Thicker mousepads can mess with your LOD.

Yes, thickness matters with lightweight mice and low lift-off distance (LOD). That 3mm difference between 2mm and 5mm can cause tracking hiccups.

Here’s why: A thicker pad has more foam underneath, which compresses unevenly when you press down. With a lightweight mouse, you’re more likely to push into that cushion, changing the sensor’s distance from the surface. If you’ve set the LOD as low as possible (like 1 DVD), even slight compression can cause the cursor to jump or stop registering movement.

For a lightweight mouse with low LOD, I’d stick with a 2mm or 3mm pad. Hard pads work even better, but that’s a different feel. The 5mm pads were designed for heavier mice that don’t sink in, or for people who want wrist cushioning at the expense of sensor precision.

Get a thin cloth pad (think Steelseries QcK or the like) and set your LOD to the lowest stable setting. The consistency is worth it.

Unless you’re playing on a desk made of gravel, you don’t need that extra foam.