Older optical mice hate smooth plastic pads.

Yes. Smooth plastic surfaces can absolutely cause sensor skipping with older optical mice.

The issue is that early optical sensors (pre-2010 or so) relied on subtle texture and contrast to track movement. A smooth, glossy, or transparent surface reflects light erratically or doesn’t give the sensor enough detail to lock onto. That leads to the cursor jumping, stuttering, or stopping entirely mid-swipe. Some plastic mousepads are designed to work well (like hard pads with fine texture), but a cheap, shiny plastic one is a gamble.

Modern gaming mice with high-DPI sensors or laser tracking handle smooth surfaces much better—they’re basically immune. But if you’re using a classic Logitech MX310 or a Dell OEM mouse from 2005, stick with a cloth pad. Your wrist will thank you, and you’ll avoid the frustration.

A cloth mousepad costs $10 and fixes this problem instantly.