There should NOT be any side-to-side play, because part of the throttle tube, the inside plastic end, goes inside the right control. Well, the control is tightened down on the handlebar, so the tube and throttle don't go anywhere except for rolling on/off throttle. There might be a tiny amount of play because the gap is bigger, but it's very, very minor. When I rode my bike, I didn't notice anything at all.