I think people are really quick to change everything about their setup, but often neglect the surface they play on. Altering the dynamic and static friction applied to your mouse is very similar to altering the weight of your mouse, which people obsess over. I think finding the right surface for you is very important!
Edit: also Artisan pads are top top tier. I just prefer glass though personally, but glass is definitely not for everyone, with emphasis on definitely.
I use the Glorious 3XL mouse pad, it is so massive it covers my entire desk, which fits 3 monitors, my keyboard, mouse and PC on the same surface. Gives you a lot of mouse space.
Honestly, there are a lot of pros and cons. When I say they arenāt for everyone I REALLY mean that. But, this guy sums it up pretty good. He starts talking about glass pads more generally at about 3 minutes and 30 seconds or so (the first couple minutes he is talking about specific pads he is reviewing).
100% agreed. I think most people donāt even consider or arenāt aware of what a different type of surface can do to their aim and tracking. No shade at the cheap generic Steel Series cloth pads, I still think theyāre good but man I noticed such an improvement and consistency with my shots when I switched to Artisan.
Iāve been looking at glass mousepads a tiny bit recently. Think next pad I experiment with will definitely be glass.
Basically, they are extremely durable and will last decades. The main reason you would use one though is that they have some of the lowest dynamic and static friction available on the market right now (outside of doing some jank stuff with pledge). You can play very fast and make micro adjustments quickly, go from a dead stop to moving with ease, and continue moving when already moving with extremely minimal resistance. This has value, but requires excellent mouse control, especially since you cannot push the mouse down into the pad to create more friction, as you would with a regular cloth pad, or even a hybrid pad. Basically, a glass pad will highlight any flaws you have in your mouse control, and force you to iron it out, as it removes all your crutches.
The drawbacks are plentiful though. Aside from being tougher to control in general, it is specifically more difficult to stop the mouse once it is moving, as there is little to no friction. The pad also requires a ton of maintenance, as the slightest hair, piece of dust, or flake of dead skin on the pad will cause a grinding feeling/noise when the mouse skates over it. This means you must have a microfiber cloth on standbye to wipe down your pad very frequently. Speaking of noise, while the glide itself is buttery smooth, the sound is definitely not. It creates a scratchy sound when you move your mouse, which can be exacerbated by certain mouse skates (if theyāre low quality, very thin, or not rounded). This sound issue goes away when you use headphones, and youre left only with the buttery smooth glide sensation, but for those gaming on speakers or with other people present, it can be irritating to some. Also, your skin will typically get kind if stuck to the glass and create a ton of friction (especially if youre sweating), so you really need to wear long sleeves or a gaming sleeve to solve this issue.
Those are the main things, but the list is longer than that.
Currently using a Steel Series XL Thick. My 2nd one. I love it, but any fine matter, be it cat hair, dust, etc⦠I feel it on my wrist and it drives me insane.
I have had a large mouspad, extra huge one tbh, about 2 feet by 1 foot or so. As i play on a converted Kitchen table, I have tons of room. That said I really donāt use it, as I play with a track ball mouse.
Itās honestly not the best for gaming with precise shooting, but Iāve used it for so long I canāt really use another type of mouse without it feeling weird. Current model is the Logitech MX ergo Plus. The kind with the little track ball on the left you move with your thumb.
I would recommend the Razer Atlas as a great entry pad to glass pads. It has a hair more control than the skypad and the pulsar superglide from what Iāve read. I personally have the Atlas and love it. I did order a pulsar superglide pad though because I want to try it out, but thatās still on its way.
Great pad
Thats really cool, Iāve never heard of them, but just checked out their site. Looks awesome!
Youre welcome, be warned though, they are expensive. Theyāre meant to be the type of thing where itās more expensive, but itāll last a lifetime so the cost is worth it. Still, there is every chance you might get one and end up not liking it. Iād highly suggest a Razer Atlas, since you can buy it through amazon and return it if you do not like it. Also, long sleeves are a must! You can take an old long sleeve compression shirt (if you have one) and cut the sleeve off by the shoulder. You can even cut out a thumbhole if you like!
Godspeed and good luck! Let us know if you get one, and if you like it.
I have one and really liked it. It was my first venture into faster pads. It actually made me want to go even faster because I saw instant improvement in my mechanics with the pad. Thatās why I eventually went to hard pads.
Iām not above it. You should see my gaming room. Itās full of Overwatch stuff!
As another owner of a Razer Atlas, I wholeheartedly recommend it.
IMO the huge disadvantage, as JoeGoldberg mentioned above, is the tiniest little crumb or hair becomes very noticeable and it can be annoying to have to constantly wipe it down and maintain it. But on the plus side itās not going to degrade or wear out over time like your typical cloth pad.
Yeah, you feel that hair under your mouse. I donāt know how else to describe other than that. The surface is so even and rigid that you will notice it.
Oh and quick side note about the Atlas specifically: it has a special coating on the glass that is similar to the coating used on smartphone and tablet screens that actually might (in theory) degrade over time. Other glass pads on the market do not have this coating. The benefit is that it makes the pad less noisy and feel more slick on your skin in comparison to other glass pads. Shouldāve mentioned that before, but it kind of slipped my mind.