This Nintendo Switch Grip Comes IN CLUTCH + Blows the Split Pad Out of the Water

In this episode, we unbox and test out what may be the ultimate budget-friendly grip for the Nintendo Switch and Switch OLED, the clutch from KMD.Show more

In a lot of ways, the Switch has followed in the path of the Nintendo Wii, not only with its success but with the number of third-party accessories for the system. Whether we are talking about screen protectors, cases, or controllers, there are a lot of options for the Nintendo Switch. KMD Gaming manufactures some great accessories that are also extremely budget-friendly. They now have a Joy-Con replacement grip called the Clutch, available in two different colors, and it looks to change the game when it comes to value and performance.

Unlike other Troy can replacements, the clutch is basically one solid unit. Sure, there's a left and a right Joy-Conas they were, but they are joined along the back by a center spline. This also incorporates a couple of other interesting features. You can store four different cartridges in openings along the top of the unit, it features rumble, LED backlighting, motion controls, and Bluetooth. That's right, the clutch does not rely upon a physical connection to your switch to communicate, it all happens wirelessly.

The clutch is designed to be compatible with either the Nintendo Switch or the Switch OLED. There is a locking mechanism towards the rear top section of the case which adapts to either system quite well. There's also a piece of slip-resistant foam padding along the back. Some may be concerned that this foam padding may increase the amount of heat radiated back into the console, but I never found any problems.

Pairing to both my Nintendo Switch and Switch OLED was a snap. Once paired I dove into gameplay beginning with Super Mario Bros Wonder. From the word go everything felt fantastic on here. The button presses were responsive, both the analog stick in the d-pad worked great, and the shoulder buttons operated as you would expect as well. For a basic platformer, it was close to perfect.

One of my tests for any controller is Street Fighter 2 as I can feel the lag and latency inherent in any controller fairly easily. It also allows me to adequately test both the analog stick and the d-pad. I was initially a bit bummed to see that the analog sticks were not Hall effect sensors, the performance of both the d-pad and the analog stick was nothing short of fantastic. I was able to pull off all of Ryu's moves, the spinning sidekick, the Hadouken, and the shoyruken nearly every time I input in the right commands. This was great!

Why it RoX:
- Budget-friendly
- Two different colors
- LED backlights
- Fantastic performance
- Storage for four different cartridges
- Compatible with both the Switch and the Switch OLED
- Fairly comfortable

What could be improved:
- Does not provide power to the Switch
- No Amiibo support
- Analog sticks are not Hall Effect sensors
- Placement of cartridge storage slots makes removing cartridges difficult

Should you buy one?
When it comes to this style of controller, the Hori Split Pad Pro tends to be the first recommendation anyone makes. I have to tell you in practically every way I believe the clutch is vastly superior to the Split Pad Pro, and here's why. First and foremost, it has rumble! That's a feature missing from the split pad. I believe the ergonomics are vastly improved on the Clutch compared to the Split Pad which feels much too large in my hands. Having the joiner between the left and the right controller on the Clutch also eliminates the Joy-Con Flex that the Split Pad, and quite frankly any other Joy-Cons I've tested, can introduce. You can also use this as its own Pro Controller, where there is no onboard battery with the Split Pad. Oh, the Clutch is also less expensive. This is another excellent accessory from KMD that checks many boxes, has very few misses, and is reasonably priced. I highly recommend the KMD clutch controller if you are looking for this style of gaming grip.

#NintendoSwitch #switchaccessories #KMDGaming #nintendo #SplitPad #SwitchOLED