A mousepad works fine for a trackball.

Yes, you can use a mousepad with a trackball — and depending on the surface, it might even help.

Here’s the thing: a trackball doesn’t roll across the mousepad like a traditional mouse. The ball stays put relative to the pad; your thumb or fingers do the moving. So the pad’s main job is providing a stable, consistent surface for the trackball’s sensor (optical) or ball bearings (mechanical).

Optical trackballs track best on solid, non-reflective surfaces. A hard mousepad works great. Soft cloth pads can work, but they introduce drag and might cause the ball to skip or feel sluggish — especially if it’s a mechanical ball with a metal roller. I’ve used a cheap cloth pad with a Logitech M570 for years; it’s fine, but a hard pad feels snappier.

If you’re asking whether a dedicated high-end gaming mousepad makes a difference on a trackball? Probably not worth it. The tracking is less sensitive to texture than an optical mouse. Just avoid glass (ref