Controversy about space bar flipping

[ifearghal]

I'm not familiar with this controversy about space bar flipping. Is it a aesthetic thing or a performance thing? Or neither? No idea, I've just seen it commented on a couple of times here and other keyboard forums.

[FLFisherman]

A little from Column A, a little from Column B. Personal preference is what it boils down to. I also think most people here pretend to take a strong stance on it just for fun.

[E.E.L. Ambiense]

Personally, I prefer flipping the spacebar bottom-up, and glue the bar to the switch posts.  That way I have some area for grip with my fingertips whilst hammering away at a sarcastic post.

[Malenky]

Personally I press the space bar with my forehead. Because of this, I need to flip it, or it just doesn't make sense.

[pr0ximity]

I personally believe that if you have a flipped spacebar it's an indicator of poor ergonomics. Your thumb should be over the top of the spacebar, because your wrists should also be above it. From my experience, a flipped spacebar sucks to press if you press down on it from above, it only works if you press it from the side.

But as it's been mentioned, there are always caveats. Some people just type weird.

[ifearghal]

A little from Column A, a little from Column B. Personal preference is what it boils down to. I also think most people here pretend to take a strong stance on it just for fun.

Ah gotcha. Thank you.

[ifearghal]

Personally, I prefer flipping the spacebar bottom-up, and glue the bar to the switch posts.  That way I have some area for grip with my fingertips whilst hammering away at a sarcastic post.

Personally I press the space bar with my forehead. Because of this, I need to flip it, or it just doesn't make sense.

 )

I've now decided to blend your posts and have currently flipped, glued bottom up, and hit it with my forehead. I've noticed a significant difference in my WPM, ergonomics, and ability to post ever sarcastically. Thank you both.

[1swt2gs]

Just came here to say...

#flippedspacebarmasterrace

[Malenky]

Personally, I prefer flipping the spacebar bottom-up, and glue the bar to the switch posts.  That way I have some area for grip with my fingertips whilst hammering away at a sarcastic post.

Personally I press the space bar with my forehead. Because of this, I need to flip it, or it just doesn't make sense.

 )

I've now decided to blend your posts and have currently flipped, glued bottom up, and hit it with my forehead. I've noticed a significant difference in my WPM, ergonomics, and ability to post ever sarcastically. Thank you both.

Instructions not clear, keyboard stuck to head.

[appleonama]

#banflippers

[ifearghal]

Personally, I prefer flipping the spacebar bottom-up, and glue the bar to the switch posts.  That way I have some area for grip with my fingertips whilst hammering away at a sarcastic post.

Personally I press the space bar with my forehead. Because of this, I need to flip it, or it just doesn't make sense.

 )

I've now decided to blend your posts and have currently flipped, glued bottom up, and hit it with my forehead. I've noticed a significant difference in my WPM, ergonomics, and ability to post ever sarcastically. Thank you both.

Instructions not clear, keyboard stuck to head.

You've done it correctly.

[katushkin]

There is no controversy. Only inevitability.

[xtrafrood]

Flipped spacebars are a way to stick it to 'the Man.'

Flip your spacebar to see the violence inherent in the system! 

[fanpeople]

****

[rowdy]

People who flip space bars often have delicate little hands, and a non-flipped space bar is "too sharp" or something like that.

Occasionally someone will flip their entire bottom row.

And it is not unheard of for someone to flip every keycap on their keyboard.  Although I believe he did that just to prove a point.

[katushkin]

People who flip space bars often have delicate little hands, and a non-flipped space bar is "too sharp" or something like that.

I thought it was the other way round? When you flip it you get the top of the spacebar to hit which is raised up and "sharper"?

[raymogi]

Tried it. Not my cup of tea.

[ThoughtArtist]

I actually tried it when I first got my Shine 4 after having used a Logitech Elite LE for years. The Logitech had a sloped spacebar that I had gotten used to, but like pr0ximity said, I think I was just used to using poor ergonomics as I was pressing the spacebar from the front a bit. Now I'm used to having my wrists straight and raised a bit so I press down on the spacebar like all the other keys and there is no way I'd ever flip my spacebar at this point.

[rowdy]

I actually tried it when I first got my Shine 4 after having used a Logitech Elite LE for years. The Logitech had a sloped spacebar that I had gotten used to, but like pr0ximity said, I think I was just used to using poor ergonomics as I was pressing the spacebar from the front a bit. Now I'm used to having my wrists straight and raised a bit so I press down on the spacebar like all the other keys and there is no way I'd ever flip my spacebar at this point.

[validifyed]

I tried a flipped spacebar for a few days. I can only see it being useful if you rest your wrists down when you type, and only use thumbs for the spacebar. I do neither and so quickly changed back.
I found it less annoying for gaming as I do tend to rest my hand down for that, however the different angle of the thumb while resting on the WASD cluster seems to make this also slightly less useful than the people who advocate space flipping seem to say that it is.

[FLFisherman]

I tried a flipped spacebar for a few days. I can only see it being useful if you rest your wrists down when you type, and only use thumbs for the spacebar. I do neither and so quickly changed back.
I found it less annoying for gaming as I do tend to rest my hand down for that, however the different angle of the thumb while resting on the WASD cluster seems to make this also slightly less useful than the people who advocate space flipping seem to say that it is.

