I was going to do a mouse pad with a cool graphic on it, but turns out printing on pads changes the surface. Obviously aim is the priority, so I said we should just go with a black pad for now. Can't tell much just by the look of it, I know, kind of going by what I say ... but maybe we can get a few sent out to reviewers so they can try to explain it in their words. And with all our opinions combined, maybe it'll make sense! Either way, I love this pad.
this is an unrelated question but does my motherboard bios version affect the mz1's performance because my mz1 stopped randomly disconnecting after I updated my bios.
What I've found through my experimentation with different mice and mousepads I also came to the conclusion that the idea combination is a light mouse and control mousepad. I agree that when it comes to the weight of the mouse the laws of physics explain why having a lighter mouse is beneficial, but when it comes to the mousepad it's more complicated. I tried to switch to ftip grip and speed pads with light mice and there was no avenue for me to control the mouse, it just slid everywhere out of control, but when I started using a more control oriented pad I started regaining control over large flicks, where before I would have a large amount of wiggle in my crosshair when in tense moments in game (something that didn't happen in aim trainers). Even while using the control pad I had some wiggle, so I tried using slightly heavier mice (around 70g instead of 60g) and this also helped which made me come up with this idea. Friction is defined by F=uN, where F is the amount of friction force, u is the coefficient of friction (mouse feet on mousepad) and N is the normal force acting on the object that is trying to move (the force that counteracts the weight of the mouse and any other force pushing down on it). As the force from gravity on the mass of the mouse increased, friction smoothed out some of the excess movement that was generated in high pressure situations, and made it easier for me to hit my target without having to wait for these excess movements to dissipate. Furthermore, I saw in a RRK video that almost all csgo pros (I play csgo as my main game) have some amount of palm on their mouse ranging from full claw to full palm, and that fingertip players where very rare. The only example that comes to mind when thinking about cs pros that have a true fingertip grip is Scream. After seeing this I tried out a claw grip on my gpro superlight and zowie gsr (boring 'meta' csgo gear picks) and I found that I could swipe large movements easily due to the light weight of the mouse saving my arm and shoulder, but when I needed to make fine adjustments I could increase the amount of friction between the mouse and pad through the part of my palm that was in contact with the top of the mouse, effectively allowing me to have a super light mouse for large 180 flicks but have the extra control when I needed it through the ability to add more normal force to the friction equation, helping stop any excess aim movements in tense spots that would normally cause me to miss a few kills in an average match. My aim in trainers was best with light mouse, medium speed pad, and ftip grip, but everything changes when the pressure is on like you said in the video. Trying to figure all of this out over about a year has been tough, but your videos have been a massive help to me in my hunt to become the best player I can be. I just wanted to tell a little story with some thoughts I've had because this video really lined up with what I have been noticing in my aim journey, and I thought other people could benefit from the time I've put into trying to have the best aim possible. Nice videos!
Appreciate the story/thoughts! Glad my vids are helping too. Yeah so part of the stuff I haven't fully researched with this is what is needed in different games, and is it actually different, or can we go for a universal rule on this? Looks like you've found there are differences. I'm going to test out a heap of stuff at some point and I'll have to learn to play a different game or two so I can actually figure it out. But, every bit helps, so just gotta keep on trying stuff and hopefully we'll get an answer. Thanks!
@@RocketJumpNinja I use control for valorant/cs but when it comes to call of duty, apex legends, battlefield, Overwatch, and Quake I need I use a faster pad like the Aqua Control + or the Razer Strider, only using the strider for Apex. I find the reason for this is because it's easier to make micro adjustments on pads with less friction so my tracking is much better and this is key in games where you need to shoot fast strafing, jumping, flying, targets all over the place. But click timing suffers on these pads. For example the fast pad gives me really good LG accuracy in Quake but the RG accuracy suffers and vise versa for control Pads. I'm really excited to try out this pad and can't wait for it to get here as it seems it will give me the perfect balance I need that I have never been able to find. Excellent Trackng and Click timing without either suffering by the speed of the pad i'm using.
@@RocketJumpNinja Also if you wanted to ask any other questions about my situation and mouse/aim journey I would be more than happy to help. All this aim performance and how to get the most out of yourself is super interesting to me, because I have seen gains from implementing things discussed in this community.
I do think that controlpads are generally easier to play with, but when you have very good control over your mouse, and played with a faster pad for some time, there's something to it that makes it just a little better.
Zy's Rail wouldve been a more fitting name for the mousepad imo. Since the train isn't the rail, rather, it rides on the rail. But what would the name be for the mouse?
Coming from the custom scene I don’t think he can make a unique one. Probably at best a rebranding, but im sure that this would be far harder to produce in a unique way.
