Why Do Esports Players Tilt Their Keyboards?
Introduction
CS:GO players aren’t the only ones doing this, though. You will find tilted keyboards taking place on the setups of Fortnite, Overwatch, Valorant and even League of Legends players. Witnessing it might make you think to yourself – it’s a matter of habit and lack of space. However, the real reason is much deeper than that.
That being said, why do CS:GO players tilt keyboard? What are the advantages of doing so, and should you attempt it yourself? Let’s explore the concept.
Common Reasons Why Esports Players Tilt Their Keyboard
Each and every one of us has a different perception of what a comfortable gaming setup should appear and feel like. Some might prefer a large, multi-monitor setup with plenty of headroom, while others find a smaller, more ergonomic space much more enjoyable. Under certain conditions, you might not even be in a position to choose and are forced to make the best out of what you have available to you.
There could be dozens of reasons as to why many Esports players resort to tilting their keyboards, though here are some of ours.
Space Utilization
Answering why do CS:GO players tilt keyboard might be simpler than you think. The most common reason for them all is, of course, creating more space for enhanced mouse movement. When playing competitive games such as CS:GO, it’s no secret that lowering your DPI, or rather, mouse sensitivity, can improve your overall accuracy and help you secure a victory.
With lower DPI come increased mouse strokes that require plenty of headroom. If you have a more compact setup, a 104-key keyboard might take up to 60% of your entire play area. In a scenario like this, tilting your keyboard by just a few degrees is quite an effective way to create some extra space.
In fact, here’s how much space you’ll be able to clear out by positioning your keyboard at different angles:
- 45 degrees: 1 inch or 25.4 mm space saved
- 60 degrees: 2 inches or 50.8 mm space saved
- 75 degrees: 6 inches or 152.4 mm space saved
- 90 degrees: 12 inches or 304.8 mm space saved
Tournaments & LAN Parties
Professional Esports players often find themselves playing at a tournament or a LAN party of some sort. If you have been following these types of matches, then you’re probably familiar with the setups and the amount of space provided to each player. If not, imagine gaming on a 20 inch/50.8 cm wide setup. A default keyboard’s length is about 17.1 in/43.4 cm, leaving you with 2.9 in/7.4 cm of mouse space. Is that something you’ll be able to work with?
Easier Key Access
A variety of keys can be more easily accessed by tilting your keyboard a few degrees. Considering the fact that CS:GO, Fortnite, Overwatch, and Valorant players primarily use the W, A, S, and D keys for movement and numerical keys for weapon swaps, a tilt would make them significantly more reachable. League of Legends players mainly use the Q, W, E, and R keys, with secondary usage of D, F, and numericals, which is pretty much the same case.
While it might be hard to believe in theory, if put into practice, you will feel an immediate difference once you get slightly adjusted to the angle. Tilt your keyboard at a specific angle, boot up your favorite game, and give it a go yourself! Perhaps you’ll get a better idea as to why do CS:GO players tilt keyboard and how you, personally, can benefit from it yourself.
Comfort & Habit
In many cases, gamers will tilt their keyboard to a certain angle simply because it’s more comfortable for them. Some of these players have been competing in these games for what seems to be the majority of their lifetime, so any tilting habits you notice might have just stuck with them ever since the very beginning of their gaming career.
Health Reasons
Even though it’s a rarity, some players resort to tilting their keyboards to avoid feeling pain. Excessive gaming itself can lead to numerous health risks, such as carpal tunnel, scoliosis, or spondylosis. If that’s not the case, perhaps another injury entirely unrelated to gaming might require some creative positioning and a change in posture.
Do All Professional Esports Players Tilt Their Keyboards?
At this point, it’s pretty clear that when it comes to tilted keyboards, the pros are the ones that utilize them the most. Keep in mind, though, that these are players who have been partaking in competitive matches of all sorts for decades and know their way around a keyboard inside out. It’s up to them to find what works best in order to play efficiently and come on top victorious.
If you’re asking yourself whether all of them tilt their keyboards, the short answer would be – no, certainly not. All of the factors mentioned above might play a significant role in the positioning of a pro player’s keyboard. While a good percentage of professionals prefer having it angled diagonally or vertically, like s1mple and m0NESY, there is still a solid number of players who do it the old-fashioned way, including NiKo, EliGE, and electroNic.
Will Tilting Your Keyboard Make You a Better Gamer?
There is no way of answering this question with definite certainty. While the method might be in favor of some Esports players, it might be completely useless to you. Keep in mind that it’s important to explore what works well in your matches and what doesn’t. Who knows, perhaps it will make you a better gamer in the long run. You’ll never know unless you try!