Forearm rotation, desk space, and the adaptation period nobody warns you about.
Verdict
A vertical mouse reduces forearm rotation by turning your hand into a handshake position, and it still moves across the desk. A trackball keeps the hand still and moves a ball with the thumb, which removes arm movement entirely and uses almost no desk space. Vertical for forearm and wrist rotation discomfort, trackball for shoulder and arm movement discomfort or a very small desk.
Both exist because a conventional mouse asks the forearm to rotate into a palm-down position and holds it there all day. They solve it differently, and which one suits you depends on where the discomfort actually is.
~$58
Check Logitech Lift Vertical Ergonomic Mouse Price~$50
Check Logitech Ergo M575S Trackball Mouse Price| Logitech Lift Vertical Ergonomic Mouse | Logitech Ergo M575S Trackball Mouse | |
|---|---|---|
| Forearm rotation | Reduced | Reduced |
| Arm movement across the desk | Still required | None |
| Desk space used | Normal mouse area | Its own footprint only |
| Precision for fine work | Good | Takes practice |
| Suitable for fast gaming | Some models | Rarely |
| Adaptation period | Days | One to two weeks |
The discomfort is in your forearm or wrist and you want to keep a familiar action. A vertical mouse rotates the hand into a near handshake position, which reduces the forearm rotation a flat mouse requires, while still moving the same way so nothing about your habits changes. The adaptation period is short, usually days. Get the size right, because a vertical mouse too small for your hand puts you back into a claw grip and defeats the point, and check handedness since most vertical designs are shaped for one hand only.
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The discomfort is in the shoulder or arm, or the desk is tiny. With a trackball the device never moves, so the arm stays still and only the thumb works, which suits people who find repeated arm movement uncomfortable and people working on a train tray table. Expect a real adaptation period of a week or two, during which precision work will be slower and frustrating, and turn the pointer speed down while you learn rather than fighting it. Clean the ball and its bearings periodically, since dust in the supports is what makes a trackball feel gritty long before it wears out.
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These devices change posture, which may reduce discomfort, but repetitive strain problems usually have several contributing causes: desk and chair height, the number of hours without a break, how tightly you grip, and general workload. Changing one device rarely fixes it alone. Vary your input methods, use keyboard shortcuts to reduce mouse use, and take breaks. Persistent pain, numbness or tingling in the hand or arm is a reason to see a clinician, because those symptoms have specific causes that an accessory purchase does not address.
A vertical mouse usually feels normal within a few days because the movement is unchanged. A trackball takes longer, commonly one to two weeks before precision returns, because the thumb is learning a new motor skill. Many people give up in the first three days, which is exactly when it feels worst.
With a vertical mouse, yes for slower games, and some models have gaming grade sensors and polling rates. With a trackball, generally no for anything requiring fast aim, since flicking with a thumb is much harder than moving an arm. For strategy and simulation games a trackball is perfectly usable.
A great deal. A vertical mouse that is too small forces the fingers into a curled grip and puts tension back into the hand, which undoes most of the benefit. Manufacturers usually give hand length guidance; measure from wrist crease to the tip of the middle finger and follow it.
They may reduce a contributing factor, which is not the same as fixing anything. If pain persists or includes numbness or tingling, see a clinician. Adjusting desk and chair height, reducing grip force, using keyboard shortcuts and taking regular breaks all matter at least as much as the device.
Comparison based on published manufacturer specifications and the general consensus of owner reports. We have not tested these units side by side. Confirm current prices and specifications before buying. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases, at no extra cost to you.