@@Definitely_Melnyx Looking at the higround boards I have exactly the same opinion, the gaming keyboard scene is already oversaturated with the same boards and custom keyboards occupy the perfect niche. There's just no reason to try and break into the keyboard market
@@Definitely_Melnyx I honestly think that we are at *peak* keyboard. And, there is't much *unique* we can do. Like, if you look at the Steelseries Apex pro TKL. That keyboard has pre tty much everything done right. Y'know, dampening foam here, shrinking to 75% there, and Voilà! You just created the best keyboard on planet earth! No much uniqueness there. :D
@@anuragvardhan1556 I actually think at least 60-40% or split keyboards would be best, for more mouse freedom and less room between both hands. Preferably ortholinear for more natural finger movements as well.
@@brzt4256 Yeah, if you only play competitive games like fortnite, cods or games like that, sure a 65% (cuz I can't live without a delete key and arrows) would be great, but when you also have dedicated F-keys. Story games also become easier to play. That's why I said that :D
That's what many players don't consider or just ignore: personal progress is very dependent how good your opponent is. Easier just to blame your own gear or the weather...
4:12 assuming the pad is brand new, how is it already fraying? The stitching on the pad doesn't look premium at all. Coming from an Artisan, there is no way I'm gonna waste any money on that kind of quality.
Because Artisan pads are all speed pads. Even the Zero, which is their “control” pad is too fast for most. There is yet a pad that is Artisan quality but is a control pad. I hated my Zero so much I swapped to the GSR. Once LGG pads are out, I’ll probably swap over to their pads since the stitching and rubber back is similar to Artisan.
My favorite combo right now is definitely the MZ1 and the Artisan Hien, I aim the best with the MZ1 because i have medium-sized hands and i like to fingertip grip, so it forms to my hands extremely well. The Artisan Hien gives good control with the texture as well as good speed for smooth tracking and flicks.
@@this_katharsis2227 hard disagree I've tried every mousepad you could imagine, (AC+, skypad, shidenkai, artisan zero, gsr-se, glorious 3xl, you name it, I've tried it) it may be expensive but it's the mousepad I've aimed the best with
Mz1 with the GSR has been a dream. The light weight of the mz1 allows me to be mobile while the gsr allows me to obtain the control of the mouse. Definitely ordering 2 of the Zys dmg pads.
I've been using the Zowie GSR pad for years. Used many mice during it. I've used the EC2 for most of it. I don't know if it was just because I was playing more but I've always felt I aim the best with this combo. That said I used the FK2 and found I still aimed very well even with larger hand size (19.5x10). For now though I'm still using the Zowie GSR. Found It a good material for control and been using the G Pro superlight. Never felt right with the regular GPRO but I dunno I feel comfortable with the superlight. Although I had to put the grippy tape they provided with it to get a good grip with it. I've just felt control pads are good for me. Even with a low sens and mouse that's considered heavy these days (90g) I've still managed to flick from one side to another and hit shots just fine so even with a heavier mouse or a lighter mouse I go for a control pad.
I found once I got used to a hardpad, I couldnt go back to cloth. For me cloth is more difficult to make intricate mouse movements compared to hardpads where I have more feel for what im doing with my aim at a given moment. As always, great content.
Phenomenal hybrid pad, especially for CS-and reasonably priced to boot. Not many may know this, but that pad was actually developed in collaboration with a legendary CS 1.6 player named "SpawN" well over a decade ago. We're talking circa 2009 here, it's THAT old. The fact that it's still being sold after all this time speaks to just how good this pad is. I thought I'd share what SpawN had to say about it on the original box art: "As everybody knows, I don't play with cloth mouse pads since cloth does not give me the performance I need - SPEED. By putting a coating on it, the cloth pad is no longer durable and is soon discarded and thrown away. But now with the new ZOWIE GEAR TF Series, I no longer have that problem. I get the Feel (cloth), and most importantly, Performance (Speed!) That is why I named it TF (Two Faces). I am so proud to be associated with this amazing new pad. See for yourself the SpawN Pad TF Series. Welcome to my World!"
How about we factor in the weight of a boney skinny arm, a heavy jacked arm or a heavy fat arm. A heavier arm will be less impacted by the weight of the mouse vs a lighter arm.
My combo is a speed pad with a light-ish mouse. I've always been using a crazy high sensitivity, it was just a freak thing I've learned as a kid and never dropped. I've reduced my sens multiple times over the years but it's still well over average. Because of this I rely on fine movements more than others, and any resistance coming from the mousepad affects my aim more than it would affect a low-sens user as I have less time and space to compensate for it during a flick. My hands are a little bit jittery so the speed pad + high sens combo makes my tracking notoriously unreliable but on a good day my flicks can look like aimbot. Also I seem to have a thing for discontinued products so I use the SteelSeries 9HD mousepad with the Logitech G302.
