What is a good circularity error?

Under 10 percent is excellent, 10 to 15 is good, 15 to 25 is worn but playable, and over 25 percent means a worn stick module that hurts aiming.

What should max reach show?

A healthy stick reaches 95 to 100 percent in every direction at full deflection. Lower reach on one side means a tired spring or sensor.

How is this different from the drift test?

The drift test measures rest offset at center. This precision test measures full travel shape at the edge. Run both for a complete stick health picture.

FreeGamePadTester.com · Stick precision test

Stick Precision Test: circularity and range

You are in the right place. This free tool maps each stick full travel shape and scores it. Rotate both sticks edge to edge in the live tester below.

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Slot

Left

Circularity

max reach 0% · samples 0

Right

Circularity

max reach 0% · samples 0

Rotate each stick edge to edge twice, slowly. Under 10 percent error is excellent, over 25 percent means a worn module.

How it works

How to map stick precision

01
Rotate slowly twice
Push each stick to the edge and draw two slow full circles. Slow passes record cleaner traces than fast spins.
02
Read error and reach
Circularity under 10 percent is excellent. Max reach should hit 95 to 100 in all directions.
03
Compare sticks
Both sticks should score similarly. One worn stick and one clean stick is the classic sign of uneven wear.

Ratings

What the ratings mean

Excellent

under 10%

Near perfect circle. Competitive ready.

Good

10 to 15%

Normal for used pads. No action needed.

Worn

15 to 25%

Flattened edges. Fine for casual play, suspect for ranked.

Poor

over 25%

Deformed travel. Replace the module for serious play.

Precision covers the edge. For center behavior, check rest offset in the full tester and set a clean deadzone.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

How do I trace a good circle?

Push the stick fully to the edge first, then keep that pressure while rotating slowly twice. Light or partial circles undercount the error.

Why does one direction reach less than the others?

Uneven max reach usually means a tired centering spring or a dirty sensor track on that side. Retest after cleaning around the stick base.

Do new controllers score perfectly?

New quality pads usually land under 10 percent. Some budget pads ship at 12 to 18 out of the box, so always test a new pad on arrival.

Does this work for Hall effect sticks?

Yes. Hall effect and TMR sticks measure the same way here and typically hold excellent scores far longer than classic potentiometer sticks.