Stick Drift Test

Observe center drift and circularity of gamepad sticks while at rest and during rotation.

Browser-observed measurementPrivacy-first

Tests run locally in your browser. We do not upload keystrokes, pointer paths, or media.

Important

  • Results are observed browser axis values and a suggested dead zone — not a manufacturer calibration certificate.
No controller selected. Press a button on your pad first.

Phase: Ready

Fullscreen not supported

Observed center drift (current stick)

X / Y center offset
Radial center drift
Mean residual noise
P95 residual noise
Mean radius from origin
Max radius from origin
Suggested min dead zone

see formula below

Rest samples / duration

Dead zone formula (no double-counted center bias): raw = max(centerDrift + p95ResidualNoise + 0.02, p99RadiusFromOrigin), then clamp(ceil to 1%, 5%…25%). Possible stick drift is an observation of non-zero rest bias/noise — not a “broken” verdict.

Rotation / circularity

Min/Max X
Min/Max Y
Max radius
Direction coverage
Circularity estimate

Left / Right comparison

Left center drift
Right center drift
Left suggested DZ
Right suggested DZ

How to use

  1. Connect a pad and press a button to select it.
  2. Choose left or right stick. Fully release it.
  3. Run a rest sample (3/5/10s) without touching the stick.
  4. Then rotate slowly for the circularity sample.

What the result means

  • Center offsets and radii are observed browser axis values at rest.
  • Suggested dead zone uses a transparent formula for game settings — not vendor calibration.
  • Possible stick drift only means non-zero rest readings were observed.

Limitations

  • Browser axis scaling and OS drivers affect readings.
  • Does not declare a controller broken.
  • Comparisons across brands are not standardized.

Troubleshooting

Rest sample looks noisy while untouched
Ensure nothing touches the stick; try another USB port/cable; re-run after a clean disconnect.

Related tools

FAQ

What does suggested dead zone mean?

It is clamp(ceil(max(centerDrift + p95 + 0.02, p99)), 5%, 25%). A helper for software dead zones only.