Sens is a big factor too. Im medium sens player, 1.25 csgo, 800dpi. So I dont really need the speed, I need more control. So Im currently using the Artizan Zero XSoft because of the extra control it provides, and I have tried quite a most similar control pads, Hoyas Mpad gdoc is well done and I find it accurate. And I use Corepad feet as they have much more rounded corners compared to their competitors and sink more consistently into my pad. Maybe try swaping the pads on Hoya's list, see if you find it accurate and try to place it. Would be very useful. As for mouse, after using smaller, I cant go back, as hard as the transition has been. I tried your Rail, with a claw and its length I just didnt suit me. So Im back to the Razer Viper mini until I can get my hands on a Starlight small witch looks like it has the perfect grip width for me, as your rail too thin for me and I was cramping, while the Mini and M42 are just a tad too wide. So 5.35cm looks to be perfect. Only slight issue I have with the viper mini is not having as much downforce for control with the back not being high enough but youd have to have swappable backs is it depends on your grip.
@@karp8 I had a Artisan Zero Classic XL its the same like the Artisan Zero expect it hasnt stitched edges. It was great on the beginning but it lasted only 30 days. It was way slower on the more used surface.
Sorry for breaking it to you but 1.25 x 800 is not a medium sens for CSGO. When the average among pros is 875.4 eDPI yours stands on 1000 which is a HUGE difference.
I’m a Valorant and Counter Strike player. I have tested a large variety of mouse pads as well as a variety of mice. Through my testing, my ideal combo is a speed pad (Artisan Raiden, Mid) in combination with a medium weight mouse (60-70grams) such as the superlight. A 40 gram mouse with a control pad just didn’t offer optimal performance for me in tac fps and aim trainers.
@ I noticed that I’m much faster and more consistent with Micro corrections when using faster mouse pads but I’m more consistent with larger flicks on control pads. When using 40 gram mice, the reduced weight made it a lot harder for me to feel the mouse when making micro adjustments. I know everything is all preference but this was just my initial thoughts after testing. I feel with Tac FPS games, lighter mice isn’t always better.
Yeah it's personal preference, but there are other factors here too. How much time did you spend with each? I was struggling with the lighter mice (Finalmouse UltralightX) for weeks, even on control pads, until I finally adjusted and now I play extremely well with it. I do wonder how many people are prepared to give it that much time. And what if you needed even more control? I have multiple pads so I test a lot of these combinations. If the mouse is light and the skates glide well, you should still be able to get the benefit of having a light mouse to move/stop/pick up (which is clearly going to be easier because physics), while having the stability/control of the cloth pad. Obviously I'm just some guy with his own preferences, but I am trying to figure out the objective answers to this because I want to play my best... so far the "science" seems to point toward control pad + extremely light mouse (with a good shape).
@ I agree that I could definitely could get used to an ultra light mouse given enough time. I’d agree that you are right when it comes to ultralight mouse + control pad = best results overall. I’m just very used to using mice around the 60-70 gram weight and I feel like it’s the sweet spot for me, at least for tac fps. I think if you are going to main a sub 40 gram mouse, it’s crucial that you balance the experience by either playing with a control pad, or changing mouse feet to a hardened ptfe material or any type of controlled feet.
Currently use a Artisan Hien with za13/mz1/302, honestly the Hien is just all round amazing for every game and the quality is still superb after 1 year of heavy use. Medium weight mice on rough fast-ish surface works for everything
@@effect5 ye I think so, the surface is smoother, no x y difference and apparently the same speed but people say it’s faster and some say it’s slower. I’d buy it but I dont have any real issues with the Hien to make me spend money on an otsu. I will probably wait a few years and get it but for now the Hien and raiden are good enough that I don’t need to buy anything else
You better ship it without it being rolled or at least give some more room for the pad inside the package. I HATED everything about the GP4, starting with the packaging. It came out very folded and stood like that for more than 3 weeks.
Yeah unfortunately it's rolled up, but they all straightened out really quickly, so I don't think it's an issue for this type of material. Really depends on what they use in the pads.
That was a new one I had just got out of the box, still hadn't flattened properly. Plus a bit of a trick of the light. They're all lying flat now and over the last 18 months or however long I've been using them, haven't had any issues with movement.
I have not tested many mice with different surfaces, but what I can tell you is that the coefficient of static friction is higher than the coefficient of kinetic friction. In other words, friction is much higher when you start moving your mouse. That is, when compared to the friction of maintaining that movement. Maybe that pad that you liked captures this effect the best.
Is this pad affected by humidity? Is it coming in the same tight packaging other Xtrfy pads come in? I hope not because those pads never straightened for me.
Personally I use Zy's Rail with the G440, so a light mouse with a speed pad. I definitely prefer it to the soft pad I used to use. Aiming feels very responsive thanks to the low friction and low inertia, which helps with precision and fast movements. Playing with a higher friction pad means constantly having to overcome that resistance, so I don't think it gives you more control. If you feel that you're lacking control, I'd advocate lowering your sensitivity and staying with a smoother pad. While I'd be interested to try the GPZ1, I think I'll probably still prefer a hard pad. The claim that it functions as a control pad for small movements but a speed pad for quick ones is intriguing, but with no explanation as to how that's possible I think I'll wait to see what other people think. Love my Zy's Rail, love the channel and look forwards to more!
