Page "Trackball" Paragraph 17

Trackballs are generally either thumb-operated, with a ball about an inch in diameter or smaller moved by one digit ( almost always the thumb ) and the buttons clicked by others, or finger-operated, with a ball over two inches in diameter operated by the middle fingers and the buttons by the thumb and little finger.

Users favour one format or another for reasons of comfort, mobility, precision, or because it reduces strain on one part of the hand / wrist.

Most, but not all, finger-operated designs are symmetrical in design, making them usable by both hands, while thumb-operated designs are by their nature asymmetric or “ handed ,” allowing the smallest examples to be held in the air.

Thumb-operated trackballs are not generally available in left-handed configurations, due to small demand.