Author Topic: Zippy Joysticks (Read 30726 times)

GregD · « **on:** December 30, 2011, 12:15:53 pm »

Did a search on the forum and can't find much information about GGG's Zippy sticks other than the fact they are clicky. Does anyone use them with GGG Smooth Joy Switches? They seem like a pretty good value for a ball top that has a choice of colors. Does the wood panel version (long) have too much throw? Thanks

Donkbaca · « **Reply #1 on:** December 30, 2011, 12:30:28 pm »

agree.

taylormadelv · « **Reply #2 on:** December 31, 2011, 12:23:58 pm »

They are cheap and small but they feel very "loose", I personally hate restrictor plates and I would never install them in a personal game I would keep.

DCsegaDH · « **Reply #3 on:** December 31, 2011, 03:03:08 pm »

I have these joysticks in my cabinet, but I can't test them yet. I'm waiting on a new power supply. I bought 2, I have one set on 8-way and the other on 4-way.

GregD · « **Reply #4 on:** December 31, 2011, 05:23:37 pm »

:laugh:Does anyone have experience with the smooth joy switches? Are they quiet?

Donkey_Kong · « **Reply #5 on:** December 31, 2011, 07:45:53 pm »

Quote from: DCsegaDH on December 31, 2011, 03:03:08 pm

I have these joysticks in my cabinet, but I can't test them yet. I'm waiting on a new power supply. I bought 2, I have one set on 8-way and the other on 4-way.

Let us know how they work with robotron...

harveybirdman · « **Reply #6 on:** December 31, 2011, 08:23:47 pm »

I plan on putting these in my first attempt at building a control panel, I figure until I get some experience building that it doesn't make much sense to spend a fortune.

Interested in hearing more thoughts from owners of this joystick...

Silence8 · « **Reply #7 on:** January 01, 2012, 02:04:41 am »

I have one of these with the smoothjoy switches. They're very quiet, and I'm pretty happy with the stick - the only complaint is that the spring that keeps the stick from being pulled upward from the base is a little soft, so there's maybe 2mm of play if you're yanking on your stick (so to speak). That doesn't affect the feel or the ability to play games, so I'm pretty happy with it.

VanillaGorilla · « **Reply #8 on:** January 04, 2012, 01:37:28 am »

Zippys work damn good for robotron and crazy climber. For 10 bucks or less, IMO they're the analog stick to beat, as far as bang for your buck.

Donkbaca · « **Reply #9 on:** January 04, 2012, 11:55:57 am »

I don't think they are analog, I could be wrong though, but I doubt it.

Spacedueler · « **Reply #10 on:** January 20, 2012, 01:48:41 am »

Quote from: VanillaGorilla on January 04, 2012, 01:37:28 am

Zippys work damn good for robotron

I agree and disagree with VanillaGorilla. On robotron using my happ supers I'll often miss a diagonal. Diagonals are easier to hit with the rectangular restrictor on the Zippy. But now I seem to miss on up down left right more often. I was thinking of filing away a portion of the restrictor so I can "feel" the up down left right's better. Isn't it like $8.95?? cheap...

GregD · « **Reply #11 on:** January 20, 2012, 02:09:30 pm »

I just got my Zippyy's and Happ Supers from GGG. My first impression is that the Zippyy's are a higher quality than the Happ's. Much heavier weight and they just feel like they are put together better. I plan on using the Zippyy for a dedicated 4-way but I am sort of wishing I got three of them instead of the Supers. Also, I got them with the smoothjoy switches installed and they are nearly silent.

Spacedueler · « **Reply #12 on:** January 20, 2012, 03:10:05 pm »

Quote from: GregD on January 20, 2012, 02:09:30 pm

I plan on using the Zippyy for a dedicated 4-way

Have you tried it yet with the 4-way restrictor? I didn't like it - makes you move in a " + " pattern and you can't slide diagonally from one position to the next...

