How to Fix Joy-Con Drift on Your Nintendo Switch - permanently!

As a form of stress release, for bonding with my son, and just for fun I’ve been enjoying my Nintendo Switch for many years. I’m a big fan of Nintendo’s innovative approach to gaming and especially enjoy their family-friendly games, like the Mario series. However, a persistent and frustrating issue began to plague my gaming experience: joystick drift.

What is Joystick Drift?

Before diving into the solution, it's essential to understand the problem. Joystick drift is a condition where the analog stick registers movement even when it's not being touched. For example, your character might start walking to the left on their own, or the camera might pan upwards without your input. This issue can severely impact gameplay, especially in precision-dependent games like first-person shooters or platformers.

Several factors can contribute to joystick drift, including:

1. Wear and Tear: Over time, the internal components of the joystick can wear out, leading to inconsistent readings.

2. Dust and Debris: Accumulation of dirt, dust, or other particles can interfere with the joystick's sensors.

3. Manufacturing Defects: Sometimes you just get a lemon and have to return it.

The first signs of joystick drift were subtle—a slight drift to the left here, an unintended camera movement there. Initially, I thought it was a minor glitch that a quick recalibration could fix. However, as days turned into weeks, the issue became more pronounced. I tried everything:

1. Recalibration: Multiple recalibrations yielded temporary relief, but the drift inevitably returned. Also, some third-party controllers cannot be recalibrated.

2. Cleaning: I meticulously cleaned the joysticks using compressed air, hoping that dust or debris might be the culprit. My son even took apart and repaired our controller numerous times with brand new components. While this provided a temporary improvement, too soon the drift returned.

3. Replacement Parts: I invested in replacement joysticks, hoping that a new set would solve the problem once and for all. To my dismay, after a brief period of respite, the drift always returned - leaving me to question the reliability of the components.

No matter how many times we recalibrated, cleaned, or replaced the joysticks, the problem always seemed to resurface. All the replacement controllers I bought, regardless of manufacturer or price point suffered the same problem!

It was so frustrating. It was beginning to get expensive, too. At the time I’m writing this article, one of the best and most reliable Nintendo-branded controllers you can buy, the Nintendo Switch Pro Controller retails for a little under $70. Multiply this by several replacement controllers and the cost begins to add up - eventually exceeding the cost of the gaming console itself!

Just when I thought all hope was lost and was about to give up on finding a permanent solution, I stumbled upon a game-changing solution: Hall Effect sticks.

A Glimmer of Hope: Hall Effect Sticks

One day while I was doing a search for a better solution I came across a discussion about Hall Effect sticks. Intrigued by the promising reviews and testimonials, I decided to give them a try. The results were nothing short of amazing.

Hall Effect sticks utilize magnetic sensors instead of traditional mechanical components, offering enhanced performance and reliability. From the moment I tried them, the difference was palpable:

1. Consistent Performance: The Hall Effect sticks delivered consistent and accurate readings, eliminating the dreaded drift that had plagued me for so long.

2. Longevity: Unlike their mechanical counterparts, Hall Effect sticks are known for their longevity, offering a reliable solution that stands the test of time.

3. Peace of Mind: Finally, I could immerse myself in gaming without the constant worry of joystick drift interrupting my gameplay.

A New Day

After researching Hall effect sticks, I ended up purchasing the King Kong 2 Pro Wireless Controller from GuliKit. The build and fit were similar to the popular Xbox controller, the buttons felt smooth and responsive, and most importantly, joystick drift was vanquished and has not returned.

No more falling off a board by accident or unintentionally walking sideways until I hit a wall. The movement of the joystick now feels as crisp and responsive as I was expecting from the top-of-the-line controllers that had failed me in the past - and at the same price point!

Embracing Hall Effect sticks was a game-changer, rekindling my faith in the Nintendo Switch. I can once again fully enjoy my gaming experience by concentrating on the game and my friends, rather than worrying about the poor performance of my controller.

If you want to try it for yourself, I’ve provided a link to the controller I bought below. Good luck and happy gaming!

GuliKit No Stick Drift KingKong 2 Pro Wireless Controller for Switch/Switch OLED, First Bluetooth Controller with Hall Effect Sensing Joystick, No Deadzone, Auto Pilot Gaming, Motion Sense[New Patent]

GuliKit

Buy on Amazon

Work hard. Get good grades. Participate in extracurricular activities. Get an Ivy League education or if not, the best one you can. Be ethical. Be humble. Serve others. This is the formula for leadership and success, right?

Except when it isn't. Hop on board the mid-level management hamster wheel. Do you want to be one of the many Asians who have seemingly done all the "should’s," have experienced early praise and success, but get stuck in the middle of their career - seemingly hitting an immovable ceiling? Do you enjoy doing tremendous work, but getting little recognition or watching as others get all the glory? If there was just one thing you could learn that would change your fortunes, would you be willing to do what it takes?

Warning! If you are still enamored of all the "should’s," if you judge others by them, if you propagate this way of thinking in your own children, then this article is not for you.

Here is the ugly and liberating truth. You may want to take a seat.

There is no amount of hard work, dedication, and technical skill that will make people believe you are a leader.

Those things will not make people see you as a leader or put you in a leadership position. In fact, the more you focus on those things to the exclusion of other interpersonal skills, the more likely it is that you will be passed over. Okay, I said it. Everything that you have been worshiping your entire life, while a crucial part of your success, is also what is holding you back.

