What methods can help improve your typing and gaming skills?
What methods can help improve your typing and gaming skills?
I use a controller while gaming, but sometimes friends suggest choosing a keyboard that feels comfortable by trying them out at stores like Best Buy or MicroCenter. The issue is, I’m not very fast at typing or using a keyboard and mouse, so I’m unsure what will work best for me in the long term. By the way, I enjoy most game genres except simulations, so if someone recommends playing a specific game, I’ll definitely try it. Things like hand placement, mindset, posture, where the keyboard and mouse are placed, and whether a keyboard with palm rests or a mouse mat would help. I need to strengthen my typing skills overall before investing in a new keyboard. Also, do those $500 keyboards really justify the cost?
if you're not typing and have a keyboard just for gaming...then it's about how it feels when you press buttons and hear the response, and yeah, RGB is cool but you don't remember where the buttons are from memory. A little light helps in the dark, and RGB keyboards can be set to light up only a few keys to help you focus on pressing them
Similar to most tasks:
Engage in practice.
Consider a keyboard course or typing exercises to master "touch typing".
Focus on ergonomics.
Speed isn't always the priority. Consistency matters more. Muscle memory is key.
Incorporate practical activities and real-world experiences. If possible, do them outdoors.
Adopt a healthier lifestyle overall. Do whatever you can.
As
@Ralston18,
try practicing by using platforms like
https://www.typing.com/student/tests
to understand your typing speed in minutes. The 10 finger method can boost your pace, though some people achieve high speeds with fewer fingers per hand—it really depends on the individual.
Regarding gaming, quick reflexes matter less than muscle memory. Knowing the layout of WASD keys and having the R key ready without searching is essential when reloading weapons or switching positions.
Switching to a keyboard can be a good investment. Visit stores like Best Buy or Microcenter to try different types—Optical, Liner, Tactical, and Clicky each offer unique characteristics. Some prefer Optical for faster gameplay due to reduced movement, while others favor Liner or Tactical keyboards based on feel and practical use.
I switched from an optical EVGA keyboard to a custom liner switch one for gaming, and for work I use tactical switches like Holy Panda for clearer feedback during longer typing sessions.
A $500 keyboard is subjective—it depends on personal taste. Some prefer basic $20 models, while others spend over $500 on a bespoke set. I appreciate fully custom keyboards where you can choose the PCB plate, hot-swap parts, switches, and keycaps, as opposed to generic brands like Corsair. That said, there’s no universal standard; it’s all about personal preference.
Out of six keyboards I own, they range from $150 to nearly $400 depending on the build. This hobby is enjoyable for me, so I don’t expect others to share the same enthusiasm or budget. A quality Corsair K70 or HyperX could suffice, avoiding the complexities of custom builds.
Four simple guidelines:
Practice
Practice
Practice
Review Rule #1
No shortcut available.
Writing down your thoughts while typing is helpful. Just keep going until you feel comfortable with the flow. Being able to match regular speech speed is quite normal for most people.
My way of typing comes from my small hands. I usually type more than needed with the usual home row setup. With practice, I've found that certain words come out faster if my right hand is positioned further to the right, which feels more natural on a standard keyboard, or if my hands naturally cross over each other. (If you code a lot and use a lot of quotation marks or brackets, you might develop an unusual style.)
Around 50 WPM on the first test was just a bit low, especially since those words weren’t typical. On other programs I’ve gotten closer to 70 WPM.
Kerberos, I'm not a typist, but I want to learn both to type faster and play games. Ex-bubbl, I was seeking advice on where to begin, of course—it'll require practice and training, but having guidance would be beneficial. I type around 45-75 words per minute, but it's been a while, so I'll check out YouTube videos too. Thanks for the help, Ralston, tecmo, and Eximo.
Well, my key to early success was simply playing FPS using just the keyboard. Eventually, I grew too old to maintain it for long, and most current games don’t support the required controls either. Preparing before starting a match is crucial. Beginning with 'cold' hands can lead to mistakes you wouldn’t make otherwise. I used to type before even entering a round.
For those interested:
A - Jump
Z - Duck/Crouch
S - Look Up (Pitch Up)
X - Lown Down (Pitch Down)
CRTL - Fire (Left Mouse)
ALT - AltFire (Right Mouse)
Shift - Usually unassigned, but can be linked to game-specific actions
Space - Strafe modifier
Left Arrow - Turn Left (Strafe Left)
Right Arrow - Turn Right (Strafe Right)
Up Arrow - Move Forward
Down Arrow - Move Back
Right CRTL - Also Fire, potentially mapped to actions like throwing a grenade based on the game
Numpad 0 - Could be assigned for various functions
Switching weapons depended on number keys, though this could vary by game. Shift or left control also had alternative uses.
I wasn't the only one who stood out. In my circle of friends, there was a guy who used a three-button mouse. Only the vertical worked for moving the mouse, while left and right were the buttons for turning, and Fire was the middle one. Everything else on the keyboard felt quite unusual.