I think overall sensitivity or edpi is important. As a CS player with a super low edpi (800dpi x 0.63 in game sens) I prefer light mouse with fast pad, as control isn't too big of an issue. Your sensitivity seems recently high, like the hands movements you make are quite small to make bigger in-game movements, so perhaps that's why you prefer the control pad?
I play on a similar eDPI (800dpi x 0.55 ingame) and loved Zy's Rail (It's still my main mouse) when I found it. I've used soft control pads for the longest time until I finally started trying hybrid and speed pads and it's been a game changer. I dont really find much issue stopping on heads, but with the ultra low sensitivity, the low friction of the pad and lightness of the mouse makes it so much easier to aim with speed while maintaining accuracy.
I bought an Artisan Kou on a whim, 3rd party and have been loving it. Holding no bias to Artisan (over)hype, I paired it with an UL2, a mouse I've despised in the past. And lately the combo has been treating me well on both the UL2 and the OG GPro wireless. It's hard to explain, the X axis is significantly slower, the slowest control pad I've had in a while, while the Y axis is rather fast, making vert tracking a dream, alongside a lighter mouse it's been a blast!
I think nowadays its between three mousepads, G640 / Gigantus v2 / Artisan Zero. Other than that, i don't know what is good or bad, these are the most used pads in my opinion, also i didn't type those in a random order, it comes from worst to best, while not being 100% true ofcourse, G640 is an amazing pad even nowadays, the only reason i rank it lower than the Gigantus V2, is because it wears out faster than the Gigantus V2 does, not just that, but the GIgantus V2 has a very similar if not better feeling than the G640, so that's why it's ranked that way. Artisan zero ofcourse the first, it is the best mousepad nowadays and many pros use it because they acknowledged it. If you're wondering, what do all these mousepads have in common, well it is that they're all control oriented pads. Gigantus V2 more than any of these, but the Artisan Zero is a tiny bit faster, but has allot of more durability, and you will hardly ever replace it (In my opinion). The one thing they "Don't" have in common, is the brand. G640 is from Logitech / Gigantus V2 Is from Razer / And Artisan Zero is from... well... Artisan :P
my favorite combination currently is the gproX with a g640, I think it offers a nice amount of control and it makes the mouse seem easier to aim with (it feels impossible to aim with a hien since the mouse being so light on a mousepad that’s so fast my micro adjustments aren’t on point). got my hands on the mz1, loving the shape and I land my best shots with it but the cable makes me inconsistent since it gets it the way (either I pull on the bungee too hard or I give myself more cable to work with and land on the cable) this is a problem I’ve had with every wired mouse, the day a wireless
I totally agree about you about the Hien. I'm using a Glorious 3XL desk sized mouse pad, but I ordered an Artisan Hien Soft. I play on 39ish cm/360 with the GPX and the Hien made my aim all jittery and it didn't feel good. It was like sliding on ice, so I switched back to my desk sized mouse pad.
I prefer a light mouse with a slow pad. Currently, I am running G Pro Superlight with Xtrfy GP4, which gives me the control in Valorant and the speed in single-player games, where I move the mouse much more often. Your pad reminds me of the GP4, maybe even more on the control side, which I love. But my question is, will you try to make them in more sizes? I really love desk mouse pads like Cooler Master MP510 XL - 900 × 400. Thank you for your response.
I'm in a very similar boat. I use the G pro X superlight with the Xraypad Aqua Control+ Strata edition (Although I'm going to change to the black fly edition), and having that extra control is just something else :D
Same exact boat. Nearly been on the GP4 for a year now and have tried to swap off of it multiple times but there is something about this pad my brain really likes. Would really like a comparison between the GPZ1 and the GP4. Also deskmat would be nice but can the default size be a 500x500 square, that size is goated.
@@nex3877 Yes, I must agree with you. But I must say that I have two issues with GP4. First, the minor one is, that it's too small :D I constantly move it around. I have one position when I work on code and the second when I game :D. The second issue is the packing. I have had this pad for a year and a half and the pad is still not completely flat even when I did put weights on the pad. The pad is too curled up in the packaging. @Rocket Jump Ninja I hope you can look into it.
Got my pad today, felt really good in valorant with my gpx that has corepads. Only negatives are the tag on the base, gonna remove it and the packaging. Its packed super tight so its taking a while to get it 100% flat
@@RocketJumpNinja Serious question, is this better than the MP510? In what way do you love it more? debating whether to import the MP510, Aquapad control+, or this. I use a MP511 rn and it doesn't feel like the MP510's surface. The control+ is well regarded, but I'm really into trying 'your' best mousepad here.
@@dinklezucc5982 Oh yeah, mine is the 703 lightspeed now sorry :D had 2 403's and 2 703's (the most recent I upgraded the switches so it has lasted longer :). Gunship are amazing!!!
