So, I'm in a delima. In my journey to better quad control, I feel like my thumbs are letting me down. I have been practicing at a local park that has a winding foot trail that I use as my race track. So, when im moving in a mostly counterclockwise manner, I have fairly good control. But when I go the other way I have more difficulty staying on track. Basically, since I have a mode 2 tx, its easy for me to push the stick when I need to turn left and pitch back. But pulling the stick to turn right I feel less dexterous.

So maybe this is the transition point for me when I start pinching? Has anyone else encountered this plateau in their skill building sessions? I've tried pinching but I dunno, its just awkward for me. My tx feels too fat and uncomfortable.

You guys who moved from thumbs to pinching, how steep was the learning curve for you? I think I need to get a lanyard and just go at it.

I am in the process of learning pinching.
What was key for me is using the next strap to hold the transmitter. I was trying to pinch and support ... this threw me off a lot. The strap helps and I force myself not to take the weight of the radio ... it lets my pinching be more fluid.
May be just me though ... (and I am quite the noob btw)

Rotor Riot has a decent youtube on this subject:

I've played video games since Atari but when learning to fly I found myself pinching right off the bat. These giant radios just aren't designed for thumbs. I have a feeling that the more popular this hobby/sport becomes we'll start seeing their ergonomics mimicking game controllers... At least I'd like to see that happen.

My transition from thumbing to pinching occurred while I was flying only fixed wing RC. For me, a tray with a neckstrap (harness) was essential. I've just started FPV, but I think sitting down with the TX in my lap will be just as good, maybe better for pinching. (I also find all the switches and fiddly bits are easier with the tray.)

There are more than one way to skin a cat... Use whatever you feel comfortable with... A lot of "pro" still using thumbing and nothing wrong with it if you like it

Back when I started RC I was always thumbs on top of the sticks, just by feeling and instinct. When learning to fly RC planes we always did circuits in both directions to try to stop pilots from becoming too "handed" (right hand turns or left). This is something I kept up when I was learning aerobatics and 3d and now, still using thumbs, into fpv (see what I did there ?)

i am from the PlayStation generation and i'm thumbs all the way , pinching just feels too weird for me , but i do crash alot