Aiming with thumbsticks is a compromise. The analog stick has to be short enough for fast camera sweeps and precise enough for a headshot at distance, and those two Demands pull against each other. KontrolFreek built its whole business around that tension, because raising the stick height gives your thumb a longer lever arm and finer control. The FPS Freek Galaxy edition does exactly that with one high-rise and one mid-rise stick, and I tested the pair on a PlayStation 5 DualSense and a PlayStation 4 controller across weeks of shooters. This review covers whether the extra height actually changes your aim.
Before the details, the standard note. This article contains affiliate links, and if you buy through one of them the site earns a small commission at no extra cost to you. That commission does not change what I test or what I recommend, and the thumbsticks reviewed here were used the way a player would use them.
Each pack contains two thumbsticks, one high-rise and one mid-rise, with a rubber ring at the base and a textured galaxy pattern on top. The rest of this review covers the design, the features, how they feel in real games, and whether the aiming math holds up.
Design and Build
The Galaxy edition wears its look on its sleeve. The sticks are a matte black with a speckled galaxy pattern across the top surface, and the pattern doubles as grip texture, because the raised dots keep a sweating thumb planted during long sessions. The edges slope down to a rubber ring at the base that locks the stick onto the analog peg of the controller.
The construction is simple and effective. Each stick is a molded shell with a rigid core that slips over the stock analog stick, and the fit is snug enough that the stick does not wobble or spin on its own during aggressive play. The two heights are the point of the design, with the high-rise stick sitting noticeably taller than the mid-rise, and the difference in height is what changes how you aim.
Key Features
The raised height is the headline feature. The high-rise stick extends the stock height by a meaningful amount, which lengthens the throw of the analog stick, and a longer throw means the same small thumb movement produces a smaller input change. That translates directly into finer aiming adjustments, the kind that separate a clean reticle placement from an overcorrected miss.
The mixed pair setup is the clever part. Instead of two identical sticks, the pack pairs a high-rise for the aim stick and a mid-rise for the movement stick, because aiming wants the extra precision while fast movement wants a shorter throw. The asymmetric setup is a design decision born from how shooters actually use both sticks, and it suits the genre better than two matched high-rises.
The grip closes out the feature set. The galaxy texture on top keeps the thumb planted, the rubber ring at the base adds friction against the controller body, and the sticks fit both the PS5 DualSense and the PS4 controller without modification. The pack also works on any shooter you throw at it, because the height gain is platform agnostic.
Real-World Performance
The aiming difference showed up within the first session. With the high-rise stick on the right analog, my reticle stopped overshooting targets at medium range, because the extra height gave me more room to make small corrections. Long range engagement was where the change was clearest, with drag scopes and counter snipes landing more consistently than with the stock sticks.
The mixed heights changed my movement for the better. Keeping the mid-rise on the left stick preserved the fast, twitchy camera and strafe response that a high stick would have dulled, so I did not trade aim precision for sluggish movement. The asymmetric setup is the reason the pack feels complete rather than like two halves of the same product.
The grip held up under pressure. During long ranked sessions my thumb stayed planted on the galaxy texture with no slipping, and the rubber ring kept the sticks locked on the controller through frantic play. The sticks never popped off, twisted, or loosened, and they transferred cleanly between the DualSense and the older PS4 controller when I tested both.
The adjustment period is the honest caveat. Changing stick height changes your muscle memory, so the first few games feel slightly off as your brain recalibrates to the longer throw. Players who give up in the first hour miss the payoff, because after a short settling period the aim settles into a smoother, more controlled feel.
Comfort remained a constant through the testing. The taller stick did not cause any hand strain over hours of play, the texture did not wear smooth, and the whole pair looked clean on the white DualSense body. Across multiple shooters the aim improvement was consistent, and going back to the stock sticks afterward made the default height feel cramped by comparison.
The transfer between consoles added flexibility. Fitting the same sticks to the DualSense and the older PS4 pad meant one pair covered both my living room and my desk setup, and the sticks locked on equally well to each controller. The galaxy finish also showed no wear after weeks of use, which is more than some budget accessories manage, and the black color hid the scuffs that lighter sticks would have shown. For a single pair that needs to move between two consoles, that fit is a genuine advantage.
Pros and Cons
Pros:
- Raised height gives finer control for precise aiming
- Mixed high-rise and mid-rise pair suits shooter mechanics
- Galaxy texture keeps the thumb planted during play
- Rubber ring locks the sticks firmly on the controller
- Fits both PS5 DualSense and PS4 controllers
- No modification, so the controller warranty stays intact
Cons:
- Requires a short adjustment period for muscle memory
- Aiming gains are a feel improvement, not a hardware hack
- Limited edition look adds nothing to performance
How It Compares
The baseline comparison is simply playing with the stock controller sticks, and the alternative is a taller convex style stick. The table below lines up the options.
| Feature | FPS Freek Galaxy | Stock Sticks |
|---|---|---|
| Height | High-rise and mid-rise | Fixed short |
| Grip | Galaxy texture and base ring | Basic rubber |
| Aim control | Finer, more precise | Coarser |
| Movement speed | Kept fast by mid-rise | Baseline |
| Compatibility | PS5 and PS4 | Built in |
| Price | Modest | None |
If you are serious about shooters and want more control for a modest cost, the FPS Freek Galaxy is a proven upgrade, because the height gain is a real mechanical advantage rather than a placebo. If you play casually and rarely touch competitive modes, the stock sticks are fine and the adjustment period is not worth your time. For anyone chasing better aim, the pair delivers.
Who Should Buy It
Buy the FPS Freek Galaxy if you play shooters regularly and struggle with overshooting your reticle, if you want a comfortable, low-cost aiming upgrade that works on both PS5 and PS4, or if you want the extra grip for long sessions. The mixed pair is especially suited to players who use higher sensitivity settings.
Skip them if you play mostly single player games where precision aiming matters less, or if you are unwilling to spend a few sessions relearning your stick feel. For the aiming upgrade itself, you can check the current price of the FPS Freek Galaxy on Amazon when you are ready to compare.
How We Test
I installed the FPS Freek Galaxy pair on a PS5 DualSense and a PS4 controller and used them across several shooters for three weeks, focusing on long range engagement, medium range tracking, and movement response. I also went back to the stock sticks afterward to compare the feel directly.
I judged the aiming improvement by feel and consistency rather than by measured metrics, and I did not test the sticks on third party controllers. For a broader look at performance thumbsticks and aim training, IGN keeps a guide to improving your aim in shooters that is worth a read. The KontrolFreek FPS Freek listing on Amazon shows the current price and the limited edition colorway.
Questions People Ask
What is the difference between high-rise and mid-rise thumbsticks?
The high-rise stick gives a longer throw for fine aiming adjustments, while the mid-rise stick keeps a lower profile for fast camera and movement control.
Do FPS Freek thumbsticks fit the PS5 DualSense controller?
Yes, they fit both the PS5 DualSense and the PS4 controller, and the rubber ring at the base holds them firmly in place during play.
Will adding thumbsticks void my controller warranty?
No, the sticks slip on over the existing analog sticks without any modification, so the controller stays completely intact and covered.
Do performance thumbsticks really improve aiming?
The added height gives your thumb a longer lever arm, which makes small, precise stick movements easier, and many players notice smoother aim in shooters.
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