I use Hati s with an artisan hien, I guess I am more into speed than control. For me most important is low initial friction and high stopping power, for easier flicks.
A pad now too! Keep them coming! Ignore the down votes. It's easy to complain about something and create nothing. You collaborated with a company and made two different products now. That's pretty amazing. Crossing fingers for a light, wireless MZ1 in the future.
As Zy said: this review is HIS preference. After Zy's CM MP510 review, I picked it up because my DEX started to blister. After 2 years, I decided to retry the DEX and immediately I felt better aim (CSGO bot deathmatch). I also tried my old Razer Sphex (plastic) and had same benefits. So I'm a hard pad aimer, and the MP510 is the slowest I accept (because I can't find another DEX or something similar). I can't use hard pads because I have a slightly slanted surface (retractable under desk) and the mouse moves by itself when I let it go. Also dust scraping sounds. PS: I also tried XTRFY GP1 (no Z), and put it back in the box within 30mins. PS2: GMOW and regular GPW user.
Maybe you can check out CM MP511. It's MP510 with finer weave making the glide much smoother but still very well controlled. Bought it in larger size unknowingly thinking both are the same but I love the size XL MP511 more than my older size M MP510.
@@nunucheong I remember looking at MP511 reviews, but I did not "save" it in memory cause they don't have M size. I upgraded to tenkeyless to be able to use M-sizes instead of S. But I'm thinking of changing my desk (was built for CRT monitor), but that won't happen soon.
I am very happy with a mousepad that does not have too much friction when I have to make flicks, but that helps me to stop when necessary, moreover it must allow me to make micro adjustments
I use the MZ1 Zy's Rail with the Zowie G-SR. Gives me a good bit of control in CSGO. It seems like the GPZ1 could also work for me. Im happy, that you found a good Partner in Xtrfy, looking forward to your new innovative (mouse shape wise) products. We've all seen enough FK and EC clones.
I’m thinking a fast mousepad would work best for me. My range of motion feels inhibited on slower mousepads and makes it harder to do micro adjustments when needed and I feel like I need to use more force to move the mouse.
Light mouse , control pad. Always the best for aim in my opinion. Much like you, I was a huuuuuuuuuuge fan and advocate of the Zowie GS-R, but I always wanted more playroom. So I eventually got the current version of the Gamesense Radar. It doesn't really... feel, like a GS-R, but it plays a lot like it and it doesn't slow down as heavy over time. Highly recommend giving it a shot if you can find one. They're 500x500mm and about 3mm thick. Absolutely chungus mousepad. The edges ARE stitched and you can clearly tell you've hit the edge, but it's not a bad thing like some other pads. It's almost like a guide, in my opinion. It's a hard transition, but not a game stopper. It has definitely saved my behind in countless matches. As for the graphics on the Radar, I believe they use a process called Ink Printing? I'm not sure. But it's more like built into the fabric itself to a point that the whole pad feels ridiculously consistent, even after months of constant use.
I feel like a control pad for me is better, and that's because on a good day, confidence is high, and I can aim with anything, but on a bad day, I'm stressing, aim is shaky, and a speed pad with low friction just makes it worse.
I'm actually using the MZ1 white rail as my main now. Still not sure if is "the best" I can aim with but definitely my top 3. Still getting used to weight and shape, my grip is like a relaxed claw, would say is fingertip but I do support the back of the mice in my mid palm, pretty good and consistent. Found out the Gamesense Rush is a great combo for this mice and my play style. Oredered this Zy Damage to give it a shot. Thanks for the products Zy
Yeah I am curious. MP510 is the GOAT. Dunno why they don't produce it anymore. Especially small ones. Dornfinger Cordura is the same and can't get it either.
Would absolutely love a look on the new g303 "shroud edition" when it comes out, perhaps put it up against the superlight? Been watching your vids since the original g303 and you got me hooked, but for some odd reason went with the g502 instead back then. Thanks for all the help throughout the years!
I did not know there were different kinds of mouse pads until I came across this video. I thought they were all generally the same. it's still cool though, I have the XXL white mouse pad from ATRIX.
I like my zowie mousepad a lot since it is big, and still feels consistent after 3 years. I was thinking about getting a new one since it looks dirty still even after a cleaning it many times from THC was of all kind. My dumbass and others put the tool we use to scoop the was on the mouse pad since its a safe surface. Now it has a bunch of lines. Doesnt seem to effect the feel, but I am not sure how to get those stains out. My wash method is warm hot water and conditioner, and I scrub with a cloth or my hands. If there is any people out there who know how to get these stains off I am down to try. Worst thing is I get another mousepad; either the same one or something that is close to the large cloth one I have already.
Viper Mini w/ an Artisan Raiden mid @ 6 in/360 fingertip grip, wrist hovering over the mousepad, and I use full finger extension to aim vertically. I aim best with light mouse, fast mousepad, and fast sens tried all combos even 30 in/360 when I started gaming, and 10 years later, found 6 inch to be best for me
I love the gamesense radar “control pad with low initial friction but high on dynamic friction” with a light mouse. Tough the pad is a bit wired and behaves completely different with different mouse feet brands.
