Analog Stick Drift & Circularity Error Diagnostic Tool
Test your controller analog sticks for drift and circularity error percentage. Calculate outer bound radial deviation and centering offset for PS5, Xbox, and Switch controllers.
Controller Visualizer
Analog Sticks
Triggers
Vibration Test
Frequently Asked Questions (Analog Stick Drift & Circularity Error Diagnostic Tool)
10-Item Technical FAQ & W3C Gamepad API Troubleshooting
What is analog stick drift?
Stick drift is uncommanded cursor or in-game camera movement caused by worn potentiometer resistive tracks, dust, or weakened centering springs.
What is analog stick circularity error %?
Circularity error % calculates average percentage deviation of sampled outer bound points from an ideal unit circle (r = 1.0).
What is acceptable circularity error % for gaming controllers?
Factory calibrated controllers achieve under 5-8% circularity error; uncalibrated or worn sticks exceed 15-25% error.
How does the online stick drift test work?
Samples X/Y coordinates from W3C Gamepad API in real time, calculating centering drift offset when sticks are released.
Why do PS5 DualSense and Xbox controllers develop stick drift?
Traditional ALPS potentiometers use physical wiper contacts that wear down resistive carbon tracks over 400+ hours of gameplay.
What are Hall Effect analog sticks and why are they immune to drift?
Hall Effect sensors use magnetic sensors instead of physical contacts, completely eliminating mechanical contact wear.
How do I fix analog stick drift on my controller?
Fixes include cleaning potentiometers with 99% isopropyl alcohol, adjusting in-game dead-zones, or installing Hall Effect replacement modules.
What is a dead-zone setting in games like CS2, Call of Duty, and Fortnite?
Dead-zone settings create an inner threshold circle ignoring small stick movements, preventing subtle drift from affecting gameplay.
Can I test both Left and Right analog sticks simultaneously?
Yes, dual polar plots track both Left (Axes 0/1) and Right (Axes 2/3) stick boundaries.
How do I export my stick drift health passport?
Click 'Export Passport' to download a cryptographically signed JSON report certifying your analog stick circularity score.