If you want to break through to higher levels of responsibility and management, you're going to have to loosen your grip on some of your previous idols and make space for a new passion - Charisma. I know what you are thinking. Perhaps a combination of one or more of the following. I'm an introvert and will never be an extrovert. Isn't that more for dating? It doesn't seem honorable to try to get people to like you in order to advance - I was raised with better values. And finally, that's not fair and if that’s the game, I don’t want to play it.

The reason most people, and a lot of Asians, don't value Charisma as a serious professional attribute is because their definition or mental model of what it is suffers from an inherent misunderstanding. If you look up any definition of Charisma, all it will tell you is the effect and uses words like attraction or magnetic. This is true, but misses the main point of Charisma which is how is it being generated. Once you understand why Charisma happens, you will see it’s true value. And once you understand how it works, then you can begin to get more of it. I've come up with a ground-breaking definition of Charisma which will get you back on the right track.

Charisma is the ability to sense, and ultimately deliver, exactly what is most needed from an emotional perspective in a given moment.

Here's the cold, hard truth when it comes to leadership and being chosen - people have to feel like you should be the leader; it's not a calculation. And when it comes to helping people feel secure, confident, and happy, nothing beats Charisma.

Think about that person, in your life or from afar, who is the most charismatic. Notice how they are providing something that you really need emotionally and their outsized ability to deliver it to you makes you loyal, trusting and willing to follow them. Charisma works as much in the good times as in the bad. When fun is the furthest thing from your mind and you are struggling, it's the person who can bring you comfort and stability who you are thankful for and search out.

If you find yourself stuck hitting a career ceiling, take a good hard look not at what you have in terms of skills and accomplishments, but instead at how you make others feel and whether that is the type of feeling people have for leaders. If you feel like a follower, you will always be relegated to a supporting role, even if it is a high-level, well-paid supporting role.

If you still don't believe me ask yourself this. Would you go to work for a company where the Board hired the new CEO based solely on a review of their education, work experience, and business trophy case? Or would you expect an intensive interview process, along with in-depth discussions with references to get a more complete picture of this person's leadership style and capabilities for a good fit with what the company needs?

So you may be wondering, what is my answer to the original question, "Do Asians lack the Charisma needed to lead?"

Once you understand the improved definition of Charisma you can see that anyone can have the Charisma needed to lead. Lack of Charisma is not a permanent, fatal condition. You may lack it today, but you can develop it at any time. The good news is, now that you understand how it works, you can get started.

I think where many Asian professionals falter is that many of us have been raised to focus on achievement to the exclusion of everything else. As a result, not enough attention is being paid to how to behave like a leader by exhibiting Charisma, Executive Presence, and other interpersonal skills that impact how others feel about us. Making the problem even worse are stereotypes, bias, and othering of Asians that are used as a rationale to override or overlook our performance and impact and keep us out contention for leadership positions. The great thing about Charisma and Executive Presence is they are an antidote for the damaging misperceptions that come from us, as well as from others.

• If any part of this article resonated with you, either for yourself or for a professional or recent graduate in your inner circle, I just launched a new coaching product - Executive Presence Crash Course. For a limited time during the holidays it is discounted heavily ($250 off!) and is a unique and thoughtful gift for that hard-to-shop-for person who already purchased most of what they want. You can find it here.

One last point. Be kind to your parents. They raised you the best way they knew how and frankly, it's about 20 years too late to blame them.

I lied, second last point. Your leaders will not tell you that this is the one thing holding you back. Not because they dislike you, but because a) they don't really understand this dynamic clearly enough to express it; or b) they do know this is the problem, but they don't trust themselves, you, or the company lawyers enough to wade into this minefield with you. This is all okay.

This is the first day of a new day where you start to break through that ceiling and climb as far and as high as you choose. See you in the Penthouse Suite!

Joe Kwon, the Connection Counselor

P.S.

I have an embarrassing confession. Although I had written a book about Charisma (Unlock Your Charisma: Be seen. Be Heard. Be Chosen) and though I am Asian myself, I never understood the interplay between charisma and success until recently. It was only when a former colleague of mine invited me to speak to a group supporting Chinese-American professionals that this dynamic came to light. My colleague pointed out how lots of Asian professionals excel in school and are highly recruited at the entry level, but few make it to the Board room or C-suite. She wondered whether this had anything to do with a lack of Charisma. We ended up having a great discussion about culture, leadership, and the role of Charisma in success. You can watch the video here. Also, if you are specifically interested in Executive Presence, since I originally wrote this post I wrote a new book Unlock your Executive Presence: Feel Like a Boss.

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If you are like most companies that are passionate about success, you have a Tom Brady problem.

Here's what I mean. If you walk into a boardroom with several people, including one who looks like Tom Brady, who are most people going to assume is the leader?

And, where does that leave everyone else who doesn't fit the Tom Brady mold? How might this impact the networks they can access, the sponsors they attract, and the opportunities they receive?

To be clear, the goal here is not to ignore Tom or prevent him from winning championships for you.

The goal is to ensure that everyone who can play like Tom gets the chance to win for their teams - people like Juan, Deshawn, Priya or Ali.

The goal is to transcend statistics and increase success by unlocking the full potential of your entire team.

This is the Tom Brady problem.