It is a personal thing. The leaf/grommet type joystick is what they used in the early 80s when many of the great games were being played for the first time. I like the feel better, it is smoother. If you have access to a retro bar that has some older machines, you can walk around and try the joysticks. You should be able to tell when you find a leaf/grommet type, then try that machine to see what you think. Thanks for asking, Jay