Any typing tips for reds?

[Lazerxzz]

I used blue switches for about 4 years and most recently switched to reds. (1 year ago) I also still bottom out very  hard. Anyone have any tips to be a more light typist? I make a ton of typos still and pretty much slam my fingers into the keyboard.

[demik]

only tip i have is to not use them

[hoggy]

I used to have the same problem.  The kinesis advantage has an option for a beep when you activate the key (which is half way down), which helped me a lot.  I wonder if there some software that will do the same thing...

[Fragil1ty]

I used blue switches for about 4 years and most recently switched to reds. (1 year ago) I also still bottom out very  hard. Anyone have any tips to be a more light typist? I make a ton of typos still and pretty much slam my fingers into the keyboard.

I guess it's just going to be one of those things that you learn to get better with over time unfortunately. Reds are one of the best key switches in my honest opinion, as for bottoming out, I have never been a big user on not bottoming out my keys, I really do not care either way to be honest with you.

[Macsmasher]

Sure do. Sell it on craigslist. Seriously, it's a decent switch for gaming. But for typing, you're denying yourself the pleasure of a tactile switch. The tactile feedback really does help.

If you like light switches MX browns or Topre variable are good choices.

[tp4tissue]

This comes down to technique

Switches may affect you "IF" you let them..  but ultimately how a switch feels and responds is just dressing..


The key to fast and accurate typing IS indeed to Bottom out.. and disregard switch feel all together..

Which is why I keep telling the n00bs that switches don't matter.. AT ALL... you should disregard them and process the information as closely as possible.


There are cases where you may be able to roll  the (inner column )keys  less than all the way down..  Rolling them this way may increase fluidity but ultimately decreases precision.



The majority of slower typists also do not have very good finger-freedom.. You sometimes see them hold their pinky and ring finger, up high in the air..

This is the result of poor motor control due to lack of training..


The key to overcoming this is to type SLOWLY, 1 key at a time, while making an effort to relax ALL other  hand muscles/fingers/wrist NOT currently in use..

Engaging fingers independently this way will greatly improve control-accuracy.

[azhdar]

This comes down to technique

Switches may affect you "IF" you let them..  but ultimately how a switch feels and responds is just dressing..


The key to fast and accurate typing IS indeed to Bottom out.. and disregard switch feel all together..

Which is why I keep telling the n00bs that switches don't matter.. AT ALL... you should disregard them and process the information as closely as possible.


There are cases where you may be able to roll  the (inner column )keys  less than all the way down..  Rolling them this way may increase fluidity but ultimately decreases precision.



The majority of slower typists also do not have very good finger-freedom.. You sometimes see them hold their pinky and ring finger, up high in the air..

This is the result of poor motor control due to lack of training..


The key to overcoming this is to type SLOWLY, 1 key at a time, while making an effort to relax ALL other  hand muscles/fingers/wrist NOT currently in use..

Engaging fingers independently this way will greatly improve control-accuracy.

and get an ergodox right ?

[ynrozturk]

Can't believe he forgot that part.

[Lurch]

only tip i have is to not use them

[hwood34]

only tip i have is to not use them

[fohat.digs]

You sound like a perfect candidate for O-rings.

[derb2k2]

You sound like a perfect candidate for O-rings.

Exactly this. Try to find the 0.4mm rings which would decrease distance required.

If you're making a lot of typos, try to decrease the typing speed. It helped me lots with reds since they're so easy to actuate.

[Geroximo]

PRO-TIP: After using reds -> switch to MX Blacks -> no more bottoming out -> win

[drewba]

only tip i have is to not use them

You missed an opportunity to convert an MX user to Topre 

[Hypersphere]

I don't see any problem with bottoming out, regardless of the switch you are using. Because mx reds have no tactile bump near the actuation point, I especially bottom out on reds -- bottoming out is my sure signal that actuation has occurred. My typing style is to bottom out on every keystroke, and so I tend to favor switches for which the force needed for continuing the keystroke past actuation decreases rather than increases. Therefore, I seldom use Cherry mx switches.

