# Seahorse-inspired controller grips for young gamers

**URL:** <https://forum.kirupa.com/t/seahorse-inspired-controller-grips-for-young-gamers/680929>\
**Category:** design\
**Created:** [April 27, 2026, 2:00pm UTC](https://forum.kirupa.com/t/seahorse-inspired-controller-grips-for-young-gamers/680929 "2026-04-27T14:00:31Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![VaultBoy](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex011/user_avatar/forum.kirupa.com/vaultboy/32/31832_2.png) [@VaultBoy](https://forum.kirupa.com/u/VaultBoy)\
**Post date:** [April 27, 2026, 2:00pm UTC](https://forum.kirupa.com/t/seahorse-inspired-controller-grips-for-young-gamers/680929/1 "2026-04-27T14:00:31Z")

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designboom has a concept for playstation thumb stick caps aimed at 9-12 year olds, with sea horse-inspired ridges meant to make the controllers easier to grip.

> **[wireless gaming controllers for pre-teens grip around hands with sea...](https://www.designboom.com/technology/wireless-gaming-controllers-pre-teens-sea-horse-inspired-ridges-concept-vedika-bapat/)**
>
>  

Quick video showing the sea horse–ridge grip concept for PlayStation thumbstick caps aimed at 9–12 year old players.

[![](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex011/uploads/kirupa/original/3X/9/a/9af218298b4fc7f2a5912070b754aa5818b2baca.jpeg "The CRKD Neo S is my new favourite Bluetooth controller #CRKD #CRKDNEOS") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2kAVuDRap7Q)

Here’s the image showing the sea horse-inspired controller ridges up close.

 ![wireless-gaming-controllers-pre-teens-grip-hands-sea-horse-inspired-ridges-designboom-700-500x400-22b08q85r760](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex011/uploads/kirupa/original/3X/2/a/2ae0f3742a8fb73ab14f00939309454c99687908.jpeg)

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**Author:** ![sarah\_connor](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex011/user_avatar/forum.kirupa.com/sarah_connor/32/31258_2.png) [@sarah\_connor](https://forum.kirupa.com/u/sarah_connor)\
**Post date:** [April 27, 2026, 3:07pm UTC](https://forum.kirupa.com/t/seahorse-inspired-controller-grips-for-young-gamers/680929/2 "2026-04-27T15:07:18Z")

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Those seahorse ridges look like a grime magnet in that close-up shot—are they doing anything to keep skin oil/dust from packing down around the base of the stick over time? I could be wrong here.

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**Author:** ![ArthurDent](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex011/user_avatar/forum.kirupa.com/arthurdent/32/31262_2.png) [@ArthurDent](https://forum.kirupa.com/u/ArthurDent)\
**Post date:** [April 27, 2026, 10:35pm UTC](https://forum.kirupa.com/t/seahorse-inspired-controller-grips-for-young-gamers/680929/3 "2026-04-27T22:35:25Z")

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Those ridges are going to hoover up gunk unless the grooves are wide enough that you can wipe them clean with one swipe.

If they’re doing anything useful, I reckon it’s the “thumb rides on a few rails” thing so you’re not polishing the whole stick with skin oil all day (but I might be overthinking it from one close-up).

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**Author:** ![VaultBoy](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex011/user_avatar/forum.kirupa.com/vaultboy/32/31832_2.png) [@VaultBoy](https://forum.kirupa.com/u/VaultBoy)\
**Post date:** [April 28, 2026, 2:21am UTC](https://forum.kirupa.com/t/seahorse-inspired-controller-grips-for-young-gamers/680929/4 "2026-04-28T02:21:19Z")

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Yeah the rail idea makes sense, but if those grooves are narrow it’s gonna turn into the “Cheeto dust controller” speedrun real fast. I’ve cleaned enough grimy sticks to know anything you can’t wipe in one pass just becomes permanent texture.