Do Mousepads Matter When Gaming? The Benefits of a Gaming Mouse pad

Ever since gaming peripherals such as gaming mice, keyboards, headphones, mouse pad etc. were introduced, there has always been a question as to whether these actually matter when it comes to gaming? 

Or, are these just fancy-looking PC peripherals that have a premium tag for being ‘gaming’? 

Well, it turns out that these actually do affect the gaming experience. So, yes, the gaming peripherals do matter when it comes to gaming, but only if they are of good quality, and made by a good brand. 

But what about a mouse pad? 

It’s just a surface, how can a surface affect gaming? Also, why would someone pay more for a gaming mouse pad? Well, that is what we will be talking about in this article. Thus, after reading this it should be pretty clear to you if you should get a gaming mousepad, or are you better off with a normal one that is much more affordable, and cheap.

Do mouse pads make a difference for gaming? So, this would undoubtedly be the first question that would come to your mind, if you are thinking of getting one. And, the answer is a yes. 

Mouse performance depends greatly on the surface it is being used on. These gaming pads have specialized types of material used that make it optimal for mice to be used on. However, your mouse has to be good enough to take advantage of the improved surface. With these pads, you would be able to have better tracking, precision, and easier mouse movement as well. These would undoubtedly make your gaming experience better.

What happens if we use tables instead of a mousepad? This is a question that some will have. After all, mice are capable of tracking on a wide variety of surfaces. And, this also includes the wood. The answer to this question is yes, but it depends. It depends on the type of surface of the table, and also how smooth it is, does it have any undulations, scratches, damage, etc. If it is smooth and has no dent, damage whatsoever, then you can most definitely use a table. But, the material also depends. Some materials are rough and that can result in an unpleasant user experience. Not to mention, it will also damage the feet of your mouse faster. So, it is recommended to use a gaming mouse pad for gaming. You can use your table as well, however, it won’t be as good of an experience.

Factors to consider when buying a gaming mouse pad:

There are thousands of options available in the market when it comes to a gaming mousepad. But, which one of those is for you? Well, that all depends on what are you looking for in your mousepad. Do you want it to be stylish? Do you want it to be a cloth pad or hard pad? What size do you want? And, various other preferences come into play here. So, let’s talk about the factors that you should look at according to your needs, and also in general.

Firstly, what you should look for is what type of pad you are after. Do you want a hard pad, or a cloth, soft pad? There are pros and cons to both. With a cloth pad, you have a more controlled mouse movement, due to the friction of the cloth, a comfortable hand placement, and these types of pads are also more affordable for the most part. Furthermore, they can be easily rolled and moved around with, thus are portable. However, the issue with cloth is that dirt and grit affect the cloth, and thus need to be washed from time to time to ensure performance is not affected. Not to mention, the cloth can also get damaged. 

Furthermore, the layer of cloth can also start to peel off from the sides, and the edges. So, it is recommended to get mouse pads with stitched edges as that reduces the chances of it being peeled off.

As for hard mousepads, as the name sounds, these are made for solid materials, and are a plain, flat surface with low friction, thus allowing for smooth glides. If speed is what you want, these are for you. And, being made of hard material, cleaning it is really easy and does not require to be washed like cloth pads. The only disadvantage is that mouse feet get worn off faster, the price tag is comparatively more than cloth pads, and you do not have the comfortable feel when placing the bottom of your hand on the pad. Durability is not at all a concern here, since it is just a hard surface

Then, the size of the mousepad also is an important factor, if you play at low sensitivity then you would need a larger-sized pad, compared to those who play at high sensitivity. Mousepads are available in various sizes. Small, Medium, Large, XL, XXL, XXXL, etc.

Style is another factor to consider. If you want RGB lighting, or you want one with a special texture design on the pad, etc. However, these days you can find both hard, and soft mouse pad with RGB lighting, so that is not an issue. However, they are indeed more expensive than those without it.

Conclusion:

Gaming mouse pads, only quality ones, do affect the gaming performance, and depending on your taste, and preferences you should decide on which type of mouse pad to get. Hard pads have less friction, less maintenance, faster mouse glide, and are more durable. But these are less comfortable, more expensive, and are not portable. Cloth mouse pad is more affordable, more comfortable, and can easily be carried. But, it requires more maintenance, is less durable, and has more friction than hard pads.

If you are serious about gaming performance, definitely get a gaming mouse pad. If not, then there is no issue in using regular mouse pads either, or even the table for that matter.