Of course, many people disagree with this approach, and some consider bottoming out taboo. If you are intent on avoiding bottoming out, then you need to train yourself to depress the keys only slightly past the actuation point and then to let up before bottoming out. Some manage to do this with reds, but it is difficult with no tactile bump to warn you that actuation has occurred. It is perhaps easiest with mx clears, which have a pronounced tactile bump and a steep slope of increasing force past the tactile bump that helps to discourage bottoming out.

[Huxley2500]

There is a reason Clicky keyboards are preferred for typists.

[Hypersphere]

There is a reason Clicky keyboards are preferred for typists.

Yes, I very much agree. I have two KBP V60 Matias switch keyboards. One has Matias Click and the other has Matias Quiet switches. It is difficult to determine this, but I think that the two switches have the same pronounced tactile feedback, but it seems even more pronounced with the Click switches. I also enjoy typing more on the Click switches. On the other hand, when I am within earshot of others who would be annoyed by the clicking, the V60 with Matias Quiet is the quietest mechanical keyboard I have ever used -- it is even quieter than my HHKB Pro 2 Type-S.

[Puddsy]

I quite like typing on reds.

There's no real trick to it, just use them a lot.

Learn to type on them without bottoming out, too, that's a useful trick for sure.

[rowdy]

I bottom out all the time on reds.

And blacks.  And greens.

And buckling spring.

If reds are too light for you, try switching to blacks.  Or greens.

Or greys.

Or superblacks

[Polymer]

There is a reason Clicky keyboards are preferred for typists.

But it isn't because it keeps them from bottoming out..

Not sure where that all came from...You don't react to the sound to prevent yourself from bottoming out unless you type VERY slowly...

A lot of people come on here and say they don't bottom out..and the reality is, unless you're typing slowly, you're going to bottom out..maybe not on every stroke but you're going to bottom out...

If you're ok with sacrificing some speed to have lower impact on your fingers, that is truly a VERY good trade off for some people.

A previous regular to this site who liked to practice typing used to claim that bottoming out was necessary for speed..even though he would bottom out on Cherry switches more than he thought..and he now uses Topre which you bottom out all the time...and admitted his speed was the same...

You then have super fast typers like Wrona who obviously bottom out...hard...

[Lunatique]

only tip i have is to not use them

I have to agree. Typing on red is just not as satisfying/efficient due to lack of tactile feedback. I think it's great for gaming (especially FPS, which red is so good at for the movement keys--better than any other switch type), but it ranks the lowest on my list for typing--even lower than some rubber domes (since with those, there's at least the collapse of the dome which provides some kind of a snapping sensation).

Personally, I don't "mind" bottoming out, as long as you're not pounding the keys with gorilla strength and causing damage to your fingers/hand/wrist and then develop RSI. HOWEVER, with that said, I think keys that provide tactile feedback before bottoming out allow you to let go of the key as soon as they actuate, which reduces key-travel and feels more efficient/faster/smoother. It may or may not actually translate into faster WPM or more accuracy, but it "feels" more liquid and soothing as you type. I tried to do the same with red switches but without that tactile feedback, I end up not actuating some keys, so I kind of have to bottom out. At least I don't pound the keys with gorilla strength though, so it's not bad at all, but I do type slower and make more mistakes with red than any other switch type.

[fohat.digs]

Typing techniques are as different as anything else.

I learned to type in high school on a manual typewriter (yes, I am THAT old) where the technique had to be a whip-like thrust downward with the fingertips, snapping the wrist each time to deliver maximum speed and force focused at the bottom-most point of the key's travel.

Today, I like light keys in general but am completely comfortable with medium or heavy ones. Depending on my mood, I might be striking the keys hard and bottoming out, or I might be typing lightly and stopping immediately below activation. Either way works for me, as long as the switches are tactile.

