 Do mouse pads make a difference in gaming? The short answer is yes. Obviously it would have an impact because it would make your mouse feel smoother. Getting any mouse pad like a 3 pack with 8 dollars is far better than playing on wood or plastic. So it's basically a no brainer. But it's a worth it to get a good mouse pad compared to a cheap one. That's the real question. Mouse pads aren't just to make it feel smoother while doing tasks on your PC. They're also to protect the mouse as well as the desk. They also could help with friction and gliding while playing games, as well as make it more accurate. Some surfaces don't work all together with mouse pads like glass. So why are there brands like Artisan who make them from 50 to 150 dollars? And what impact does all of this have with gaming? The first difference is the size. The bigger the size, the more expensive it gets. So one of the more popular mouse pads, the Glorious XXXL costs $50, compared to its smaller and cheaper mouse pads, which costs $20. The quality and material are the same, but the sizing is the main factor to look at when buying a new mouse pad. The lower sense you have, the more room you need. And since most pro gamers use a low sense around 50 to 30 inches per 360, getting a large or extra large mouse pad is what I recommend. I would rather do that instead of getting a quality mouse pad like the Artisan He-In because you won't be utilizing low sense with the quality. Mouse pads also help with your micro adjustments and flicks while gaming. If you get a faster mouse pad like the He-In instead of the Glorious mouse pad, tracking is easier. If you get a slower mouse pad, flicks would be easier. It all depends on your game and play style. If you play a lot of CS or Valorant, I would go for a slower pad like the GSR because that allows you to be more precise when holding angles. If you play Phone or Overwatch, go with a faster mouse pad. That's what allows you to do a full turn easier, as well as look up and down easier. This would also correlate with a higher sense. An expensive mouse pad also improves durability. You might think that spending $50 on a mouse pad is a ripoff, after all it's just a piece of cloth. The Artisan puts more attention to the stitches and the roughness of the cloth. For example, it's zero mouse pad feels easier to stop because of its technique. It's stitching makes it harder for the cloth to fray. The Logitech QCK is one of the most popular mouse pads out there, but they just last less than a year. This is because the edges start to come apart. I would much rather have a mouse pad that can last upwards of 3 years instead of replacing my $7 QCK every year. It's tiring and costs more in the long run. Performance is also better with $50 mouse pads. The QCK fits everyone, but the Aqua Control Plus for example, fits specifically gamers with slow sensitivities. This makes the mouse pad feel more consistent and makes it way easier to do those long range flicks and swipes. This is also fitting for the mouse and can make the mouse feel lighter. Some of the cheaper mouse pads feel like a swamp that kind of swallows up your mouse and makes it feel heavier. You don't want that, especially in gaming, so in conclusion, getting a cheap mouse pad is leaps ahead of playing on wood or plastic, but I would still invest in a better mouse pad that would last longer, is bigger, and gives even more speed and control.