Are lighter switches actually better for gaming?

[Data]

I'm going to HULK SMASH the keys anyway, so it might as well be with a sturdy spring behind it.  At least I'll get the benefit of a slightly faster reset.

Honestly though, if there's a difference it's so small as to be insignificant.  I game on Browns right now.  I have Blacks, Clears, and Reds available but it's all the same to me.

[IAmTheGuy]

Actually, I think keys with shorter travel are better performers for gaming.  I play a lot of games that needs precise animation canceling, and I found that keys with shorter travel and a contact point at the bottom of the press gives you the most control and speed.

Also, I found ghosting to be most helpful for one of my games :3  This is because ghosting automatically releases a keypress when another one is pressed with no overlap and no delay - which is incredibly hard to do manually (took me 2 years of almost daily practice to do consistently-of course only then I figured out this cheat  )). 

So your typical laptop scissor switches are great! - except they feel like crap. 

For most games though, I don't think the type of switch matters as far as player performance goes.  I do find clicky switches annoying when recording a game though. 

[MellowFellow]

Actually, I think keys with shorter travel are better performers for gaming.  I play a lot of games that needs precise animation canceling, and I found that keys with shorter travel and a contact point at the bottom of the press gives you the most control and speed.

So your typical laptop scissor switches are great! - except they feel like crap. 

For most games though, I don't think the type of switch matters as far as player performance goes.  I do find clicky switches annoying when recording a game though.

Your mileage may vary.

[livingspeedbump]

Honestly I often game with whatever keyboard is plugged in at the moment (lately just BF4, fyi), and I honestly don't even think about the switches while I'm in the middle of a game. Sometimes I almost feel like heavier switches prevent me from accidentally hitting the wrong keys though, so if I had to give an answer I'd probably say I'd prefer something like greens or clears over reds or browns. Totally personal preference though, having a heavy switch would probably really bother some people trying to game.

[greath]

Honestly I often game with whatever keyboard is plugged in at the moment (lately just BF4, fyi), and I honestly don't even think about the switches while I'm in the middle of a game. Sometimes I almost feel like heavier switches prevent me from accidentally hitting the wrong keys though, so if I had to give an answer I'd probably say I'd prefer something like greens or clears over reds or browns. Totally personal preference though, having a heavy switch would probably really bother some people trying to game.

Me.

I find heavy switches very distracting while gaming. No idea how to explain it but I'm very conscious of how hard I have to press a keyswitch when I'm playing with heavy switches. It pulls me out of the immersion a lot. Typing I don't notice the difference between heavy and light switches nearly as much however.

[livingspeedbump]

Honestly I often game with whatever keyboard is plugged in at the moment (lately just BF4, fyi), and I honestly don't even think about the switches while I'm in the middle of a game. Sometimes I almost feel like heavier switches prevent me from accidentally hitting the wrong keys though, so if I had to give an answer I'd probably say I'd prefer something like greens or clears over reds or browns. Totally personal preference though, having a heavy switch would probably really bother some people trying to game.

Me.

I find heavy switches very distracting while gaming. No idea how to explain it but I'm very conscious of how hard I have to press a keyswitch when I'm playing with heavy switches. It pulls me out of the immersion a lot. Typing I don't notice the difference between heavy and light switches nearly as much however.

And honestly you are probably a much better gamer than I. For me its just something I'll do for a few minutes to waste time, so I don't really get into caring very specifically about my switches for it.