# Any right-handed persons with experience of changing to left-handed mousing? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [May 9, 2006, 9:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-right-handed-persons-with-experience-of-changing-to-left-handed-mousing/356039 "2006-05-09T09:50:50Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 16\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2006, 3:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-right-handed-persons-with-experience-of-changing-to-left-handed-mousing/356039/21 "2006-05-10T03:26:18Z")
> [@ryobserver](#): > > \Shortly before I switched I saw a report in New Scientist about a study claiming that people who switched to left-handed mousing, after the adjustment period, were able to finish standard computer tasks more quickly than before the switch. I haven’t done a head-to-head comparison, but having the right hand free to hit the “enter” key, type in numbers and so on does seem to speed up some tasks. And it is nice to be able to mouse and write things down without switching hands from task to task. Another right to left switcher (left the buttons alone, too) - it took a little while, but it’s second nature now. I think **ryobserver** is right about it being more efficient - I do a lot of data entry and typing, and I just fly mousing left and entering numbers right. ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2006, 4:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-right-handed-persons-with-experience-of-changing-to-left-handed-mousing/356039/22 "2006-05-10T04:06:52Z")
I’ve had pretty bad “mouse elbow” for a few years now, and absolutely cannot function left-handedly. I do graphics, and work a lot in Photoshop and Illustrator, requiring a great deal of dexterity and accuracy. I just can’t get that with my left hand. ---
**Author:** ![ataraxy22](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ataraxy22/32/307_2.png) [@ataraxy22](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ataraxy22)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2006, 5:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-right-handed-persons-with-experience-of-changing-to-left-handed-mousing/356039/23 "2006-05-10T05:13:17Z")
Interesting. I’m a lefty, but mouse with the right hand. ---
**Author:** ![Cardinal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cardinal/32/4000_2.png) [@Cardinal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cardinal)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2006, 5:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-right-handed-persons-with-experience-of-changing-to-left-handed-mousing/356039/24 "2006-05-10T05:56:59Z")
> [@El Perro Fumando](#): > > Definitely swap the buttons to make the index finger the main clicker and the middle finger the “right” clicker. I was a TA for someone who was left handed, and her computer was set up in left-handed mode (as I described above), and it was easy to pick up quickly. My wheel-house, baby. I switched because of rampant tendonitis, and I never changed the mouse. It’s NOT necessary, and it keeps other people from freaking out when they put it on the right side of the keyboard. I never think about it any more, and haven’t for years. If you decided you needed to, you could drive on the wrong side of the road, shifting with the wrong hand, going on red and stopping at green signs. The mouse is the easy stuff. ---
**Author:** ![spiritturtle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e8c25b/32.png) [@spiritturtle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/spiritturtle)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2006, 3:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-right-handed-persons-with-experience-of-changing-to-left-handed-mousing/356039/25 "2006-05-10T15:55:06Z")
I routinely switch my mouse from right to left to prevent elbow problems. I also switch the buttons so index finger on both hands does the same job. I took me about a week to get proficient left handed. Now, I can change hands just to annoy coworkers who want to use my computer. I do a lot of graphics work and copy editing, so precise control is high on my priority list. ---
**Author:** ![Dorjan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dorjan/32/12440_2.png) [@Dorjan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dorjan)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2006, 4:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-right-handed-persons-with-experience-of-changing-to-left-handed-mousing/356039/26 "2006-05-10T16:26:59Z")
Because of the weird way my home office/desk is set up, I have to use the mouse with my left hand. At work I use my right hand, so I switch every day. I don’t think it took me more than an hour or so for my brain to “rewire” itself for left-handed mouse use. FWIW, I did not switch the buttons for left-hand use. With my right hand I left-click with my index finger and right-click with my middle finger. With my left hand I left-click with my middle finger and right-click with my index finger. Don’t even have to think about it, it’s automatic. I’m right-handed, BTW. ---
**Author:** ![js\_africanus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/87869e/32.png) [@js\_africanus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/js_africanus)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2006, 6:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-right-handed-persons-with-experience-of-changing-to-left-handed-mousing/356039/27 "2006-05-10T18:54:19Z")
Anyway, don’t switch the buttons. Just use it. If fine control is an issue, slow down the mouse speed and acceleration, and use a cursor option to give you greater precision. If your skill is low, then try setting the mouse to “beginner,” if you catch my drift. I switch back and forth all day; mousing on one side too long gets boring. ---
**Author:** ![GargoyleWB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gargoylewb/32/199_2.png) [@GargoyleWB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GargoyleWB)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2006, 7:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-right-handed-persons-with-experience-of-changing-to-left-handed-mousing/356039/28 "2006-05-10T19:10:00Z")
I’m a righty handy lefty mousy. I disagree about switching buttons for environmental practicality. It will drive you batty in the future if you leave your custom setup to use other computers (library, the wife’s, internet cafe) with default setups. The skill is invaluable if you are a heavy 10-key pad user. It is also nice to have on a lot of CAD setups. I switched due to carpal tunnel to balance out the stress load on my hands, and now have no problems. ---
