Walking into a competitive Call of Duty tournament is an intimidating experience, even if you’re not the one playing.
After making it through security at the Call of Duty World League (CWL) event in Dallas this past December, players and spectators alike were greeted by a grand entranceway full of team banners, thunderous music, and a dazzling light show leading you to the championship trophy at the end of the hall. Through the far corner of the pump-up hallway, the convention center space opened up into a massive space full of vendor booths, game demos, areas for open competitive play, and right in the center of it all: a resplendent stage set up so two teams of four could kill each other in a video game set during World War II, all as a crowd looks on.
At CWL Dallas, more than 200 teams played more than 490 matches for a $200,000 prize pool, and that’s just the start of a season with more than $4.2 million on the line.
For more than 90 percent of all top pro players that come to events just like this — both within Call of Duty and in other pro gaming leagues on consoles — they couldn’t make this walk without a Scuf Gaming controller in their hand.
The grand entranceways at CWL Dallas
Handmade from scratch with a dizzying array of enhancements and alterations meant to fashion the perfect device, Scuf Gaming controllers have become a must-have in the pro scene. Chief among their innovations is a patented rear bumper system that allows gamers to do things like jump, melee, reload, or switch weapons without having to take their thumb off the right joystick.
The 90 percent figure seems like a lot — almost too much — so it’s easy to wonder if this might be some kind of monopoly in the industry, right? But ask almost any pro gamer, and they’ll have nothing but giddy love for the SCUF brand, which does directly sponsor perhaps more than 20 pro teams.
The relationship between Scuf Gaming and the esports industry is a symbiotic one. It’s less that the company has the market cornered and more that through their design innovations, customer support, and direct sponsorship of many pro teams, they’ve actually elevated the level of competition to places that might otherwise be impossible.
For those reasons and more, people seem to love SCUF. Having tried out some of their controllers for myself (I’m an avid competitive Overwatch player on PS4), I have to say, I’m convinced.
The Birth of SCUF
According to CEO Duncan Ironmonger, Scuf Gaming began in 2011 with a simple idea: “There has to be a better way to use more of a controller.”
As ergonomic and comfortable as most controllers were at the time, innovation had plateaued.
“So you were very limited as to how much of your hands you could use,” rationalized Ironmonger, “which was fine when consoles were much less complex. But as you look at games now, there are hundreds of millions of dollars invested by the studios to make these AAA titles really big with enormous functionality in the game.”
But Scuf Gaming wanted more from a controller. By now, Ironmonger can confidently say, “We’ve created equipment that allows the pros to play at a higher level.”
As competitive gaming, especially among shooters like Call of Duty, became more popular over the last decade, gamers struggled to find different tactics that might give them an edge.
What if you could avoid wasting the milliseconds it took to move your right thumb from the analog stick to the front-facing buttons that allow you to jump, melee, reload, or crouch?
SCUF eventually had a better option, but what came before that wasn’t pretty.
"Claw" techniques can cause strain on parts of the hand and wrist.
James “Clayster” Eubanks (currently on Team eUnited), who’s been a Call of Duty pro since 2007, remembers what it was like when players began using the “Claw” method of holding a controller, which mangled your wrist but gave you a slight edge on the competition by letting players jump and shoot at the same time. Otherwise, you’d have to waste a few hundred milliseconds moving your right thumb over to press the jump button. So if your opponent was willing to sacrifice their wrist, they might get the kill and ultimately, the win.
“Players using Claw could jump-shot around corners and do crazy stuff that nobody else could,” he explained. Anyone who could successfully pull off the painful-looking technique had an instant edge on the competition.
But SCUF’s chief innovation added rear bumpers to their controllers that allowed players to re-map the jump button to a place where other, typically unused fingers could reach. Not only could you get maximum efficiency, but you’d also get maximum comfort.
“At the very beginning of Black Ops II in 2013, SCUF really started picking up traction,” Clayster recalled. “Players started getting a controller to really compete because it was becoming a necessity.” Since then, they’ve worked to build a strong relationship with pro gamers and fellow companies like Major League Gaming (MLG).
