Improving the Back Paddle Experience on APEX 5 & Vader 5 Pro
Step-by-step guide
See the difference
8mm × 2mm detail
Community Suggestion
The suggestion was straightforward: place a small rubber stop behind the back paddle to reduce unnecessary travel and sharpen feel. That concept aligned with what competitive players often seek — reduced travel and improved repeatability — so we prototyped and tested several configurations to find a practical, user-friendly solution.
We began with larger prototype pads to explore contact area and height effects, then refined the geometry down to a compact water-drop pad that fits behind the removable paddle. Below is a summary of what we tested.
| Prototype | Feedback | Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| Larger narrow pad 6 × 2 mm |
Contact area proved too small relative to the pad shape used; inconsistent feel across setups. | Dropped |
| Taller pad 8 × 2.5 mm |
Height increased actuation effort and made the paddle feel stiff in some setups. | Dropped |
| Balanced pad 8 × 2 mm |
Provided a better balance of feel but still larger than a minimal, unobtrusive stop. | Reference |
From those iterations we converged on a refined water-drop pad significantly smaller than the early prototypes — optimized for paddle-side placement without interfering with normal operation.
What's Included
- Design: Water-drop rubber pad sized for paddle-mounted placement (no disassembly required)
- Size: 8 mm diameter × 2 mm height
- Estimated Travel Reduction: ~1.50 mm for improved responsiveness
- Material: Glass adhesive (gel-like texture)
- Availability: Included FREE with every APEX 5 Series and Vader 5 Pro order
Why This Matters
The pad is a small, reversible change that helps reduce unnecessary back paddle travel and yields a firmer, more consistent actuation point. You should notice:
- Reduced paddle travel and crisper response
- Improved repeatability for fast inputs
- Unobtrusive fit — mounts behind the removable paddle
- No internal modifications required
The water-drop pad is a community-inspired accessory developed from prototyping at GadgetHyper. It is not an official internal component, but using the provided pad does not affect your product warranty. If you have questions or experience issues, contact info@gadgethyper.com.
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