Home Row Speed Blitz
Game Instructions & Properties
How to Play
- Select your preferred duration (30s or 60s) using the buttons at the top.
- Place your fingers on the Home Row keys (A, S, D, F for left hand; J, K, L, ; for right hand).
- Click Start Game.
- Type the word shown on the screen. Press Spacebar is NOT required (words auto-submit when fully typed).
- If the box shakes red, you made a typo. The incorrect character is automatically removed—just retype the correct letter.
The Anchored Hand: Why Home Row is Non-Negotiable
If you have ever watched a professional pianist play, you might notice something fascinating. Even though their hands fly across 88 keys, they always return to a posture of readiness. In the world of touch typing, we have a name for this readiness. It is called the Home Row.
In this lesson (Speed Blitz), we are stripping away the complexity of the top and bottom rows to focus entirely on the core: A, S, D, F, G, H, J, K, L, and ;. Why? Because 50% of all typing motion either starts or ends here.
The Science of "Anchoring"
Many beginners make the mistake of "hovering." They hold their hands above the keyboard, looking down like a hawk searching for prey. This is the enemy of speed.
To type fast, you must "anchor" your hands. The tactile bumps on the F and J keys are your anchors. By resting your index fingers there, your brain creates a spatial map of the keyboard. You stop thinking "Where is L?" and start thinking "Right ring finger."
Building Neural Pathways (Muscle Memory)
The game above uses a curated list of words that strictly enforce Home Row usage. You might find words like "flask," "sash," or "alfalfa" repetitive. That is by design.
Repetition creates myelination in the brain—a process where neural pathways become insulated and faster. The first time you type "salad," your brain screams instructions to your fingers. The hundredth time you type "salad," your fingers do it before your brain even finishes the thought.
Common Pitfalls in Lesson 3
1. The "Pecking" Finger
It is tempting to use your strong index fingers for keys that should be hit by the ring or pinky finger (like 's' or 'l'). Fight this urge. If you cheat now, you will hit a speed ceiling at 40 WPM. Using the correct weak fingers now is the only way to reach 100 WPM later.
2. Ignoring Rhythm
Typing should sound like a steady drumbeat, not a machine gun firing in bursts. Tap-tap-tap-tap is better than tap... tap... taptaptap. The "Speed Blitz" game forces you to maintain this rhythm because hesitation kills your WPM score.
The Ergonomic Benefit
Finally, mastering the Home Row is a health decision. By keeping your hands flat and anchored, you reduce the strain on your wrists. "Flying fingers" that move all over the board lead to fatigue. Efficient, home-row-centric typing is lazy typing—and in this case, being lazy is exactly what you want.
Take a deep breath, reset your hands on the F and J bumps, and try the 60-second mode again. Focus on accuracy first. The speed will follow.