**Author:** ![Dragonblink](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b9bd4f/32.png) [@Dragonblink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dragonblink)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2006, 5:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-right-handed-persons-with-experience-of-changing-to-left-handed-mousing/356039/29 "2006-05-11T05:23:55Z")
I used to mouse with the left hand because I often borrowed my brother’s computer when I was younger – while I’m right-handed, he’s left-handed and I never felt the need to move the mousepad. I ended up switching to the right hand when I got carpal tunnel syndrome bad in the left wrist (brought on not by computer use, but by working the espresso machine at Starbucks – they’ve since switched all the stores over to a less-RSI-inducing type of machine). Now that that’s gotten much better, I plan to switch back when I move these machines to my new desk. Never really saw any reason to swap the buttons, I gotta say. Other than to screw with people who move the mousepad to borrow your computer. ---
**Author:** ![Hello\_Again](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/85e7bf/32.png) [@Hello\_Again](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hello_Again)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2006, 4:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-right-handed-persons-with-experience-of-changing-to-left-handed-mousing/356039/30 "2006-05-11T16:07:18Z")
> [@panache45](#): > > I’ve had pretty bad “mouse elbow” for a few years now, and absolutely cannot function left-handedly. > > I do graphics, and work a lot in Photoshop and Illustrator, requiring a great deal of dexterity and accuracy. I just can’t get that with my left hand. I understand where you’re coming from – my brother is a graphic designer and switching hands is not an option for him. I just wanted to mention, in case you are using a stylus, that my Occupational Therapist told me that a stylus controller is **as bad if not worse** than a traditional mouse for epicondylitis (tennis/mouse elbow). Many people think it is better than a traditional mouse for epicondylitis, not true. The gripping of your thumb and forefinger aggravates the injury. You should seriously look into an [3M ergomouse](http://www.3m.com/us/office/myworkspace/mos_ergo.jhtml) – the benefit is that it holds the hand in a thumb-up position, which is neutral positon for that tendon. Its not very expensive – if your office won’t spring for it they are dumbasses. Also, maybe check out an auto-clicking program such as [www.activeclick.com](http://www.activeclick.com) to reduce the number of click-contractions per day. ---
**Author:** ![Quartz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quartz/32/267_2.png) [@Quartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quartz)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2006, 10:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-right-handed-persons-with-experience-of-changing-to-left-handed-mousing/356039/31 "2006-05-11T22:40:47Z")
I’m a lefty, but can mouse any which way. That said, I would strongly suggest you look into alternative input devices. A number of my users have used devices like the Ergomouse with great success. I myself use a Wacom tablet and pen and love it. Don’t go for the devices which look like mice on their sides - the heel of your hand will rub on the desk. ---
**Author:** ![js\_africanus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/87869e/32.png) [@js\_africanus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/js_africanus)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2006, 1:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-right-handed-persons-with-experience-of-changing-to-left-handed-mousing/356039/32 "2006-05-12T13:48:02Z")
> [@Quartz](#): > > I myself use a Wacom tablet and pen and love it. Does it do all the usual mouse work? ---
**Author:** ![Quartz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quartz/32/267_2.png) [@Quartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quartz)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2006, 10:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-right-handed-persons-with-experience-of-changing-to-left-handed-mousing/356039/33 "2006-05-13T22:40:18Z")
> [@js\_africanus](#): > > Does it do all the usual mouse work? For office use yes; for games, no. ---
**Author:** ![gardentraveler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gardentraveler/32/3576_2.png) [@gardentraveler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gardentraveler)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2006, 11:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-right-handed-persons-with-experience-of-changing-to-left-handed-mousing/356039/34 "2006-05-13T23:06:53Z")
I’m right handed and started using my mouse left handed about 3 years ago after an elbow injury. It took maybe a week to get used to. Changing up really helped the elbow heal. I didn’t mess with the mouse buttons either. GT ---
**Author:** ![Mama\_Tiger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/6de8d8/32.png) [@Mama\_Tiger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mama_Tiger)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2006, 1:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-right-handed-persons-with-experience-of-changing-to-left-handed-mousing/356039/35 "2006-05-14T01:38:23Z")
I’m a lefty who periodically switches sides with my mouse. I’m currently using it on the left since I have arthritis in my right thumb and I use a trackball mouse with thumb-little finger click locations. I always reverse the buttons, but can use pretty much any mouse any way after having done a bit of everything over the years. I’m the only one who uses my computer now so I have no problem, but when I worked in an office, people trying to use my computer had more trouble with my trackball than the reversed mouse buttons. Which worked well at keeping them off my machine. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![ouryL](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ouryl/32/6067_2.png) [@ouryL](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ouryL)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2006, 7:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-right-handed-persons-with-experience-of-changing-to-left-handed-mousing/356039/36 "2006-05-14T19:41:31Z")
When I got my first computer, someone gifted me a rollerball mouse. This I attached to the right(this was before scrolling mouses) and the regular mouse to the left. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-right-handed-persons-with-experience-of-changing-to-left-handed-mousing/356039.md?page=1)