Should you use Dots or full size Mouse Skates? | Gaming Mice Discussion

Storyline

• No narrative storyline is presented. The video is a technical discussion about gaming mouse skates—specifically whether to use dot/partial skates versus full/large skates—and how that choice affects performance and feel.

Gameplay / Performance Highlights

Hard vs. soft mouse pads

• Dot skates are argued to work best on hard pads, where they’re less likely to “bottom out” or touch the pad fully.
• On soft “squishy” pads, dot skates may be more likely to bottom out depending on pad thickness/sturdiness.

Friction and control

• More skate surface area generally means more friction, which can translate to more control.
• Less surface area can mean less friction, supporting a faster glide (speed-focused setups).

Glide consistency / skate balance

• Some skates can be slightly unbalanced (not perfectly matched top/bottom size or placement), leading to uneven friction and feel.
• This is described as an “inherent imbalance” that can vary by mouse and skate model.

Stability and edge catching

• Full skates are presented as helping stability because they cover more area.
• Dot skates are said to be more likely to contact the mouse body edges during certain movements (especially angled lifts), producing extra noise/roughness.

Angle/lifting behavior while aiming

• When lifting/adjusting the mouse at an angle, dot skates can cause the mouse to scrape more easily against the pad due to reduced coverage at corners/edges.
• Larger/full skates reduce this issue because there’s more material to remain in contact.

Dust/hair interaction (hard pads)

• On hard pads, larger skates are more likely to catch dust or hair, creating a rougher experience.
• Dot skates are suggested to reduce this likelihood.

Strategies / Key Tips Mentioned

• Choose skate type based on your mouse pad type:
  • Hard pad → dot skates likely more viable
  • Soft pad → full skates may be safer to avoid bottoming out
• Consider your priority:
  • Want fast glide → tend toward less surface area / less friction
  • Want control → tend toward more surface area / more friction
• If you use lots of angled lifting (tilted rather than straight-up), full skates may feel smoother and more consistent.
• Placement matters for dot skates:
  • Dot skates are often installed toward corners to maximize coverage; otherwise, edge contact may happen sooner.

Durability / Break-in Notes

• The speaker claims plastic dot skates (example given: “TGX exclusive exact skates” and comparisons) show much better durability and take far longer to break in than full-size/other counterparts.
• Potential downside noted: skate packs might be priced similarly, so perceived value could vary even if longevity is better.

Equipment / Example Hardware Discussed

Brands/models and mice mentioned

• Pulsar X2A (mentions “corner skates” / “half” options for some skates)
• Beast X Mini (used repeatedly as the speaker’s main example)
• TGX exclusive exact skates and DG exclusive exact skates (compared for differences in surface area and resulting performance—especially on soft pads)

Alternate skate styles mentioned

• Half skates
• Donut skates
• Corner skates (especially on the Beast X)

What’s Argued in the “Best Choice”

• There isn’t one universal “best.”
• Overall leaning:
  • Dots may offer better performance/feel and durability in the speaker’s experience.
  • Full skates may offer stability and reduce edge scraping issues—especially with certain lifting angles and harder pads.

Gamers / Sources Featured

• Mel and FPS (mentioned as a creator who discussed the idea that mouse skates can be inherently imbalanced)
• No other clearly credited external gamers/sources beyond in-video references.