Yes, glass mousepads can cause jitter.

Some optical mice hate them.

The issue is how the sensor reads the surface. Glass is smooth and reflective, so the sensor gets fewer reference points to track movement — especially on older or budget mice. Cloth gives the sensor a textured pattern to lock onto, so tracking stays smooth.

Newer high-end sensors (like PixArt 3395 or Logitech HERO) handle glass better, but it’s not guaranteed. Even then, you might see occasional spin-outs or shaky cursor movement depending on the glass finish and your specific mouse.

If you’re gaming or doing precise work, stick with cloth unless you’ve tested your exact mouse on that exact glass pad first. It’s not worth the frustration.