Switch Pro Controller Grips - Enlarging Modification

The Switch Pro Controller OEM grips are too small for my hands and the available modifications that I could find on Thingiverse ...were also too small for the way I wanted to hold the controller.

Before the grip change, I couldn't play for even an hour without experience hand cramps and numbness.  The grips improved the amount of time I could play comfortably but, I must be honest, it turns out the original cause of my hands issue was actually arthritis - so YMMV on whether these help you.

Printing

Print upright - requires support at the bottom.  No support is needed in the screw hole, just around the base is fine.

How I Designed This

I used the inner negative space of Nincomp00p's grip, whom I presume got that shape from Sterminare, in a Boolean Subtraction so that I could be confident that the grip shape I generated will work with the Nintendo Switch Pro Controller body.

I used Blender to create lofted shapes for the grip body itself which allowed me to try a couple of different diameters before settling on the version I've posted.

Hand Sizing

My hands are about:

• 3 inches / 75 cm across the palm

• 7 inches / 170 cm from the start of my wrist to the tip of my longest finger

Installation

To remove the original Pro Controller grips, use a Phillips (+ head) screwdriver to unscrew the screw that can be accessed at the tip of the grip. Be careful with removing the screw, I found that they are made of softer metal than my screwdriver and was installed with a lot of torque so I accidentally stripped one trying to remove it. Make sure you have the correct size Phillips head (I didn't and that's also why the screw got stripped).

You'll notice that there are rail systems on each of the handles and that the handles are "Handed", so if you want to replace both, you will need to print out both left and right versions.

Keeping the grips on: - FYI: it's been over a month and I can't get the Friction option to work reliably, may need to rely on screws

• Screws - Slide on the printed modifications. There are holes to replace the original screws through but I haven't tried them out. I do not know if they are sized correctly to work. You may need to drill them out a bit larger and/or obtain longer screws.

• Friction - First try the grips without modification.  I tried to design them so that they would stay put with friction however the tolerances seem to be extremely tight and every printer (and filament) is different.  The ideal is that you can push the grip all the way to the top with some pressure, there should be a little pop feeling and then the grip should stay on unless a moderate amount of pulling force is applied.

  • If the grips are too tight: sand down the bumps - just a little! and repeat until you can pop them all the way on and they stay in place with only a moderate amount of force to get them off again.

  • If the grips are too loose: You can increase the friction by adding a bit of glue or tape at the top of the rail.  See the image for where I layered Elmer's glue on mine.  Again, you don't want a lot, just a dab each time and do NOT put the grips onto the controllers until the glue is dry!  We are NOT gluing the grips to the controller but adding material to the grip.  Keep adding material until the grips pop on and a moderate amount of pulling force is required to get them off again.

Photos (explained in order)

1. Shows the final piece

2. Shows the final piece

3. OEM grips on Controller with direct comparison to enlarged grips

4. How my hands rest on OEM grips

5. How my hands rest on the enlarged grips

6. Controller with grips removed (this is what we are sliding the enlarged grips onto)

7. Locations where I added Elmer's glue to build up enough material to get a friction fit