This Is How Changing Peripherals Will Make You a Better Gamer
In a lot of gaming communities, the idea of changing things that currently work fine is frowned upon and that is how you end up with an entire colony of ill-advised gamers using sub-par peripherals simply because of peer pressure or bad advice.
Change Is Good
No matter how you look at this topic, change in any domain of interest is good. Continuous change breeds progress and innovation and the same can be said about gamers that experiment with different peripherals and combinations that might work better for them.
*pile of stuff I had close to my desk*
A player who tries different mouse shapes, different mousepad surfaces, and different keyboard sizes/keycap profiles will have a better idea of what suits his playstyle and what does not work. This kind of player will be able to formulate a better concept of the gear he is further interested in, and what peripherals are less important for his progress.
Knowing what works for you and what does not will lead to a lot of money being saved, and a lot of time that would otherwise be wasted now being focused on improvement.
The Excitement of Change
In some cases even if the choice of the new gear is not optimal the simple fact that you are trying something new creates a strong placebo effect leading to better performance in games no matter what. This in itself can be used for better performance but is a short-lived tactic as the placebo wears off.
Bad Performance = Bad Gear?
A big issue with changing pivotal peripherals like mice/keyboards/mousepads is that they all have an initial adjustment period. A lot of gamers jump back into games and want to perform as well as they did before with their old gear, and when they don’t it becomes an issue.
In essence, a bad experience colors the performance of the gear in their eyes making the peripheral good or bad depending on their initial impressions. Continuous change is useful in this aspect as with time after trying out different peripherals the adjustment period is much quicker meaning the chances of bad experiences are greatly diminished (mostly because you now know what works for you and what doesn’t after trying out different gear).
Pro Players
The biggest argument I hear and see being used against changing mice or mousepads for a better alternative is that pro players still use these outdated devices. What I try to explain to people is that a professional player using a specific device does not mean that it is the best choice, it is simply preference in most cases.
*3370 mouse sensors for their top mice, and TN panels for their top monitors – Zowie in 2023 :)*
Pro eSports players also are bound by contracts and sponsorships and in certain cases might be forced to use certain peripherals even if they are not very compatible with their grip or aiming style. Binding yourself to a specific setup means if any variables are introduced your performance will instantly dip.
By comparison, someone who is used to playing on different surfaces (glass pads, hybrid pads, cloth pads, etc), with different mice and settings has a higher chance of being consistent under any conditions.
Change Is Costly
At the same time, no matter where you look, changing something that is already working is quite costly both in terms of time invested and other resources like money. For a gamer who wants to try different things so they can have a better opinion and understanding of how gear works and what they should be using, a lot of money and time needs to be invested.
Even if you re-sell the gear you do not like to make up for some of the loss in money, there is still time required to process all of that. There are however cheap purchases you can make like changing the type of mouse skates which do greatly influence the way your mouse feels, meaning there is always a way to achieve change.
Also, luckily the peripheral market is growing quickly with a lot of competition from smaller companies forcing price drops for all major gear needed meaning that the chances of you trying different shapes and textures is higher now than ever.
TL;DR
Change ensures growth since you experiment with different gear in the process creating a better-informed opinion and building the adaptability/flexibility needed to stay consistent under any circumstances.
Try different shapes, textures, and settings, and experiment as much as you can. Never be scared to try something new. Using the same tools over and over will never lead to quick progress.