Super Joystick

The simplest design is probably the Super, as it is essentially just a box with a spring in it.  You can see in the below pictures that the actuator sleeve rests on the spring, and that will extend through the hole in bottom of the base.  The actuator sleeve is also the simplest design of the three joysticks,  as it is just a flanged sleeve with (4) short pins that keep it centered on the spring.

In order to disassemble the base, all (4) microswitches need to be removed as the screws holding the base together are located directly beneath them.  The Super uses a single screw to hold each microswitch in place, but also uses a small lip and plastic locating pins to ensure they stay in their proper positions.  This makes for easy switch replacement and also ensures that they are properly located.

The base itself is well made out of tough plastic.  It is reinforced at the corners by extra plastic where the screws are located.

Super Joystick base - disassembled

Super Joystick base - assembled

 Competition Joystick

The Competition uses a slightly more advanced design than the Super.  The bottom will come right off with (4) screws and it is not necessary to remove the microswitches.  The actuator sleeve has a larger diameter flange, but is also a bit thinner than the Super.  You can see below that the sleeve also is extended for the actuator to fit over it as I mentioned earlier.  This sleeve has (4) pins on it to keep it centered within the spring.

The base has a circular "cup" design which which encloses the spring and actuator sleeve.  This circular design is geometrically stronger than a box design such as the Super.  There are also reinforcing gussets on the outer circumference of the cup.  This base is made from the same tough plastic as the Super and is extremely rigid due to the cup design, gussets, and heavy plastic.

Competition Joystick base - disassembled

Competition Joystick base - assembled

 Ultimate Joystick

The Ultimate has a similar appearing base design as the Competition, but appearance is the only real similarity.  To remove the base, the microswitches need to be removed as the screws are located under them.  The actuator sleeve has a smaller flange than the other two joysticks and is made from thinner plastic.  This sleeve is so light, that it almost feels cheesy.  I'm surprised that they hold up in arcades, as these sleeves see all the "action" of the joystick.  It also uses the (4) pin design to keep it centered on the spring.

This base uses a similar cup design like the Competition, but it lacks the reinforcing gussets.  The entire joystick base assembly appears to made from a less dense plastic, too.  I can flex the entire base fairly easily by grasping it in both hands and bending it when it is fully assembled.

Once again, I find that the Ultimate is the lightest duty stick of the group.

Ultimate Joystick base - disassembled

Ultimate Joystick base - assembled

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