Are Trackballs Good for CAD? My Experience After Years of Using One

I was introduced to trackballs through a Logitech TrackMan Marble. Since then I have used a Logitech Wireless Trackball M570 for many years, and I now also use a ProtoArc EM01 at work. That experience has convinced me that a trackball can be an excellent CAD input device — but I would never claim that everybody will like one.

Why I first tried a trackball for CAD

My first trackball was a Logitech TrackMan Marble. What immediately appealed to me wasn't a specification or an ergonomic claim. It was simply the concept.

With a conventional mouse, I was continually moving the whole device around the desk. With the TrackMan Marble I could put it in one position and leave it there. My fingers did the movement instead.

For CAD, that made sense to me. CAD involves a great deal of pointing, selecting, zooming and moving between different areas of a drawing or model. I liked being able to do that without repeatedly repositioning the mouse itself.

The TrackMan Marble wasn't perfect. I never thought its buttons were positioned particularly well. By that point, though, I was already sold on the basic idea of a stationary pointing device.

The Logitech M570 became my long-term trackball

I later moved to the Logitech Wireless Trackball M570, and this is the model I have used for many years. Mine has worked flawlessly apart from needing a battery change from time to time.

For me, its shape is comfortable and sits naturally in my hand. The button arrangement is much more intuitive than the older TrackMan Marble: everything feels as though it is where I expect it to be. It is also wireless, so there is no cable trailing across the desk.

Logitech designed the M570 as a stationary, thumb-operated wireless trackball, with a scroll wheel and forward/back buttons. That basic layout is a major part of why I have found it so convenient for everyday CAD work.

Thumb control: precise when you need it, fast when you don't

One of the things I particularly like about the M570 is controlling the ball with my thumb.

If I move my thumb slowly, I can make a controlled, precise pointer movement. If I flick it more quickly, I can move rapidly across a large part of the screen without picking up and repositioning a mouse.

That combination suits the way I use CAD. Sometimes I am selecting something very precisely. A moment later I may be travelling from the model area to a command, browser, property panel or another part of the display.

This is my experience rather than a guarantee that a trackball will make somebody else more accurate. Pointer speed, software settings and individual dexterity all matter. It is also possible to achieve excellent CAD control with a conventional mouse.

Trackballs are a bit like Marmite

There is an important warning before anybody buys one because I like them: trackballs seem to be a bit like Marmite.

In my experience, people tend either to love them or hate them. If you have spent years moving a conventional mouse, controlling the pointer by rotating a ball can initially feel strange. There is a learning period while your hand develops the movements that previously happened almost automatically.

I think it is worth getting through that adjustment period, but that is a personal judgement. I wouldn't suggest that somebody try a trackball for ten minutes, dislike the unfamiliar feeling and immediately conclude that trackballs are unsuitable for CAD. Equally, if you give one a fair trial and still dislike it, there is no reason to force the issue.

Why a stationary device can be useful at a CAD desk

A trackball doesn't need the clear movement area that a conventional mouse does. The body stays in one position, so a crowded desk, paperwork, a notebook or other equipment around it doesn't interfere with pointer movement in the same way.

That does not automatically make a trackball ergonomically superior for every person. Comfort depends on the shape of the device, hand size, posture, desk height, how long you use it and whether you prefer thumb or finger control. I can only say that I find the M570 comfortable during my own use.

What happened when my second M570 broke?

I also had a second M570 at work. It didn't fail through normal use — it was dropped and broke. When I went looking for a replacement, I decided to try something different rather than simply finding another old M570.

I chose the ProtoArc EM01. There were several practical reasons: it is wireless and rechargeable, and it can connect to three devices — two through Bluetooth and another using the 2.4 GHz USB receiver. That suited a work environment where I may want to use more than one computer.

I also found its general shape quite similar to the M570, so moving to it wasn't a dramatic change. It is another thumb-operated design and I find it comfortable to use.

ProtoArc's current EM01 documentation confirms the three-device arrangement and rechargeable battery. The company also offers a closely related EM01 NL version, so anyone shopping now should check exactly which version they are looking at rather than assuming every EM01 listing has identical features.

Thumb trackball or finger trackball?

My own preference has evolved towards a thumb-operated trackball. The TrackMan Marble used a different style, while the M570 and EM01 put the ball under the thumb.

Neither arrangement is universally better. Some users prefer manipulating a larger central ball with their fingers; others prefer keeping their fingers on the main buttons and moving the ball with the thumb. If possible, this is one of those products worth physically trying before deciding which style suits you.

Are trackballs more accurate for CAD?

I would be careful with this claim. I find mine very controllable, but saying that trackballs are inherently more accurate than mice would go beyond my experience.

CAD accuracy itself comes from the software: constraints, snaps, coordinates, dimensions and other tools determine the actual geometry. Your pointing device affects how comfortably and efficiently you interact with those tools.

For me, the trackball gives excellent pointer control. Someone who has spent twenty years mastering a high-quality conventional mouse may be faster and more comfortable with that instead.

What I like about a trackball for CAD

• It stays put. I don't need to move the whole mouse repeatedly around the desk.
• Good range of movement. A slow thumb movement can be precise, while a quicker movement can cross the screen rapidly.
• Compact working area. It doesn't need a large clear mouse mat or movement space.
• Comfort. The M570 in particular sits very naturally in my hand.
• Wireless operation. My M570 avoids a cable across the desk, while the EM01 adds rechargeable and multi-device operation.

What might put you off?

The biggest issue is simply that a trackball feels different. Expecting instant familiarity is unrealistic.

Different designs also put the ball and buttons in very different positions, so disliking one model doesn't necessarily mean you will dislike every trackball. My own experience illustrates that: the TrackMan Marble convinced me of the concept even though I wasn't keen on its button layout, while the M570 suited me much better.

There is also some basic maintenance. Dust and debris can accumulate around the ball and its support points, so occasional cleaning is part of trackball ownership. In my experience this is a small inconvenience rather than a reason not to use one.

Would I recommend a trackball for CAD?

I would recommend trying one. That is different from saying everybody should buy one.

If the idea of leaving your pointing device in one place appeals to you, or you dislike repeatedly moving a conventional mouse around the desk, a trackball is worth considering. Give yourself enough time to get past the initial unfamiliarity before judging it.

After starting with the TrackMan Marble and then spending years with the M570, the stationary design has become completely normal to me. The ProtoArc EM01 has also shown me that the same basic approach is available in newer rechargeable, multi-device hardware.

I am clearly on the “love them” side of the trackball divide. You may end up on the other side — but for CAD, I think they deserve a proper try.

Editorial note: Personal-use observations in this article come from the author's own experience with the Logitech TrackMan Marble, Logitech M570 and ProtoArc EM01. Product specifications are checked separately against manufacturer information. CAD Market has not been paid by Logitech or ProtoArc to publish this article.