What do you press spacebar with if not your thumbs?

[validifyed]

I tried a flipped spacebar for a few days. I can only see it being useful if you rest your wrists down when you type, and only use thumbs for the spacebar. I do neither and so quickly changed back.
I found it less annoying for gaming as I do tend to rest my hand down for that, however the different angle of the thumb while resting on the WASD cluster seems to make this also slightly less useful than the people who advocate space flipping seem to say that it is.

What do you press spacebar with if not your thumbs?

Forefinger You will have to trust me when I say that I have given touch typing a fair chance, but I find id rather stick to my messy, less accurate and more 'exhausting' brand of typing.

[whmeltonjr]

I personally believe that if you have a flipped spacebar it's an indicator of poor ergonomics. Your thumb should be over the top of the spacebar, because your wrists should also be above it. From my experience, a flipped spacebar sucks to press if you press down on it from above, it only works if you press it from the side.

But as it's been mentioned, there are always caveats. Some people just type weird.

+1 to everything about this.

[kasakka]

It depends a lot on the keyboard and keycaps in question. I flip the spacebar on my Topre Realforce but not on my QPAD MK50. I don't flip the QPAD because with its default keyset I found no benefit but that Topre edge is kind of sharp and the keyboard sits a bit higher.

If I had any say in the matter all keyboards would have split spacebars though. I loved that on my old Z-Board (as well as the 3-part removable keycaps).

[E.E.L. Ambiense]

Forefinger You will have to trust me when I say that I have given touch typing a fair chance, but I find id rather stick to my messy, less accurate and more 'exhausting' brand of typing.

Hey at least you use your hands; I've seen worse!

[FLFisherman]

Forefinger You will have to trust me when I say that I have given touch typing a fair chance, but I find id rather stick to my messy, less accurate and more 'exhausting' brand of typing.

Hey at least you use your hands; I've seen worse!

I am definitely going to need a followup with this.

[ThoughtArtist]

[hkf]

Use an uniform profile and this argument goes out the door

[FLFisherman]

Use an uniform profile and this argument goes out the door

DSA all the way!

[ThoughtArtist]

All these points are moot. Ultimate superior ergonomics:

[xtrafrood]

All these points are moot. Ultimate superior ergonomics:

Show Image

+1 for upside down laptop treadmill

[dannrawr]

Just came here to say...

#flippedspacebarmasterrace

+1

[appleonama]

Are we banning space bar flippers yet?

[LiquidEvilGaming]

I have tried it on one of my TKL keyboards and one of my 60% boards and on both it just felt awkward and uncomfortable.  Given how awkward my typing style is i'm not one to judge what works for anyone else but for myself i simply don't enjoy it in the slightest.

[E.E.L. Ambiense]

I am definitely going to need a followup with this.

Hahah, well there's the 'typical hunt-n-peck' people (my retired father for one), which is always a laugh to watch.  I knew someone at a place in Orlando I worked at for a year a while back that used only his thumbs.  Not kidding.  And I knew someone in college years ago that swears he knew someone else that could type with his lower-extremities, but he worded things rather vaguely (most likely on purpose for entertainment value, or perhaps to minimize shock).

[OfTheWild]

I havent made up my mind on it yet. So far i kinda like it flipped.

[UltraNEO]

Hiya all!

I'm reading this thread... and thinking... WHY??

[mobbo]

the only time you should flip the spacebar is when half of it gets super shiny from hitting it

then flip it so the other half gets some symmetrical love

[E.E.L. Ambiense]

I'm reading this thread... and thinking... WHY??

I do the same thing when I wake up in the morning and look in the mirror.

[i3oilermaker]

I flip - I just think its more comfortable.  The angle that my  my thumb hits the bar matches the angle of the flipped bar.

[rowdy]

Hiya all!

I'm reading this thread... and thinking... WHY??

Welcome to Geekhack!

Interesting first post for someone who joined more than 18 months ago - why the long wait?

[OfTheWild]

Hiya all!

I'm reading this thread... and thinking... WHY??

Welcome to Geekhack!

Interesting first post for someone who joined more than 18 months ago - why the long wait?

probably someones alt-ego

[ThoughtArtist]

Hiya all!

I'm reading this thread... and thinking... WHY??

[iLLucionist]

Just came here to say...

#flippedspacebarmasterrace

You know it!

[iLLucionist]

People who flip space bars often have delicate little hands, and a non-flipped space bar is "too sharp" or something like that.

Occasionally someone will flip their entire bottom row.

And it is not unheard of for someone to flip every keycap on their keyboard.  Although I believe he did that just to prove a point.

Why not flip over the whole board with the spacebar on top? Make things interesting for a change?

[iLLucionist]

All these points are moot. Ultimate superior ergonomics:

Show Image

What has been seen cannot be unseen. that's fo sho..

[iLLucionist]

Depending on the board, I flip it as well. HHKB as a more steep profile, so the spacebar is a bit tilted inwards to the center of the board. So I flip them spacebar. It feels more natural for me.

[quasistellar]

I flip the spacebar on any board that I use when gaming, because my wrist will be resting on the desk or wrist rest. For work boards I use a normal spacebar.

[ThoughtArtist]

Get rid of it entirely. I'm behind Google on this. It's just too much.

[PunksDead]

If you flip it, go flip yourself