How to Best Use a Trackball Mouse

A trackball mouse may be a better option if you struggle with traditional mice due to carpal tunnel or another reason. Here's how to get used to one of these unique devices, and why you should consider making the switch.

Why Use a Trackball Mouse?

The computer mouse and its laptop equivalent, the trackpad, are good for many tasks, but they can cause serious problems, especially if you have inflammation or a repetitive stress injury. Moving a mouse requires engaging an entire set of muscles, from your shoulder down to the small muscles of your hand. If you have an injury or inflammation anywhere along the arm or even just a limited range of motion, you probably already know how much this can hurt.

Familiarize yourself with the signs of nerve pain or damage, even if you're sticking with a standard mouse for now. They include tingling, numbness, burning or shooting pains, and fatigue or weakness.

The trackball is a “free-floating” ball resting on rollers you can spin in any direction. As you use it, the mouse pointer moves in the direction of the spin. Trackball mice don't require as much movement from as many parts of your body, so depending on the design, you can manipulate it with just a finger, letting your hand rest on the device and using other fingers to click buttons and turn wheels. It's also handy if you have limited space; since the mouse doesn't have to be dragged around, you can use a trackball on the go more easily.

Other designs, where the ball sits at the center, let you use your wrist or the palm of your hand to spin instead of your fingers, and have the added advantage of being suited for either hand. It's more physically comfortable but takes some getting used to.

How Best to Use a Trackball

The standard mouse is fairly simple for our brains to comprehend. The pointer represents the mouse. You move the mouse around, the pointer follows the mouse. The trackball is different. It's as if the pointer is just above the ball, and as you roll the ball, it moves the pointer on top of it. Trackballs also have a different sense of momentum. Standard mice only move when you give them a nudge, but you can spin a trackball like a marble. The pointer moves as fast as your hand, and it can be a bit disconcerting at first. The following steps will help you master it:

Try trackballs in different styles and ball positions at the store. As a general rule, smaller balls that rest under one finger are best for day-to-day use, while larger balls that use more than one finger or the palm of your hand are better for more precision and for larger or dual-monitor setups.
Once you have a trackball and it's connected to your computer, find the pointer on the screen and fix your eyes on it. Slowly start rolling the ball back and forth gently until you get a rough feel for it.
Tweak your settings using the included drivers and software. A trackball can be more sensitive than a typical mouse, so dial back the sensitivity until you're comfortable with it.

If you're having trouble with precision work, you may want to slightly increase the magnification on your monitor or inside your app.
Try out the buttons and see which you prefer for left-click, right-click, and other mouse functions. Different trackballs have different input options; some let you “click” by pressing on the ball in a certain direction, for example. Experiment with these to find what feels natural for your purposes.
Gradually use the trackball for different tasks. For example, you might consider using it for gaming at first, so you can practice and get a sense of how it feels. As you get more comfortable, you can start using it for other tasks and phase out your traditional computer mouse.