I assume that there are two possible reasons why you would be asking this question. You could just be curious or you might be looking for new ways of changing your play style.
Maybe you are hoping that it will make you better. Either way, let’s take a look at why gamers tilt their keyboard.
It is mostly pro gamers that tilt their keyboard and the main reason is that at tournaments and events they have limited space. So, tilting their keyboard maximizes the amount of space they have and also the space their teammates have. It could also be to reach buttons easily or simply for comfort.
In the rest of this article, we are going to talk about why gamers tilt their keyboard, and then we are also going to talk about whether or not you should tilt yours.
Finally, we are going to add a little bonus section which would be, should you raise or lower your keyboard. So for everything you need to know, keep reading.
Reasons Why Gamers Tilt Their Keyboard
In this section, I want to take a little bit of a deeper look at the reasons why gamers tilt their keyboard. Before we jump into it, I want to quickly note that you have probably seen this being done by most pro gamers.
That is very important to remember throughout this article. Here are 3 reasons why they do this.
- Use desk space efficiently
- Comfort
- Easier access to more keys
1. Space
When we talk about space, we mean the amount of space that pro gamers have on their desk. You have probably watched a few pro players stream while not in tournaments.
You should notice that when they play games at home they do not tilt their keyboards. This is because it is mainly at events that they do it.
When a pro gamer is in a tournament or at an event, he/she doesn’t have that much space to work with.
So, tilting their keyboard not only gives them more space to move the mouse, but it also gives his teammate, who is right next to him, even more space as well. This, overall, helps the entire team
2. Comfort
Some gamers might do this simply because it’s more comfortable for them. Why it is more comfortable could be for a number of reasons. It is important to remember that everybody is different.
We all have certain preferences even though some of them might seem silly to others.
At the end of the day, tilting a keyboard could make the gamer feel a little more comfortable.
3. Easier Access To Some Buttons
I bet that when you were searching this question, you probably already had this in mind and I am even going to make a brave assumption that you were just searching it to validate your theory.
Well, in some cases yes, some buttons are a lot easier to access when you tilt your keyboard a little bit. In fact, next time you are sitting in front of a keyboard, just tilt it slightly and see how much more of your hand covers the keyboard.
No, it’s not an optical illusion it simply just works.
With all of that being said, this is probably the least likely reason for why someone would tilt their keyboard. I guess it just depends on what game they are playing.
Do Pro Gamers Always Tilt Their Keyboard?
If you have made it this far into the article, I am pretty sure that by now we have established that it is mostly pro gamers that tilt their keyboards. If you’re wondering whether or not they always tilt the keyboard, maybe because you are thinking of doing the same thing, let’s take a look.
It is hard to say what a pro gamer does when he is not in front of the camera but judging from watching a lot of streams and through personal experiences, I think it is safe to say that no, pro-gamers do not always tilt the keyboard.
I think the most common reason for why they tilt their keyboard is, as we mentioned above when space is limited but when that space is not limited and a pro gamer is gaming in the comfort of his own home, then I am pretty sure they have enough desk space to accommodate their play styles.
I think quite a big factor to consider would also be what game someone is playing.
Not every game is the same and there are definitely a few games out there that might be more comfortable to play with the tilted keyboard.
Does Tilting Your Keyboard Make You A Better Gamer?
I guess the big question is, will tilting your keyboard when playing Rainbow Six Siege take you from a low-level bronze all the way to diamond where you clutch your final match before becoming a champion?
Maybe you think that tilting your keyboard might help you get selected as part of team vitality in CS GO? Maybe you are hoping that tilting your keyboard might make you a better player regardless of what game you’re playing?
Well, let’s take a look.
No, unfortunately, in my experience, tilting your keyboard will not make you a better gamer. It might help you play some games better or it might make gaming more comfortable for you which could make it better, but those are all “ifs and buts.”
As cliche as it sounds, the best way to get good at gaming or to at least get better is to practice. Don’t be afraid to watch tutorials even from creators that you might not like. Also, watch tournaments and see what those players do.
I am a champion in Rocket League and if it was not for Youtube, I would probably only be gold.
Should You Tilt Your Keyboard?
I think I pretty much answered this in the section above but for anyone who is skimming through the article looking for this section, let’s discuss whether or not you should tilt your keyboard.
If you have a small desk and want to increase the amount of space you have for your mouse then yes tilt your keyboard.
It might take some time getting used to but at least you will have a little bit more space. It will not mean that you will play better.
If you struggle to reach some of the keys needed for certain games, why not try and tilt your keyboard just to see if it makes it a bit easier for you.
Now, it won’t be the same for every game so you will probably end up playing with your keyboard in the normal position for most games. However, just try it out and see how you do.
Should Your Keyboard Be Raised Or Flat For Gaming?
This question is another question that I get asked quite often when people start talking about how to get better at playing games and I think it kind of relates to tilting the keyboard sideways. Anyway, I am going to try my best to answer it, so, here we go.
A lot of the time when we play games our hands get sore. For most of us, we just play through the discomfort and then sleep it off. For some people, it gets worse. Raising or lowering your keyboard so that your wrists are straight could prevent this.
When playing games your hands should never bend up or down too far. You want them to be as straight as possible. So, depending on the height of your desk, you would want to either raise or drop your keyboard so that your wrist is straight.
Final Thoughts
Let me close off this article by being completely honest with you. It doesn’t matter how you play games as long as you have fun.
If your goal is to start streaming or to become professional then sure, try and find the best ways of maximizing your efficiency in a game, and don’t be afraid to experiment with different ways of playing.
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