SCUF enhances its controllers in many ways, but the paddles are by far the most innovation aspect.
“They’ve always been really involved and really well-connected with players,” said Clayster. “I know everybody from throughout the company, because they always come out to help the pro players.” Sponsorship and support augment a high-quality product nicely, but the most important thing SCUF did for pro gamers was empowering them to do something they couldn’t before — unless they were fine Clawing their way to victory.
“SCUF allowed everybody to do that same kind of movement and playstyle,” said Clayster, “even if you didn’t play Claw.” It didn’t take long for the pro gaming world to catch on, and SCUF’s many innovations only kept coming.
“In all honesty, it’s probably one of the biggest reasons that you’ve seen such level of competition in Call of Duty — SCUF controllers allow you to play how you want to play.”
SCUF controllers come with a lot of customizability.
What Makes SCUF So Special?
All in all, SCUF has 37 patents with another 65 pending — which is how and why they have virtually no competitors in their already niche market. They’ve legally made it so that their many innovations remain exclusively theirs. The rear paddle system, for instance, was licensed by Microsoft in the making of the Xbox One Elite Wireless Controller, which means that Scuf Gaming collects royalties on all Elite sales.
Arguably the next most valuable perk to a SCUF is the adjustable hair trigger, which can activate trigger stops — meaning you don’t have to move your trigger as far for the button press to translate to an in-game trigger pull.
Some SCUF designs, like the Infinity 4PS Pro, have the same shape and size as the standard PlayStation 4 controller, which almost makes it feel like a heavily modified default controller. But no. “We rip the thing apart and get rid of everything except the internal circuit board,” Ironmonger said. From there, every piece of the device is crafted with great detail. You can even select the button colors.
My personal favorite SCUF customization option is the optional military-grade grip on the back, which, admittedly, looks a little strange, like heated plastic that bubbles. But it makes for a comfortable grip that the military uses on weapons to maximize comfort.
The military-grade grip helps a lot with sweaty hands.
“This customization model we have is that it’s not a ‘one size fits all’ model,” Ironmonger explained. “You can go on and customize anything to your preference whether that’s functionality, comfort, the finish, or indeed the design. You can make that truly personalized to your own preferences.” As such, perhaps the cheapest controllers run around $129.95, with the more expensive peaking above $200 — and that’s all before custom modifications begin.
“Different thumbstick lengths can improve your accuracy,” assured Ironmonger. “For instance, if you’re a sniper, your right thumbstick can get tooled down, which allows your aim to be more accurate just because it’s a smaller movement that translates to faster movements and more accuracy.”
But the thumbsticks also come in different shapes. Bryan “Apathy” Zhelyazkov, a pro playing for Evil Geniuses, has a rare preference for circular “dome sticks.” Sure enough, SCUF accommodates that seemingly random preference.
They truly come in all shapes and sizes.
“I used them at an event by accident once. My controller broke, and I had to borrow a friend’s,” Apathy explained to Inverse. “I ended up performing really well. With the way I grip it, after many hours my fingers usually hurt, but with the dome it’s way more comfortable.”
For most pros, it’s all about efficiency and comfort — especially when you’re usually playing video games 10 hours a day — but SCUF also allows gamers to outfit their custom controller with different color schemes and designs.
Many models bear the logo of favorite pro teams, and a number of pro gamers and streamers themselves have unique designs available for purchase. Clayster himself has a partnership with a unique design bearing his personal logo.
Scuf Gaming's official Clayster design
“In all honesty, it’s probably one of the biggest reasons that you’ve seen such level of competition in Call of Duty,” Clayster told Inverse. “SCUF controllers allow you to play how you want to play. … You can basically tune your controller to your hands.”
Ironmonger nostalgically remembers a time long before this, when the term “esports” hadn’t yet been invented: “If you went to a LAN competition when it was only $5,000 up for prize money, that was a decent competition. These days, nobody would really go because they shoot for the hundreds of thousands, or millions.”