My wife, a professional writer and editor who types thousands of words per day, and has for decades, has used the thin metal Apple keyboards (flat rectangular keys and scissor switches) exclusively for years. Her fingers just float over the keys and barely dip down with the slightest of motions to activate the keys.

[Computer-Lab in Basement]

only tip i have is to not use them

[Nai_Calus]

If you aren't happy with how the reds work after all this time... Er, why are you still using them?  o_O

I mean, I could probably get used to reds eventually if I had to use them, but... Every time I've tried typing on a display board at Fry's or somewhere with red switches, I hated it. Using it would be silly because I wouldn't enjoy it and I'd be frustrated because of the lack of tactile feeback.

So I guess my tip is the same thing that keeps getting quoted, which is: Well don't use them, then.

[opensecret]

O-ringed reds are my favorite Cherry switch, and I seem to type a little faster on MX reds than on anything else I use (including Alps, BS, and variable Topre -- and with all those available, I'm typing on reds right now).  The low actuation force does make it a little easier to hit a key unintentionally.  If that's where your errors are, slowing down and practicing a slightly softer keypress may help.

But keyboards are like cars, wines and spouses -- you need to find what works for you.

[Valen]

I kept hitting keys unintentionally, even actuated them from time to time when resting my fingers on them to get ready to type. Got frustrated and sold it.

[Oobly]

Switch to Browns.

Light like Reds, but the tactility allows to get some feedback of when the switch actuates and even you do still bottom out, you start to decrease the pressure at the point you "know" the switch has actuated. If you have no feedback mechanism, you tend to keep "pressing" until you get some, which on linear switches mean you're still accelerating the switch all the way down to the bottom-out point.

Unless you take a lot of effort to train yourself not to, but it's not intuitive and I see no real point to doing that when you could just rather use a switch type that gived you the feedback to intuitively reduce the pressure after actuation.

Sometimes, when you're typing fast, you may not even consciously notice the tactile bump on Browns, but your subconscious still does. It really makes a difference to typing accuracy (and minimises accidental presses) and reduces bottom-out forces considerably.

An audible signal when they actuate can also help, but it's not as intuitive as having some tactility built into the switch.

Or buy a board with Clears and mod them to 62g ErgoClears, the most awesome MX switch type

[Zensuji]

I used to have the same problem.  The kinesis advantage has an option for a beep when you activate the key (which is half way down), which helped me a lot.  I wonder if there some software that will do the same thing...

^^

[Merranza]

Switch to Browns.

Light like Reds, but the tactility allows to get some feedback of when the switch actuates and even you do still bottom out, you start to decrease the pressure at the point you "know" the switch has actuated. If you have no feedback mechanism, you tend to keep "pressing" until you get some, which on linear switches mean you're still accelerating the switch all the way down to the bottom-out point.

Unless you take a lot of effort to train yourself not to, but it's not intuitive and I see no real point to doing that when you could just rather use a switch type that gived you the feedback to intuitively reduce the pressure after actuation.

Sometimes, when you're typing fast, you may not even consciously notice the tactile bump on Browns, but your subconscious still does. It really makes a difference to typing accuracy (and minimises accidental presses) and reduces bottom-out forces considerably.

An audible signal when they actuate can also help, but it's not as intuitive as having some tactility built into the switch.

Or buy a board with Clears and mod them to 62g ErgoClears, the most awesome MX switch type

You see, for me, it's the opposite. The tactile feedback was making me skip key actuation because as soon as I felt the bump, I'd stop my downstroke and not press the key correctly. That's how I realized I was typing very lightly. I'm getting used to the actuation point of the reds where I'm beginning to know instinctively where to stop pressing. My reference is the resistance of the switch which grows the more you downstroke. For sure, if I type at my fastest, I will bottom out but I was bottoming out on browns too in that scenario.

Reds is also forcing me to become a much more accurate typist since like you clearly stated, reds are a bit easier for typos.

[aceps00]

I've used reds a while back, if you really want to use them for typing, try not to bottom them out/ don't put much pressure in your keystrokes.

[Roibhilin]

only tip i have is to not use them