Stick Drift Test

This stick drift test checks whether a controller stick rests away from its center when you are not touching it. Keep your hands off the stick during the 5-second rest measurement. The page reports a reading for each stick, so you can see whether one or both show an offset.

After the rest measurement, move the stick slowly through a full circle. The test measures circularity error by sector, which shows how the stick’s circular movement differs across parts of that circle. These readings describe the controller input measured by the page; they are not a hearing or health test.

The mean rest offset is the average distance the stick sits from its center during the hands-off measurement. The maximum rest offset is the largest distance recorded during that same period. Both are shown as a percentage of the stick’s full travel, so they describe the offset relative to the stick’s movement range.

Direction indicates which way the resting stick is offset from center. The suggested dead zone is based on the maximum rest offset plus a margin. A dead zone is an area around the center where small stick input is treated as centered; the suggested value is a guide based on this measurement, not a universal setting.

Circularity error is reported by sector after the slow full circle. It describes how the measured circle varies across its sections. The test also compares the result with default dead zones of common game engines where their documentation prints those values. The comparison gives context for the reading; it does not set a dead zone on your controller.

A nonzero rest offset means the page measured some movement away from the center while the stick was untouched. The maximum shows the largest offset seen, while the mean summarizes the rest period. Direction helps you see where the offset points.

Circularity error can differ from one sector to another, so check the individual sector readings rather than treating the circle as one value. A large-looking number alone does not explain the cause. Use the readings to identify whether the rest position, the circular movement, or both need attention.

If the rest offset is unexpected, repeat the hands-off measurement with the stick untouched. Make sure the stick can rest freely, then compare the mean, maximum, and direction readings. If the circle reading is unexpected, repeat the slow full-circle movement and look at which sectors show error.

If the readings still concern you or the stick behaves poorly in use, this page links to a stick drift fix guide. Open that guide for next steps. The test measures input; it does not repair the controller or change its settings.