The tail switch is a much better choice. I know this wasn’t your question but reconsider your objectives. The gas petal is always to the right of the brake for a reason.
For side switch… usually fingers down, thumb up to operate switch, & light pointed away from me.
Is their any other way???
For the FW3A, other tube lights, & C8 size lights with a tail switch I use a “Cigar Grip” to activate & toggle switch. Then many times I will transition to the grip mentioned above.
C’mon. Side switch flashes aren’ t forced to be pinky operated held microphone head high like the pic.
If the switch is rotated to the upside down position the thumb directly underneath easily operates it. The other fingers rest on top providing directional and grip pressure working with the thumb. And if there were a rear switch too the index finger could operate it as well as for example, a Zanflare F1 with again the thumb operating the side switch from underneath. A bit awkward but doable depending on overall flash length, index finger length, hand spread width, etc.
*IDK how ya ergonomically came to this pinky finger restriction. Also the thumb being much stronger than a pinky and an opposing (primate advantage) digit makes it relevant of how a cop would deal with it. They don’t hold anything defensive/offensive in nature that’s inherently in a weak position. Without the thumb in play it’s flat-out in a weak position.
*(Unless I’ve missed something obvious in this thread that explains this pinky forced restriction.)
For non tactical use, I prefer no switch anywhere, just a rotary ring.
if I Must have a button, I like it on the tail.
“Cop Grip” aka “Ice Pick” grip, is a Tactical hold, intended to be used for bezel strikes in CQC… with lights that have “tactical” bezels, aka DNA samplers…
when combining a flashlight with a pistol… the light should have a Tactical Tail Switch (raised button), so it can be used in a modified cigar grip… pressing the button against the knuckles of the pistol hand:
here are a few more Tactical Flashlight grips to support a pistol. They all rely on a tailswitch, and an ice pick grip.
in the past, maglites were used in an icepick grip, thumb on the switch… This made the body of the maglite into a striking baton. Now flashlights are too short to use as a baton, but the same ice pick grip works for bezel strikes.
For non tactical use with a tailswitch, I often use my index finger, instead of my thumb. And then I dont require a raised button.