styles just because that’s the gaming mouse your favourite professional uses.
Helping understand the different mouse grip types will help you better understand which mouse to buy to suit the style as some gaming mice are built for certain grips.
Size also plays a factor here, as well as looking at your grip before buying a gaming mouse make sure the size fits the mouse.
Claw Grip (The Focus Of This Article)
The easiest way to describe the claw grip is to imagine your middle and index finger are like a glam on the mouse pads.
The claw grip has your palm remain in contact with the back of the mouse while arching your two main fingers so only the finger tip is in contact with the front of the mouse. On the whole this approach aims to reduce hand contact with the mouse as much as possible compared to the other mouse grip styles.
When Is The Claw Grip helpful?
There are two main reasons gamers choose this over other grip styles, speed and accuracy.
The reduced finger contact and lighter grip makes for faster clicking and a more rapid gaming style. No matter the game you are playing this can be an advantage if you can click that split second faster than everyone else.
The other benefit is the precision the claw grip style offers, again because you are lightly holding the mouse and not grabbing it your mouse movements can be a lot more precise, especially helpful in shooting games.
Are There Any Downsides To The Claw Grip?
Yes, given there is no consensus and it’s down to personal opinion for some the claw grip does have it’s trade-offs.
The main disadvantage is that over long stretches of gaming the grip style is painful. It can be difficult to hold your fingers in this position for a while and grip fatigue is the main issue here.
Fingertip Grip
The easiest way to visualise this grip is to imagine a large hand holding a tiny mouse, in this case your fingers would essentially be holding and moving the mouse not the plan, this is the finger tip grip.
You’re just using your finger to move and control your mouse rather than the traditional palm method.
Why is the fingertip grip good?
Again, similar to the claw grip this grip allows you to move fast. Compared to palm and fingertip grips combined, removing one part of the hand allows faster reaction times.
It is a lighter mouse grip which reduces strain on the hand and provides freedom of movement.
What’s the downside to this grip?
You will use your wrists a lot to move the mouse as you are focusing on the fingers not the palm for movement. As such some of the motions can appear jerky and not fluid, this takes some getting used to, especially for a new mouse.
Palm Grip
This is by far the most popular mouse grip as it is what feels most comfortable to a lot of people. Instinctively people just put the mouse in there hand and move it from there, while this feels comfortable it does have it’s pros and cons.
The palm grip means cupping the mouse in the palm of your hand and using mostly your hand to move the mouse. The palm rests on the mouse and this has the most palm contact of any of the mouse grip choices (hence the name)
Why is the palm grip good?
For starters this feels smooth for most people, natural for those born and raised in front of technology. Most could last for hours playing or working in this position without problems.
You’ll find, both due to the palm contact and how common it is that this provides the smoothest movements and tracking of the mouse.
It also allows you to use the arm and shoulder for movements without relying heavily on the wrist.
What are the downsides to the palm grip?
The only downside here is speed, which is why gamers have adopted the newer grips. You’ll find clicking and other micro adjustments take the longest here.
What Is the Best Grip To Use? You Won’t Like The Answer
The best grip depends on the user, ultimately it is what feels most comfortable and fastest for you.
For casual gamers who just want to have fun it can be easiest to just stick with what you know, which is likely the palm grip while for those looking to get more serious it might be worth looking at the claw grip as it does provide the fastest clicking options.
As we mentioned before different mice are built for different grip styles, an easy way to tell which grip is best for you is to get a mouse built for the grip type you want to try and see how comfortable it feels.
Wrapping Up – What Should Claw Grip Users Do?
For those already using a claw grip user or those looking to try it out we hoped we’ve outlined the benefits and disadvantages to using the claw grip style.
Given how different the grip is, it’s worth considering a claw grip mouse specifically built, there are both wired gaming mice and wireless technology that incorporate the design so the options are endless.
All the best claw grip mice on the list have been tested by us and highlight the important features to consider when looking to buy.