Favourite combo now is XM1R (70g) on the fnatic dash (hybrid pad with good control) for valorant. Cloth pads just feel too sticky, not enough freedom to move. I think this pad sounds great too!
The best combo is what you are getting used to and what you like more, theres no magic recipe for skill besides practice practice practice. I use Rival 3 with MPC450, best for me, bad for some. Lets not forget CS legends started with basic mice and generic pads and still they were best. 95% skill, 5% peripherals.
I think the difference between a speed pad and a light mouse is that a light mouse is easier to stop and easier to move, while a speed pad is harder to stop and easier to move
G Pro X Superlight + Tiger Ice Skatez + X-raypad Aqua Control Plus Rob Strafa works the best for me I've tried a ton of combos, this one is best for CPMA and faster gameplay.It is much more easier to aim in QL so it depends. I'll take speed + light mouse anyway btw
I got your mousepad a few days ago, and I'm struggling a lot, not gonna lie. I found it really hard to do micro adjustments, as the stopping power is really high. I even had to switch from claw to fingertip to compensate for that. It feels like If I'm not 100% accurate on my flicks, I'm going to miss the target, my tracking suffers too. Probably gotta give it more time, but the pad does make my aim very steady though.
I would imagine this is a lot slower than the otsu, as the only artisan pad that's really a "control" pad is the zero and even that is still faster than most "control" cloth pads out there
imo lightweight mouse with slightly fast pad is the best. If you look into pro csgo and valorant players the ones with the highest headshot% mostly use this setup, its the best for any type of aim
I found out that it is more fun and easier to click on map in Victoria 3 with a light mouse (corsair sabre wired) and xtrfy gp2. I was much more precise than with the old razer abyssus and some old razer pad which felt really coarse compared to the new xtrfy gp2. Xtrfy gp2 does smell awfully of rubber but hopefully it goes away. And i am not sure why they roll the mousepads. It takes more space than if youleave it flat and put it in cardboard envelope.
I have used a control pad for a long time (Corsair MM350) but only recently switched to a light mouse (areox 3) and finger tip grip. I noticed massive improvement in my aim.
Did this man just tell us that the best mousepad in the world is his personal branded mousepad that he makes money on every time someone buys one? As Boardzy would say, that's truly shocking.
I said that I tested a lot of mouse pads, found a fabric I like which I think is better than all the others I've tested, Xtrfy made it into a pad to sell for me, and that's what's now available. And if I didn't think it was the best, I would've got even more to test until I did find the best, then we would've released that. Not that hard to understand?
I feel like material depends on whatever range of motion you are comfortable with and always go for the lighter option. The larger your 360° distance, the more you can get away with a speed pad. Unless you're some demon who can control your aim well with a skypad, viper mini, and a 17in 360°(linear mouse accel probably helps too with sensitivities that are this absurd when used with raw input). its all preference at the end of the day. me personally, light mouse with a speed pad and linear mouse accel got me to top 0.1% tracking on aimlab default scenarios. but now i find more balanced success (in games such as osu where speed pads are nice but it can get dicey with nerves especially on maps that i farm - 4+ minute consistency) with a control pad and light mouse and no linear mouse accel. tldr: speed pad + light mouse + accel got me to my (tracking) skill cap control pad + light mouse + no accel is more consistent with nerves. specifically my own experience
That seems to match my experience with mouse accel, where it gave me great tracking but I couldn't snap onto people as well as with it turned off. The way I had my mouse accel set was to basically have two sensitivities in one, so that led to my accel feeling really heavy because it would start out really slow at 12in 180, then go to 12in 360. Currently I use no mouse accel, but sometimes I do turn it on just to satisfy my craving for the theoretical perfect setup of two sensitivities in one.
See you say lighter is better but when does it become too light? Think of a golfer with a driver. You'd assume you'd want the driver to be as light as possible to gain the maximum speed, but no that isn't optimal. People get fitted with all different kinds of weights within the driver and shaft to counter their tendencies when playing (Countering the bad shots), I don't play quake, I mainly play CSGO. Holding angles with a light mouse will probably tougher than a heavier mouse. If you're running around shooting like in Quake then yes I think lighter is better. I still play with G303. I've played with the G Pro but imo it's just to light and actually a bit to bulky in size.
You should look at Fitts law in order to create a test about comparing aiming capabilities. My personal opinion on pad is get the one that get dirty the slowest. Once its dirty it become unreliable and you brain is not going to adapt fast enough to some many variation. Especially since it does not know at any point in time where the mouse is situated on the pad. It's too complex to adapt perfectly.
Can you really claim that's sponsored? These are collaborations, where I design/choose products and they help release them. Like if I write a novel and a publisher puts it out, would you say I'm sponsored by that publisher? No, you'd say I was published by them. Similar deal here, although not sure what to call it.