GregD · « **Reply #13 on:** January 20, 2012, 07:31:30 pm »

Maybe I can shave a little plastic off that Cloverleaf. That should help it move from north/south to east/west.

Spacedueler · « **Reply #14 on:** January 20, 2012, 10:40:24 pm »

Quote from: GregD on January 20, 2012, 07:31:30 pm

Maybe I can shave a little plastic off that Cloverleaf. That should help it move from north/south to east/west.

I thought of that too - let me know if you try it

yotsuya · « **Reply #15 on:** January 20, 2012, 11:10:49 pm »

I did that with mine. It does help. But my experience was that the Zippy's best for 8-way games.

Dechene · « **Reply #16 on:** January 21, 2012, 03:51:59 am »

I put two zippy's in my first cab & 1 in an xbox fight stick.

They worked great in 4 & 8 way mode, but they're not very practical to switch from one to the other.

Now I use JS01 Sanwa's, with the rotating restrictor plate on the bottom.
The joysticks feel better to use as you'd expect when they cost double the zippy's and they are heaps easier to switch from 4-8 way.

But if I never bought them, I'd still be happy with the zippys.

Spacedueler · « **Reply #17 on:** January 21, 2012, 08:52:34 pm »

Quote from: Dechene on January 21, 2012, 03:51:59 am

they're not very practical to switch from one to the other.

Here's my sloppy Zippy restrictor mod:

I had a couple rare earth magnets laying around (diameter=1/2", height=1/8"):

I took off the top restrictor and trimmed away a little of the lower restrictor and stacked on 2 magnets each side:

Set a screw on each magnet stack:

Set the restrictor on, twist the screws to lock into place:

I haven't had any issues - you'd think the restrictor was screwed in place. Makes for a quick changing plate if you can get under your panel easily.

Dechene · « **Reply #18 on:** January 24, 2012, 06:28:18 am »

Wow, are rare earth magnets really that strong?

Off to ebay I go, thanks Spacedueler!

Spacedueler · « **Reply #19 on:** January 24, 2012, 01:34:30 pm »

Quote from: Dechene on January 24, 2012, 06:28:18 am

Wow, are rare earth magnets really that strong?

Off to ebay I go, thanks Spacedueler!

The trick here is the 4 indexing tabs that the restrictor fits onto. The actuator has no downward forces on the restrictor - just lateral. It doesn't take much to keep it in place. But, yes, rare earths are quite impressive:

Spacedueler · « **Reply #20 on:** January 24, 2012, 01:36:57 pm »

Quote from: GregD on January 20, 2012, 07:31:30 pm

Maybe I can shave a little plastic off that Cloverleaf. That should help it move from north/south to east/west.

btw - I trimmed that 4-way restrictor. Huge improvement!

Gray_Area · « **Reply #21 on:** January 24, 2012, 08:27:34 pm »

Quote from: Spacedueler on January 24, 2012, 01:36:57 pm

btw - I trimmed that 4-way restrictor. Huge improvement!

Let's see it. I was interested in that most.

Spacedueler · « **Reply #22 on:** January 25, 2012, 04:10:40 am »

Quote from: Gray_Area on January 24, 2012, 08:27:34 pm

Let's see it. I was interested in that most.

Just shave those bumps off so the sides are straight in-between the corners...

stu33 · « **Reply #23 on:** January 25, 2012, 08:57:05 am »

You can't hit the diagonals at all after that? I have a pair of these and really like them, but the + pattern drives me bonkers. That looks like an easy mod to do, I'll probably try it tonight. Good excuse to finally buy that dremel, too.

GregD · « **Reply #24 on:** January 25, 2012, 01:40:51 pm »

I just shaved mine down as well. I like it.

bigmatty77 · « **Reply #25 on:** January 28, 2012, 01:11:32 pm »

I've been playtesting the Zippy sticks for a week or so, and i'm very pleased with them for the price, though i may have to have a look at that restrictor plate mod

Maybe one of you guys could help me out with something?

