GameBall

£143.00

Designed specifically for gamers, GameBall has developed a new and unique mouse that uses its innovative trackball design to make everything from surfing the web to tactical game missions so much easier with precision finger-tip controls.

When I first heard about the GameBall, I was a little sceptical as to how a trackball could improve the accuracy of my movements more than the standard mouse I use every day. However, the GameBall features a unique ball optical sensor, which allows you to drag, roll and manoeuvre across the screen with complete ease – all without having to move the mouse across your desk at all.

The mouse comes in a sleek all-black design, with the GameBall Logo subtly illuminated when plugged in. The top part of the mouse has a large trackball, which is designed so that you can rest your palm on the mouse like with a standard mouse but use your fingertips to flick across the screen by placing them on the trackball. This design means that you don’t need to move the mouse physically, and in turn, avoids repetitive strain on your wrists or elbows. To scroll down you roll the right side of the ball, and to scroll horizontally you scroll using the right side. The trackball ensures pinpoint accuracy with a PixArt optical sensor, which makes navigating about a webpage or a game easy and precise. Plus, the Gameball actually has a 1000hz polling rate which is unheard of in the trackball world and does seem to make the difference in communication speed through its USB connection.

Having tested out the GameBall for a few weeks I’m impressed. The GameBall mouse is great for small spaces, as you don’t need to physically move it, so the mouse remains stationary whilst in use. However, I did find this lack of movement came with a little bit of a learning curve to remember to use the trackball instead of trying to move it – but this is something I got to grips with eventually. In terms of its functionality, I found the trackball was good for searching the web and getting general emails done, as well as for playing games with seamless movements. I did find it occasionally lagged a little when scrolling and made my screen suddenly jump, but I think this is something that has got better as I’ve got more familiar with the mouse controls. Plus, I think I may just need to do a little more fine-tuning with the dpi settings to get them perfect for my needs.

After a few weeks, I like having the GameBall on my desk. Not only does it have a fun and unique design, but its functionality is pretty decent too. The GameBall’s ergonomic design fits nicely in your palm, the trackball moves seamlessly, and the buttons are fairly intuitive for right and left clicks. While I’m not sure it completely replaces my previous wireless mouse, I do appreciate that it helps reduce the number of repetitive movements that could lead to strain on your arms and provides a unique mouse perfect for precise tasks.

Ultimately, if you’re looking for a fun new way to change up your gaming or desk setup, this is a great choice as it provides a new way to scroll and move about in games whilst protecting your wrist from repetitive strains. I think this would be an ideal gift for the gamer in your life, who is limited on desk space but likes the freedom of in-game movement that a trackball can provide.

Pros:

• Ergonomic design great for reducing repetitive wrist and arm strain
• Unique yet sleek look on your desk/as part of your gaming setup
• Precision optical sensor trackball for more accurate movements

Cons:

• Does need a little finetuning to get it perfect for your gaming or desk set-up to find a dpi setting that suits your needs
• Comes with a bit of a learning curve to get to grips with scrolling in a new way