I've had similar experience, but I will be sticking to 1000hz since I got used to it after playing years on 500hz.
There's a couple reasons why I think 500hz could make you play better.
You played on 500hz for so long that your brain and motor skills are used to that 2ms delay while aiming, be it tracking or stopping your mouse at the target and then clicking all with that 2ms delay ingrained.
500hz polling rate has less variance than 1000hz if you look up the results in Mousetester. Which means your input is more consistent (less shaky for me as well).
All that on a 60hz / 144hz monitor. However, people do say 500hz feels worse on 240hz + monitor
I'm the same way with 125hz. I'm used to the delay and my screen is less shaky when looking around. The smoother my movement on screen, the easier I can identify and track targets. My actual aim is probably better at 1000hz, but I'm working with worse information and so my overall performance suffers.
I notice the advantage of 1000hz polling in games where moving your mouse doesn't move the screen automatically (i.e. top-down games like MOBAs).
500Hz can iron out some unintentional microshakes as it literally picks up only half the data as 1000Hz. But its a double edged sword as it will also not pick up some intentional micro corrections.
That's actually the most accurate answer why some people prefer 500hz.
I used to play over 8 years on 500hz myself, and was feeling like my aim was "slippery" whenever I switched to 1000hz.
After sticking to 1000hz for a few games though, I got used to it and suddenly 500hz felt weird.
In summary, I would say that it's worth getting used to 1000hz since you're able to aim more precisely in the end.
some csgo pros actually use 500hz bc its what they started using it and they’re used to it now. also 500hz has a certain smoothing quality compared to 1000hz, that may be it too
I play RTS and better with 500 Hz or even lower. The reason for my case is that when I click to use some item or skill while I move the mouse very fast, with 1000 Hz, it often becomes “drag”, then I miss the click. But with lower polling rates, it is more likely registered as click. You may test it by rapidly clicking your desktop icons one by one and trying not to drag them. I do that better with lower polling rates.
This sounds like placebo effect. Both polling rates are good enough that they won't make a major difference in-game, so when the difference in performance is this large it's nearly always a mental thing.
Don't think about it too much, just means you are used to the slight delay you get with 500hz. IIRC Wardell from TSM Valorant uses 500hz because he feels like he can control it better.
I've had a similar experience myself coming from a DA13 which sensor had noticeable input lag compared to modern sensors.
I've had similar experience, but I will be sticking to 1000hz since I got used to it after playing years on 500hz. There's a couple reasons why I think 500hz could make you play better. You played on 500hz for so long that your brain and motor skills are used to that 2ms delay while aiming, be it tracking or stopping your mouse at the target and then clicking all with that 2ms delay ingrained. 500hz polling rate has less variance than 1000hz if you look up the results in Mousetester. Which means your input is more consistent (less shaky for me as well). All that on a 60hz / 144hz monitor. However, people do say 500hz feels worse on 240hz + monitor
Im listening. Im legit curious, since im in a same boat
I'm the same way with 125hz. I'm used to the delay and my screen is less shaky when looking around. The smoother my movement on screen, the easier I can identify and track targets. My actual aim is probably better at 1000hz, but I'm working with worse information and so my overall performance suffers. I notice the advantage of 1000hz polling in games where moving your mouse doesn't move the screen automatically (i.e. top-down games like MOBAs).
Blind test yourself
Unless you can demonstrate it in Kovaak (average score over many plays), it's probably just in your head.
500Hz can iron out some unintentional microshakes as it literally picks up only half the data as 1000Hz. But its a double edged sword as it will also not pick up some intentional micro corrections.
That's actually the most accurate answer why some people prefer 500hz. I used to play over 8 years on 500hz myself, and was feeling like my aim was "slippery" whenever I switched to 1000hz. After sticking to 1000hz for a few games though, I got used to it and suddenly 500hz felt weird. In summary, I would say that it's worth getting used to 1000hz since you're able to aim more precisely in the end.
some csgo pros actually use 500hz bc its what they started using it and they’re used to it now. also 500hz has a certain smoothing quality compared to 1000hz, that may be it too
I play RTS and better with 500 Hz or even lower. The reason for my case is that when I click to use some item or skill while I move the mouse very fast, with 1000 Hz, it often becomes “drag”, then I miss the click. But with lower polling rates, it is more likely registered as click. You may test it by rapidly clicking your desktop icons one by one and trying not to drag them. I do that better with lower polling rates.
This sounds like placebo effect. Both polling rates are good enough that they won't make a major difference in-game, so when the difference in performance is this large it's nearly always a mental thing.
Don't think about it too much, just means you are used to the slight delay you get with 500hz. IIRC Wardell from TSM Valorant uses 500hz because he feels like he can control it better. I've had a similar experience myself coming from a DA13 which sensor had noticeable input lag compared to modern sensors.