“The landscape’s changed and gotten a lot bigger, but we were one of the grandfathers of the growth of esports over the last seven years. We supported a lot of pros through the years when they couldn’t afford to travel and go to competitions. A lot of our revenue was put back into that community in the equipment we’ve provided and the sponsorship. We’ve reinvested in that community and grown over time.”
Now, Scuf has a huge presence at high-profile competitive gaming events just like CWL Dallas, where they set up a huge vendor booth where attendees could buy controllers.
Scuf's booth at CWL Dallas lets competitors and fans alike purchase controllers or other gear.
SCUF At CWL Dallas
The swelling success since Call of Duty first released in 2003 has ballooned alongside esports itself, and right along for the ride has been Scuf Gaming, which carved out its spot in the industry as a partner, supporter, sponsor, and retailer since 2011. Scuf is an official partner with Call of Duty World League and Major League Gaming on events like CWL Dallas.
When Clayster showed up to CWL Dallas — and walked through the same awesomely intimidating entranceway as everyone else — sure enough he brought a SCUF with him. Inverse caught up with him shortly after a victory on the first day of competition.
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There Clayster revealed some of his secrets and superstitions. He consumes what he calls the “holy trinity” every morning before competition: banana, yogurt, and apple juice. But another key part of his routine? At least a week before every competition, he likes to get a new SCUF controller to break it in, like a professional ice skater breaking in a new pair of skates before competing.
Scuf ran a contest at CWL Dallas where attendees could win gear just like this.
His latest controller was one prominently displayed by Scuf just for the event, decked out in military-style camouflage that matched the jerseys that he and the rest of eUnited wore.
“Just to know that when we put 12 hours into a controller per day,” Clayster said, “to have a company like Scuf support our endeavors across the scene as a whole is really nice.”
At CWL Dallas, Clayster’s team, eUnited, tied for fifth place, and Team Kaliber took home the trophy, but he’s already gearing up for CWL New Orleans in January. At this level of competition, however, fifth place still gets the team almost $10,000.
Theory, Kenny, Accuracy, and Chino of Team Kaliber took home the victory.
“When people ask me, ‘What do I buy first: a monitor, headset, or SCUF?’ — I always say SCUF first. You need that in your hands to even be able to try and compete.”
So Who Are SCUF Controllers For?
Any gamer who wants to do better at the games they play, they ought to at least consider getting a SCUF.
“SCUF can be used for any game,” Ironmonger assured Inverse, “but most typically shooters and sports games — that’s where our biggest audiences are.” Ironmonger is fond of saying he hopes that his controllers improve your K/D; a player’s kill-death ratio is the statistical measure of success in first-person shooters like Call of Duty. But logic tells us that a high-quality tool will yield better results in any capacity, so you do the math.
Rear paddles aside, the many other perks on the controller offer up a slight edge against the competition whether you’re racing, shooting, or competing in some other capacity.
The faux astroturf might be ideal for 'FIFA' players.
For gamers who might want to turn pro one day, Clayster has some words of advice: “When people ask me, ‘What do I buy first: a monitor, headset, or SCUF?’ — I always say SCUF first. You need that in your hands to even be able to try and compete.”
So if you ever want to play me in Overwatch or Call of Duty: WWII on PlayStation 4, you can find me at PowerPlante515, but be forewarned, I’ll be using a SCUF.
Check out another pro gamer that swears by SCUF:
Photos via MLG (1, 2, 3, 4), Scuf Gaming, Scuf, SCUF Gaming (1, 2, 3), SCUF, Getty Images / Rob Stothard
Photos via MLG (1, 2, 3, 4), Scuf Gaming, Scuf, SCUF Gaming (1, 2, 3), SCUF, Getty Images / Rob Stothard
Written by Corey Plante
More articles by Corey•Follow Corey on Twitter
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FAQs
Why does everyone play cod with controller? ›
As HusKerrs points out, controller players are at an advantage because of movement and close-range fights. The former is likely thanks to analog sticks, which make it very easy and intuitive to move your character in a full range of motion. Subscribe to our newsletter for the latest updates on Esports, Gaming and more.
