diff --git a/apps/overlay/src/index.html b/apps/overlay/src/index.html
index e68e88c..dc623a1 100644
--- a/apps/overlay/src/index.html
+++ b/apps/overlay/src/index.html
@@ -1058,7 +1058,7 @@ <h3>Window Display</h3>
   </div>
   <div class="setting-row">
     <label title="On-top grip glow markers, shown while a grip is held (Steam Controller). Independent of the bars; grip state also shows in the Button HUD.">Show Grip Sense Glow</label>
-    <input type="checkbox" id="grip-viz-toggle" checked>
+    <input type="checkbox" id="grip-viz-toggle" autocomplete="off">
   </div>
   <div class="setting-row">
     <label title="Across-handle width of the grip glow (1–5). Width 1 + Length 1 = a small circle.">Grip Sense Glow Width</label>
@@ -1070,7 +1070,7 @@ <h3>Window Display</h3>
   </div>
   <div class="setting-row">
     <label title="Show the grip-sense bars on the controller's left/right sides (Steam Controller). The bars sit grey at rest and light up to the grip color while that side is gripped — independent of the Grip Sense Glow.">Show Grip Sense Bars</label>
-    <input type="checkbox" id="grip-bars-toggle" autocomplete="off">
+    <input type="checkbox" id="grip-bars-toggle" autocomplete="off" checked>
   </div>
   <div class="setting-row">
     <label title="Peak brightness of the Grip Sense Glow while a grip is held. Affects the glow only, not the bars.">Grip Glow Brightness</label>
diff --git a/apps/overlay/src/js/app.js b/apps/overlay/src/js/app.js
index e3dd28d..32c61e1 100644
--- a/apps/overlay/src/js/app.js
+++ b/apps/overlay/src/js/app.js
@@ -1599,8 +1599,8 @@ function updateSyntheticFromParsed(parsed) {
 // 2D grip-sense indicator — readable at any 3D camera angle (the grip meshes
 // are on the back of the controller and usually occluded). Lazily revealed the
 // first time grip data arrives, then tracks left/right state.
-let gripVizEnabled = localStorage.getItem('overlay:gripViz') !== '0'; // on-top glow markers on/off
-let gripBarsVisible = localStorage.getItem('overlay:gripBars') === '1'; // grip-sense side bars (default OFF)
+let gripVizEnabled = localStorage.getItem('overlay:gripViz') === '1'; // on-top glow markers on/off (default OFF, #92)
+let gripBarsVisible = localStorage.getItem('overlay:gripBars') !== '0'; // grip-sense side bars (default ON, #92)
 let gripGlowWidth = parseInt(localStorage.getItem('overlay:gripGlowWidth') || '2', 10); // across-handle, 1-5
 let gripGlowLength = parseInt(localStorage.getItem('overlay:gripGlowLength') || '4', 10); // front-to-back, 1-5
 // Grip-sense HUD row — toggles the LG/RG cells in the Button HUD from
diff --git a/packages/visualizer/src/controller-overlay.js b/packages/visualizer/src/controller-overlay.js
index 3cad87e..14404b5 100644
--- a/packages/visualizer/src/controller-overlay.js
+++ b/packages/visualizer/src/controller-overlay.js
@@ -100,8 +100,8 @@ export class ControllerOverlay {
 
     // Grip-sense highlighting (Steam Controller capacitive grips)
     this._gripMarkers = null;   // { left, right } billboard sprites, on top
-    this._gripEnabled = true;   // on-top grip GLOW markers on/off; toggled from settings
-    this._gripBarsVisible = false; // grip-sense side BAR meshes hidden by default; from settings
+    this._gripEnabled = false;  // on-top grip GLOW markers off by default (#92); toggled from settings
+    this._gripBarsVisible = true; // grip-sense side BAR meshes shown by default (#92); from settings
     // Grip glow marker size in 1..5 steps of the base unit. width = across the
     // handle, length = front-to-back (model Z, the handle's long axis).
     // (1,1) renders a small circle; anything larger is a bar.