Are Mouse Pads Necessary for Gaming?

[ArticFox]

I have recently purchased a gaming mouse from Steelseries to replace my non gaming mouse and I want to know if a mouse pad is needed to improve performance/accuracy in gaming. Right now, I am using an 800 DPI mouse on a smooth (I think polished) wooden surface. If I were to get a new mouse pad, what should I be looking for? Or maybe if my wooden surface is good enough, will this affect or damage the laser on the mouse?

 

[Leonell12]

I have recently purchased a gaming mouse from Steelseries to replace my non gaming mouse and I want to know if a mouse pad is needed to improve performance/accuracy in gaming. Right now, I am using an 800 DPI mouse on a smooth (I think polished) wooden surface. If I were to get a new mouse pad, what should I be looking for? Or maybe if my wooden surface is good enough, will this affect or damage the laser on the mouse?

the mousepad will do two things: it'll improve the life of the mousefeet at the bottom of the mouse and it will improve sensor feedback, increasing your accuracy... the mousepad wont really prevent damage to the sensor but'll prevent things blocking the sensor (if you keep your mousepad clean that is), i used to used my rat 5 on a polished wooden surface, and i think the polish kept scraping off (it was only the tiniest of flakes) , but the rat 5 has a very very sensitive sensor, and so the flakes kept getting stuck in the sensor's way and my mouse stopped working from time to time...one of the best mousepad out there is the Razer Goliathus, there's different sizes for it and different surface types (speed or control) to fit every gamer's needs

 

[ArticFox]

Alright, thanks for your contribution. One more question I have, are there any alternatives instead of buying a mouse pad? If not, then I'll just consider buying one.

 

[Akhilcool]

I myself have a Steelseries Sensei gaming mouse and I can confirm that those glide pads located on the bottom of your mouse will get scratched up pretty fast if you don't use it on a smooth surface like a gamepad. If they get worn out, your mouse will not glide as smoothly as it does now. You don't need to spend much on your mouse pad either. A fancy Razer mouse pad is rather unnecessarily expensive. Just buy one that doesn't move around when you move the mouse, and one that is smooth enough so that your mouse glides well. I personally got mine for $3.99 at Canada Computers and it's wonderful. Make sure that you find one that is well padded and stay away from those really cheap ones that have a shiny, hard, top layer with a picture covering it.

 

[ArticFox]

I myself have a Steelseries Sensei gaming mouse and I can confirm that those glide pads located on the bottom of your mouse will get scratched up pretty fast if you don't use it on a smooth surface like a gamepad. If they get worn out, your mouse will not glide as smoothly as it does now. You don't need to spend much on your mouse pad either. A fancy Razer mouse pad is rather unnecessarily expensive. Just buy one that doesn't move around when you move the mouse, and one that is smooth enough so that your mouse glides well. I personally got mine for $3.99 at Canada Computers and it's wonderful. Make sure that you find one that is well padded and stay away from those really cheap ones that have a shiny, hard, top layer with a picture covering it.

Oh cool! Thanks for that info. Since Canada Computers is nearby, I might as well look into some cheap mouse pads as you mentioned the price! Lol

 

[Akhilcool]

Alright, thanks for your contribution. One more question I have, are there any alternatives instead of buying a mouse pad? If not, then I'll just consider buying one.

My roommate uses a textbook cover as his mouse pad but it causes his mouse to wear down a lot faster and it also affects his accuracy so I would recommend that you buy a mouse pad under $10. You won't regret it.

 

[ArticFox]

Alright, thanks for your contribution. One more question I have, are there any alternatives instead of buying a mouse pad? If not, then I'll just consider buying one.

My roommate uses a textbook cover as his mouse pad but it causes his mouse to wear down a lot faster and it also affects his accuracy so I would recommend that you buy a mouse pad under $10. You won't regret it.

Thanks so much! 😀

 

[Akhilcool]

Just thought I'd link you to the mouse pad I have simply because I think it's amazing.

http://www.canadacomputers.com/product_info.php?cPath=21_276&item_id=027249

It's actually $4.99 but I'm sure the extra dollar is worth it.

 

[ArticFox]

Just thought I'd link you to the mouse pad I have simply because I think it's amazing.

http://www.canadacomputers.com/product_info.php?cPath=21_276&item_id=027249

It's actually $4.99 but I'm sure the extra dollar is worth it.

Oh that's cool. Thanks for sooooo much help again 😀

 

[bystander]

I find using a mouse on my desktop doesn't work so well, not so much due to the sensor, but because it does not glide well. And while I have used cheap mouse pads for many years, my last purchase, I decided to try a quality one, and it most definitely is much smoother than anything I've tried before. If you like your mouse to glide, those expensive mouse pads (not really pads at all), do a better job.

Oh, and to the person who was getting flacks in their sensor, it is possible those flakes were dead skin. I've been finding my hand sheds dead skin from time to time, and does cling to my mouse.