Why do cod pros use playstation controllers? ›For most pros, it's all about efficiency and comfort — especially when you're usually playing video games 10 hours a day — but SCUF also allows gamers to outfit their custom controller with different color schemes and designs.
How do pro cod players hold controller? ›For those who are unaware, claw players grip their controllers in a special, raised fashion where each hand's pointer fingers can be used to hit face buttons as their middle and ring fingers use the paddles.
What do pro gamers use for controllers? ›Scuf Gaming is the official controller partner of major gaming leagues, including CDL, MLG, ESL, Gfinity, EGL and UMG.
Do PC players have advantage over console? ›Advantages of PC gaming. PCs have different advantages, including the ability to customize your PC, create hotkeys, sharper and more lifelike visuals, superior accuracy with peripherals, and greater ability to modify games.
Do pro gamers use mouse or controller? ›Most pro players use a mouse and keyboard. But, you should play with what you are good with instead of just playing with what the pros use. Some games you must use a controller because they are unplayable with the mouse and keyboard like Rocket League.
Is Cod easier on controller or keyboard? ›Mouse and keyboard offers much more precision and fine-aim control, but a controller's aim assist does a ton of the work for you, allowing you to snap on and track players with ease — especially at close-range.
Is Pro Cod controller only? ›This means that all pro matches will be played on PC and all pro players must use a League-approved controller of their choice.
Why do controller players have good aim? ›On console the thumbsticks are accurate, but nowhere near as accurate as the mouse, which makes it so that adding a bit of aim assist makes it possible for players to feel as though their aim is decent. What is double movement in Fortnite?
What sensitivity do pros use on cod? ›Sensitivity Switch: Switch While Opening ADS. Sensitivity Presets: Custom. Standard Sensitivity: 95. ADS Sensitivity: 140.
What do pro gamers have in common? ›
A professional gamer plays video games full time and competes in tournaments in order to win prizes. Pro gamers are also paid by sponsors or advertisers when they play, and sometimes they're part of a team of players where they earn money as well.
Is gaming with a controller better? ›It may not be the most satisfying answer, but the truth is that there is no clear victor between keyboard and mouse vs. controller. It comes down to the genre of game you're playing, and, most importantly, personal preference.
Do Pro controllers drift easily? ›Drifting is a problem that is undeniably common in the Switch's Joy-Con, but it can also affect Pro Controllers as well. That's not to say Nintendo's products are cheap or shoddy universally; drift is an issue that can affect any controller on the market – even the mighty Xbox One Elite Controller isn't safe.
Why do some people prefer console over PC? ›Consoles have advantages over PCs: They are easy to use, don't require upgrades, make for simple multiplayer with console-owning friends, are generally cheaper, and use wireless controllers that allow you to have a more active experience.
Why do people prefer PC over Xbox? ›PCs Have More Digital Options
All of their data and games are stored digitally. Consoles usually don't offer a lot of storage space straight out of the box. If you have a lot of digital games, you will most likely need an expensive storage upgrade to fit them all on your system.
A newly discovered exploit in Call of Duty: Warzone appears to completely remove gun recoil for PC users playing with a controller. As much as Activision wants to persuade players that Season 2 of the Pacific update is different, Call of Duty: Warzone is still going through a period of trouble.
What personality type are gamers? ›The Consul - ESFJ: “A person with the extraverted, observant, feeling, and judging personality traits.” People in this category are most likely to be the “social gamers.” Since these are the popular, social types of people, they like to play games for light fun and usually in a group.
Do pro gamers have a life? ›The life of a pro gamer is filled with rigorous training and demanding tournament schedules. Over time, this can result in problems like burnout unless players are diligent in staying healthy. The life of a pro gamer is filled with rigorous training and demanding tournament schedules.
