Hard plastic mousepads wear out PTFE skates faster.

Yes. Hard plastic surfaces are more abrasive than cloth, so your mouse feet will wear down noticeably sooner.

PTFE (Teflon) is soft relative to hard plastics like polycarbonate. Every glide grinds a microscopic amount off the skates. On cloth, the fibers provide some give and trap less grit. On a hard pad, the surface is unforgiving, and any dust or debris acts like sandpaper. You might see visible flattening or scuffing within a few months, depending on use.

That said, hard pads offer lower friction and more consistent glide — pros in competitive gaming. If you prefer that feel, just accept that you’ll replace skates more often. They’re cheap and easy to swap.

Cloth pads are gentler on skates but wear out themselves and can collect grime. Trade-offs either way.

Hard pads are fine if you don’t mind replacing skates every few months.