I want to swap the red balltops for a yellow ones, would a Seimitsu ball top fit straight on without any modding?

RandyT · « **Reply #26 on:** January 28, 2012, 01:20:50 pm »

Quote from: bigmatty77 on January 28, 2012, 01:11:32 pm

Maybe one of you guys could help me out with something?

I want to swap the red balltops for a yellow ones, would a Seimitsu ball top fit straight on without any modding?

The Zippyy's use a Japanese standard 6mm thread, so yes, it should go right on.

bigmatty77 · « **Reply #27 on:** January 28, 2012, 01:28:21 pm »

Thats great, thanks for the quick reply Randy

DCsegaDH · « **Reply #28 on:** January 28, 2012, 01:49:37 pm »

I like the Zippy sticks a lot, especially the ball tops

(BTW I'm not finished on my cabinet yet)

redbeard30 · « **Reply #29 on:** January 29, 2012, 01:06:53 am »

Just curious, are there any bat tops available for these? I didn't see an option on the GGG website. I did notice the omni 2 has it as an option, and I believe the omni uses 6mn threads too. I bought one anyway, with smooth joys, love it! Just would like to try a bat top. Great omjoystick for those on a budget! Will probably order 2 more soon!

stu33 · « **Reply #30 on:** January 29, 2012, 11:30:15 am »

Quote from: pinballjim on January 25, 2012, 10:55:07 pm

This thread inspired me to fire up the soldering iron and burn off those nubs:

I just rubbed the shaft of the soldering iron back and forth across the nub until it was smooth.

No issues with diagonals and it plays great now. I HIGHLY suggest you do this mod if you own one of these joysticks and intend to use it for 4 way control.

Agree 100%. I just bought a dremel to do this...first game of Donkey Kong after I got a personal best score. What a difference.

And no, I'm not sharing the score. I'm not that great at Donkey Kong.

apfelanni · « **Reply #31 on:** February 04, 2012, 06:33:34 am »

does anyone around here know a chinese supplier for the zippy shorthandle sticks ?

DCsegaDH · « **Reply #32 on:** February 04, 2012, 03:45:41 pm »

I have a problem, I got 2 of these joysticks, but for some reason when I block in fighting games while holding back, the character doesn't keep blocking, just only for a few seconds than they just stand their. I'm not sure if anyone else has this problem. Its only with the left direction, same with player 2 except its with right instead. I'm trying to figure out if its the switches or some other problem with the wiring.

redbeard30 · « **Reply #33 on:** February 05, 2012, 02:55:33 am »

Can anyone tell me if the zippys with long shaft would bottom mount w/o routing and still hhave enough shaft length in a 3/4 panel? Also is ok to just use coarse threaded wood screws to mount from underneath, or is it a must to use threaded inserts? I do need it to be sturdy as I have 2 kids, one of which could somehow break an anvil! I don't have a router, and its not in the budget to get one currently. Thanks for any input!

nick3092 · « **Reply #34 on:** February 05, 2012, 08:45:47 am »

Quote from: redbeard30 on February 05, 2012, 02:55:33 am

I don't have a router, and its not in the budget to get one currently. Thanks for any input!

Depending on the material, a nice $20 set of chisels will get the job done if you need to recess something. I used MDF for my panel, and had to recess 2 joysticks. Chisels worked like a charm. Just need to take your time and be patient.

Gray_Area · « **Reply #35 on:** February 07, 2012, 12:13:45 am »

Quote from: pinballjim on January 25, 2012, 10:55:07 pm

This thread inspired me to fire up the soldering iron and burn off those nubs:

That looks, and I bet feels, nasty. I'm surprised at you, Jimbo.

Of course there's no issue with diagonals. Modded, the shape is just like the Sanwa 4-way restictor.

HaRuMaN · « **Reply #36 on:** February 07, 2012, 09:43:12 am »

Quote from: pinballjim on January 25, 2012, 10:55:07 pm

I just rubbed the shaft back and forth until it was smooth.


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