Is it easier to aim with mouse or controller? ›The most obvious advantage of a mouse over a controller is that it can make aiming easier. In a first person shooter, or any game where accuracy is important, a mouse is usually a competitive advantage, and facilitates easier execution of reaction-based shooting, like flickshots.
Is Quickscoping better on controller or keyboard? ›Aiming on controller is considered harder by most people and when it comes down to 1v1 quickscoping it's about who is better and not what input device they are are using.
Do pro call of duty players use aim assist? ›
Well, to keep this short, according to GameFaqs, “Pros will use every advantage they can to win, so yes, they do”.
What console is competitive cod played on? ›PlayStation 4 as the official platform of the CDL and an official partner of the Call of Duty Challengers League.
Do pro gamers use PC or console? ›A gaming mouse and keyboard setup has a faster response time and is more sensitive than a hand-held controller, which is why pro gamers play almost exclusively on PC with the mouse and keyboard. Also, you can bind certain actions to keys, which is something you simply can't do with a standard console controller.
How much do professional cod players make? ›| Position | Name | Earnings |
|---|---|---|
| 1st | Crimsix | $1,410,592.80 |
| 2nd | Arcitys | $1,389,679.09 |
| 3rd | aBeZy | $1,359,905.68 |
| 4th | Simp | $1,320,578.33 |
Joysticks are often used to control video games, and usually have one or more push-buttons whose state can also be read by the computer. A popular variation of the joystick used on modern video game consoles is the analog stick.
Do pros wrist aim or arm aim? ›While there are outliers who manage to have great aim using only their wrist, they are the exception to the rule and the vast majority of competitive FPS players incorporate arm movements into their aiming to great effect.
Do controller players have an advantage? ›Controller players benefit from having aim assist. The feature helps to guide a player's crosshair on enemies, by slowing down their aim when on target, to compensate for a thumbstick's lack of control. Some Apex Legends players believe controller players have an unfair leg up.
What is the personality of a controller? ›Controllers are self-disciplined and fast-paced— always driving themselves to get things right. Controllers are typically straightforward, responsible, and factual. They work hard to develop technical expertise, respect authority, and operate within established guidelines.
How do you become a pro Cod gamer? ›Start your path to pro by creating a GameBattles account and signing your team up for an online Call of Duty Challengers competition. You must be at least 18 years old and meet all eligibility requirements to participate in Call of Duty Challengers competitions.
Is it hard to be a pro COD player? ›CoD: Black Ops 4 is a very popular battle royale game that has pushed gamers to practice until they succeed. While the game has inspired many players to learn how to stream on Twitch, it takes hard work and dedication to climb to the top percentage of players who reach the professional level.
Why do pros use low sensitivity? ›
Pros need to use low sensitivity for better weapon spray control and steady aim. But they have sacrifice quick flicks/fast turns. People with high sensitivity can do those fast turns and flicks but sacrifice their own aim.
How do you aim better in Call of Duty? ›- Start by going into Options > Controller > ADS Sensitivity Multiplier (Low Zoom) > Set to 0.88.
- Next do the same for ADS Sensitivity Multiplier (High Zoom)
For sensitivity, the average vertical and horizontal sensitivities amongst pro players are 7.6. You should set your sensitivity to 6 or 7 to start and adjust it higher or lower until you feel the most comfortable.
How many hours does a Pro Controller last? ›When fully charged, the battery duration for the Nintendo Switch Pro Controller can last approximately 40 hours.
Why do people play claw on controller? ›The "claw" grip adds another finger into the equation. Your thumbs remain on the thumbsticks, while your most agile finger, the index finger, is reserved for the directional buttons. Your middle finger (or ring finger) is drafted into action to play the trigger buttons.
Is the Pro Controller the best? ›If you mostly game on your own, then the Pro Controller is definitely the best choice. The Joy-Cons are great, but their small size, button layout, and ergonomics aren't best for gaming for long periods. The Pro Controller unarguably provides superior comfort and precision when gaming.
