5 Ways to Get Better at Gaming with a Keyboard and Mouse

Whether you play games that require aim and speed, strategy, or quick action, mastering how you use your keyboard and mouse can completely change your experience. Skill and understanding are key, but your setup and familiarity with it matter greatly for your performance.

Here are nine ways to get better at gaming with a keyboard and mouse, starting with the most fundamental question:

Does a Gaming Mouse and Keyboard Make a Difference?

Short answer: absolutely. But let’s break down why.

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Upgrading your hardware won’t automatically turn you into a pro, but it gives you the foundation to train more effectively. A responsive setup ensures that your reflexes, not your equipment, are setting the pace, and that makes a real difference when every second counts.

Key Advantages of a Gaming Mouse

Gaming mice are designed for control, speed, and comfort. If you’re still using a basic office mouse, here’s what you’re missing out on:

• Precision and Accuracy: The sensor on a gaming mouse is capable of detecting even tiny mouse movements. This matters most when your game requires you to do a lot of clicking or makes you react very fast such as in CS:GO, Valorant and even easy-to-play browser-built games.
• Adjustable DPI: DPI (dots per inch) controls your cursor’s speed. Being able to change DPI on the fly is useful whether you’re aiming down sights in a shooter or navigating rapidly across the screen in games designed for quick reflexes. Think of fast-paced casino mini games like instant-win scratch cards, where rapid and accurate clicking can enhance your experience. This area of casual, reflex-heavy entertainment is growing in popularity, especially for Malaysian players.
• Responsiveness: A good gaming mouse has a high polling rate and reduced input lag, meaning your actions register instantly. In high-stakes gaming, milliseconds matter.
• Extra Buttons: Side buttons aren’t just for show. Assign them to quick actions—reload, melee, and ping—and cut down your reaction time.
• Ergonomics: Long gaming sessions are easier on your hands with a mouse that fits your grip style (palm, claw, or fingertip) and reduces strain.

The key to better control isn’t just owning a good mouse, it’s setting it up for you.

The majority of pro FPS players choose 400-800 DPI for greater precision. Another group of people choose 1200–1600 for smoother tracking shots. Practice until you find what feels good to you.

In-game settings use both DPI and sensitivity to help you, depending on how you play. If you want to make your game feel faster, lower your DPI and increase your sensitivity. You need order, not mess.

You can turn off acceleration by removing the “Enhance Pointer Precision” box from your OS options. How far your cursor moves because of speed makes aiming harder and changes your muscle memory.

Wipe your mouse and pad. Dust and oil may stop your mouse from working properly. Clean your equipment often.

Get a mousepad that fits what you do. Regardless of size and material, pick one that matches your movement needs and DPI setting.

Key Advantages of a Gaming Keyboard

The difference between a gaming keyboard and a regular one isn’t just about flashy lights, it’s about function and feedback.

• Faster Actuation: Mechanical keys register faster and more consistently than membrane ones. Less pressure, quicker reaction.
• N-Key Rollover: Ever pressed multiple keys only for some to not register? With rollover and anti-ghosting, that problem disappears, essential for rhythm games, MMOs, and even complex strategy keybinds.
• Programmable Macros: Map complicated sequences (e.g., build commands in RTS games) to a single key. Game-changer.
• Customization: Want WASD to glow red and your skill keys to light up blue? You can do that, and it’s not just for show. It helps you game in low light and builds familiarity with your layout.
• Durability: Mechanical keyboards are built to last. 50+ million keystrokes isn’t uncommon.

Set It Up the Right Way

How you set up your keyboard affects both your comfort and performance.

• Connection: USB is usually fastest. If you’re going wireless, make sure latency is low and batteries are charged.
• Positioning: Keep it at elbow height. Add a wrist rest if your hands get tired quickly.
• Lighting: Not just about style, smart RGB can help your eyes locate hotkeys faster, especially in darker rooms.
• Hand Positioning: Know your keys. Shift/Ctrl with the pinky, A/Q with the ring finger, and so on. You’ll move faster and with less fatigue.

Customize Your Key Bindings

Game default settings are okay, but not always optimal.

• Rebind for Speed: Move jump, crouch, or reload to more accessible keys if they feel awkward. Make it fit your fingers, not someone else’s.
• Use Macros Wisely: Some games allow one-button multi-actions. Useful in MMOs for spell combos or building commands in Fortnite-style games.
• Test in Game: Don’t just configure and forget. Jump into a match or test range and refine based on real gameplay.

Learn and Adapt Through Practice

You don’t get better overnight, but deliberate practice builds real improvement.

• Try Aim Trainers: Tools like Aim Lab and Kovaak’s FPS Trainer help isolate and build your tracking, flicking, and reflexes.
• Practice What You Suck At: Struggling with sniping? Spend 30 minutes a day in sniper-only modes. You’ll hate it at first, then you’ll get good.
• Use Different Games for Reflex Training: Even non-competitive games can help. Rhythm games, puzzle reflex games, or reaction-based mini games all sharpen your timing and movement.

Make Comfort a Priority

Gaming performance drops when you’re uncomfortable.

• Chair Support: Get a chair that supports your back. Leaning forward puts stress on your neck and shoulders.
• Wrist Position: Wrists should float slightly above the keyboard and mouse, not press into the desk.
• Monitor Level: Your screen should be at eye level to reduce neck strain. A stack of books works in a pinch.

Explore Advanced Features

Once you’re comfortable with the basics, start exploring everything your gear can do.

• Using Game Mode: When you’re gaming, lock your computer so you don’t accidentally press the Windows key.
• Onboard Profiles: Choose different settings for each game and apply them game after game.
• Change Your Keycaps: Swapping your normal keys for textured or colored versions can make you spot your important keys at a glance.

Stay Updated and Keep Improving

YouTube and Twitch are full of pros breaking down their settings. Use their experience to guide your experimentation.

Try different styles. Claw grip vs palm grip, high DPI vs low. Figure out what works for you. As you improve, your needs change. Revisit your setup and optimize.