I currently use a heavy mouse on a control pad (I got both without knowing about this kind of stuff yet) and it’s horrendous. Getting the Kone Pro Air and Odin Zero Gravity Pad soon. I’m excited to see the change when going to a light mouse and speed/control pad combo!
I used the qck+ for as long as I remember, constantly switching mouse throughout the years, but I think I peaked with the g pro wireless +qck+ when I got into ow contenders. But the problem with the qck+ is that it degrades fast and builds a lot of dust, also the sides are not braided. It feels really smooth and ideal when first using a new one though
It probably also comes down to games. I personally use a heavy mouse (Zowie ec1), and a razer gigantus elite with a lot of use. It works well for me in games like valorant, because i feel like i have so much control over my aim.
i feel like i can train out shaky aim but i cant train out the extra friction of a control pad i want my mouse to feel like its floating if i miss its because i didnt control my wrist. having a light mouse with a speed pad ( and also pulsar glass skates) there's absolutely zero initial friction and i love it personally. My control pad was an x-raypad aqua control plus and it was so grippy it almost made it impossible to smoothly track a target my aim was so jittery trying to track i went back to a speed pad and i can track again but my flicks feel like i have no control my muscle memory was so used to the control pad it took me a solid day to get used to a speed pad again. i cant find a combo i like but so far im liking speed pad on glass skates and a starlight 12. im beating aimlabs scores with the pulsar paraspeed but i want a bigger pad because of my low sens so i also bought a LGG Venus pad 3XL size. excited to try that pad. its fun to experement with different surfaces.
For me, I find aim trainers are the best way to tell if something has improved my aim or not cause you are isolating your aim under controlled and repeatable conditions, then you have direct scores to compare against. Also sounds like what you're looking for is a Artisain Hein.
Currently I'm using a superlight with an xtrfy gp3, micro adjustments are just effortless. I tried going back to my old steelseries qck heavy, but it felt like I was dragging my mouse through mud to be completely honest.
I was going to do a mouse pad with a cool graphic on it, but turns out printing on pads changes the surface. Obviously aim is the priority, so I said we should just go with a black pad for now.
Can't tell much just by the look of it, I know, kind of going by what I say ... but maybe we can get a few sent out to reviewers so they can try to explain it in their words.
And with all our opinions combined, maybe it'll make sense!
Either way, I love this pad.
Are you gonna release a wireless mz1?
this is an unrelated question but does my motherboard bios version affect the mz1's performance because my mz1 stopped randomly disconnecting after I updated my bios.
Grats! Of course i'm gonna haveto try this pad with the MZ1!! Even though i just got a skypad ;D
Felico, are you using AMD?
@@RocketJumpNinja yes. Is that a common issue?
What I've found through my experimentation with different mice and mousepads I also came to the conclusion that the idea combination is a light mouse and control mousepad. I agree that when it comes to the weight of the mouse the laws of physics explain why having a lighter mouse is beneficial, but when it comes to the mousepad it's more complicated. I tried to switch to ftip grip and speed pads with light mice and there was no avenue for me to control the mouse, it just slid everywhere out of control, but when I started using a more control oriented pad I started regaining control over large flicks, where before I would have a large amount of wiggle in my crosshair when in tense moments in game (something that didn't happen in aim trainers). Even while using the control pad I had some wiggle, so I tried using slightly heavier mice (around 70g instead of 60g) and this also helped which made me come up with this idea.
Friction is defined by F=uN, where F is the amount of friction force, u is the coefficient of friction (mouse feet on mousepad) and N is the normal force acting on the object that is trying to move (the force that counteracts the weight of the mouse and any other force pushing down on it). As the force from gravity on the mass of the mouse increased, friction smoothed out some of the excess movement that was generated in high pressure situations, and made it easier for me to hit my target without having to wait for these excess movements to dissipate.
Furthermore, I saw in a RRK video that almost all csgo pros (I play csgo as my main game) have some amount of palm on their mouse ranging from full claw to full palm, and that fingertip players where very rare. The only example that comes to mind when thinking about cs pros that have a true fingertip grip is Scream. After seeing this I tried out a claw grip on my gpro superlight and zowie gsr (boring 'meta' csgo gear picks) and I found that I could swipe large movements easily due to the light weight of the mouse saving my arm and shoulder, but when I needed to make fine adjustments I could increase the amount of friction between the mouse and pad through the part of my palm that was in contact with the top of the mouse, effectively allowing me to have a super light mouse for large 180 flicks but have the extra control when I needed it through the ability to add more normal force to the friction equation, helping stop any excess aim movements in tense spots that would normally cause me to miss a few kills in an average match.
My aim in trainers was best with light mouse, medium speed pad, and ftip grip, but everything changes when the pressure is on like you said in the video. Trying to figure all of this out over about a year has been tough, but your videos have been a massive help to me in my hunt to become the best player I can be. I just wanted to tell a little story with some thoughts I've had because this video really lined up with what I have been noticing in my aim journey, and I thought other people could benefit from the time I've put into trying to have the best aim possible.