Why is controller drift so common now? ›A common reason for why controllers run into drift problems is that they are prone to deterioration, which will naturally occur with use. In more recent years, the life cycle of technology has shortened dramatically to promote further purchases, thereby further exacerbating the issue.
Is it better to play Call of Duty Mobile with controller? ›Playing CoD Mobile on a smartphone with virtual controls is not very convenient. Because you need to run, aim and shoot at the same time. It is much easier to fight with a mobile controller because hardware controls are just simply easier to use than touchscreens for an FPS.
Do people play CoD mobile with a controller? ›You can get the complete Call of Duty experience on mobile by playing the game with a controller. The feature was added to the game by Activision in November 2019 and it's still as fun as ever, multiple years later. Presently, fans can enjoy CoD: Mobile only with an Xbox One or PlayStation 4 controller.
How do you play Call of Duty with a mouse? ›- Plug your keyboard and mouse pair of your choice to the console's USB port.
- See that the mouse indicator pops up on the Home screen.
- Start COD: Modern Warfare 2.
- Open Settings, go to the Controller menu, then select Input Device.
- And you are good to go!
Which controllers have no stick drift? ›
GuliKit KingKong 2 PRO Controller is the first controller with electromagnetic joystick in the world to solve drifting completely. Generally instead of carbon film material, the stick uses permanent magnet materials and linear Hall technology to achieve precise positioning in games.
Do Pro controllers suffer from drift? ›Joy-Con drift is the most common form of drift for Nintendo. But although drift may be less common in Pro Controllers, they are not immune to it by any means.
Why do Xbox controllers break so easily? ›One is something as simple as low batteries. A more common cause is dust or debris inside your controller. Over time, that grime can build up and affect the electrical components. Analog stick drift can also be caused by damage to your controller, either from someone dropping it or excessive wear and tear.
Why is CoD: Mobile so easy? ›There's a simple answer to this potentially deep question: bots. Activision hasn't commented on the existence of bots/AI enemies in Call of Duty Mobile, but it's obvious that in the early levels, you're playing almost exclusively against AI enemies set to a very low difficulty.
How do I get better at COD as a controller? ›- Tip #2 - Take Cover. When traversing maps to destinations or just during a shootout, be sure to use the environment for cover. ...
- Tip #3 - Swap Weapons. If you're running low on ammo, swap weapons first instead of reloading. ...
- Tip #4 - Turn Off Vibration. ...
- Tip #5 - Shoot Faster.
The only officially supported Call of Duty Mobile controllers are PlayStation and Xbox controllers. That includes controllers for the PlayStation 4 (except the first generation), PlayStation 5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series S and Series X. iPhone users also claim success using a Nintendo Switch controller.
Which is the best controller for cod mobile? ›SteelSeries Stratus Duo is the best, if you need the best wireless controller. You can use this controller with your PC or your Android mobile. It is not only compatible but also budget-friendly. You do not need to spend a lot of cash to get the hands on experience of this controller.
Does cod mobile have bots? ›Ultimately, there are indeed bots in Call of Duty: Mobile Battle Royale. As stated by Activision in its Call of Duty: Mobile Season 5 developer blog post, "Our Battle Royale bots are getting a fashion makeover as they try on a variety of Operator Skins previously available only to players.
Is keyboard and mouse better than controller? ›The primary advantage mice have over controllers is the precision they allow when aiming, as well as the range of movement provided by the additional surface area of the mousepad. This means potentially faster movement, depending on your dots per inch (DPI) settings, and the luxury of customizable settings and inputs.
How do I aim better with warzone with a mouse? ›- Start by going into Options > Controller > ADS Sensitivity Multiplier (Low Zoom) > Set to 0.88.
- Next do the same for ADS Sensitivity Multiplier (High Zoom)
What is mouse button 5? ›
Typing 5 (with the numeric keypad) is equivalent to clicking the selected button. By default, the selected button is the primary button (nominally under index finger, left button for most right-handed people and right button for most left-handed people).