Obsidian Pro / Skypad Skates - DIY Dots

Full-size match your mouse's stock feet. Largest contact area, so the most planted and consistent glide with the best stopping power for micro-adjustments and holding angles. The tradeoff is higher friction — slower, needs slightly more effort to move. Best for control players, low sens, and arm aimers.

Dots are small round pads (~6–8 mm) you place yourself, usually 6–8 per mouse. Minimal contact area means maximum speed: lighter, snappier, more effortless glide. The tradeoff is less stability on hard stops — they can feel floaty. Best for speed players, wrist aimers, and glass pads where low friction shines.

Donuts are rings with a hole in the middle — the middle ground. Less contact than full-size so still fast, but the ring shape keeps more consistent edge contact than dots, so less wobble and a quieter, more refined feel, especially on glass or with larger mice. Usually only ~4 pieces needed for similar coverage. Best if you want speed without giving up stability.

Pills (elongated ovals, e.g. ~7×14 mm) glide directionally — smoother on straight horizontal/vertical paths, good for tracking and flicks. Faster than full-size, more controlled than dots. A solid compromise if a set includes them.

Dots→Donuts→Pills→Full-sizefastest to slowest

PTFE (Teflon) has the lowest friction of any consumer plastic — fast, smooth glide right away. Versatile, inexpensive, great on cloth. But it wears quickly on glass, turning scratchy or noisy within weeks. Pick PTFE for cloth pads and outright speed.

UHMW-PE has slightly higher friction but lasts 5–10× longer than PTFE on glass, holding a consistent glide for months. A touch slower-feeling, which reads as extra control and stopping power. Pick UHMW-PE for glass pads and durability.

Hardened PTFE (e.g. Ghostglide Cyclone, X-Raypad Obsidian) sits between: faster than UHMW-PE, more durable and quieter than standard PTFE, with a frosted finish that adds braking control. Foam-backed variants (Obsidian Air, U9 Air/Ultra) add noise reduction and anti-collapse layers so the feel stays consistent under hard pressure.

PTFE speedHardened PTFE middleUHMW-PE durability

Cloth pads are forgiving — almost any skate works. Faster skates (PTFE dots) add glide; full-size skates add stopping power. If a new pad feels off, try fresh skates before blaming the pad.

Glass pads are fast and unforgiving: worn skates feel scratchy immediately. Dots and donuts pair best with glass, and UHMW-PE is worth it here for longevity. Budget for spares — skates that last 6–18 months on cloth can wear out in a couple of months on glass.

Rule of thumb: the pad and skates stack. A control pad plus full-size skates is maximum anchor; a speed setup (glass plus dots) is maximum glide. Pick one side to get speed from, not both, unless you know you want the extreme.

1. Peel off old skates — heat stubborn adhesive with a hair dryer first.
2. Clean the mouse bottom with the included alcohol pad and let it dry.
3. Press new skates firmly into place (dots/donuts: follow the stock layout or your preferred pattern).
4. Wait a few minutes before using so the adhesive sets.

Clean skates regularly and replace when glide turns scratchy or inconsistent — roughly every 6–18 months on cloth, more often on glass.

Read the full skates guide