Nice videos!
Appreciate the story/thoughts! Glad my vids are helping too.
Yeah so part of the stuff I haven't fully researched with this is what is needed in different games, and is it actually different, or can we go for a universal rule on this? Looks like you've found there are differences. I'm going to test out a heap of stuff at some point and I'll have to learn to play a different game or two so I can actually figure it out.
But, every bit helps, so just gotta keep on trying stuff and hopefully we'll get an answer.
Thanks!
@@RocketJumpNinja No problem, and I know which mousepad I'm buying next!
@@RocketJumpNinja I use control for valorant/cs but when it comes to call of duty, apex legends, battlefield, Overwatch, and Quake I need I use a faster pad like the Aqua Control + or the Razer Strider, only using the strider for Apex. I find the reason for this is because it's easier to make micro adjustments on pads with less friction so my tracking is much better and this is key in games where you need to shoot fast strafing, jumping, flying, targets all over the place. But click timing suffers on these pads. For example the fast pad gives me really good LG accuracy in Quake but the RG accuracy suffers and vise versa for control Pads. I'm really excited to try out this pad and can't wait for it to get here as it seems it will give me the perfect balance I need that I have never been able to find. Excellent Trackng and Click timing without either suffering by the speed of the pad i'm using.
@@RocketJumpNinja Also if you wanted to ask any other questions about my situation and mouse/aim journey I would be more than happy to help. All this aim performance and how to get the most out of yourself is super interesting to me, because I have seen gains from implementing things discussed in this community.
I do think that controlpads are generally easier to play with, but when you have very good control over your mouse, and played with a faster pad for some time, there's something to it that makes it just a little better.
I thought it was going to be named Zy's Arena, because the mousepad seems like an arena for the mouse to move around.
Clever, I like it.
Zy's Rail wouldve been a more fitting name for the mousepad imo. Since the train isn't the rail, rather, it rides on the rail. But what would the name be for the mouse?
@@7sukuyomi rail is reference to quake. To me its more a reference to male genitals.
@@7sukuyomi The word rail is most likely a reference to the rail gun from quake. Not a metaphor regarding a train.
Zy's Arena would fit to future keyboard as well :-)
literally been looking at mouse pads for the past 2 days and now this comes up, its like god is looking and feeding me this juicer of a content
Out of context but I can’t believe I’ve been watching this channel for 5 years. Thank you for making these videos
Got my pad in the mail a few days ago so let me warn you guys...Its a slow ass mud pad.
Zy keyboard when? 👀 congrats on the release Zy!
Coming from the custom scene I don’t think he can make a unique one. Probably at best a rebranding, but im sure that this would be far harder to produce in a unique way.
@@Definitely_Melnyx Looking at the higround boards I have exactly the same opinion, the gaming keyboard scene is already oversaturated with the same boards and custom keyboards occupy the perfect niche. There's just no reason to try and break into the keyboard market
@@Definitely_Melnyx I honestly think that we are at *peak* keyboard. And, there is't much *unique* we can do. Like, if you look at the Steelseries Apex pro TKL. That keyboard has pre tty much everything done right. Y'know, dampening foam here, shrinking to 75% there, and Voilà! You just created the best keyboard on planet earth! No much uniqueness there. :D
@@anuragvardhan1556 I actually think at least 60-40% or split keyboards would be best, for more mouse freedom and less room between both hands. Preferably ortholinear for more natural finger movements as well.
@@brzt4256 Yeah, if you only play competitive games like fortnite, cods or games like that, sure a 65% (cuz I can't live without a delete key and arrows) would be great, but when you also have dedicated F-keys. Story games also become easier to play. That's why I said that :D
this guy was probably the most qualified person to test these mousepads, thanks man
bought the mousepad accidentally. no wonder ive been changing many mousepads none feel close to gp1.ur sucha god in reviews.subscribed.
That's what many players don't consider or just ignore: personal progress is very dependent how good your opponent is. Easier just to blame your own gear or the weather...
thanks for the video, i thought about this topic a lot and this gives me a new path to explore on
4:12 assuming the pad is brand new, how is it already fraying? The stitching on the pad doesn't look premium at all. Coming from an Artisan, there is no way I'm gonna waste any money on that kind of quality.
Because Artisan pads are all speed pads. Even the Zero, which is their “control” pad is too fast for most. There is yet a pad that is Artisan quality but is a control pad. I hated my Zero so much I swapped to the GSR. Once LGG pads are out, I’ll probably swap over to their pads since the stitching and rubber back is similar to Artisan.
@@FalseF4CZ xten control? It's slower than the zero
Why is stiching important for performace?
I have to say i really enjoy this mousepad! gj
My favorite combo right now is definitely the MZ1 and the Artisan Hien, I aim the best with the MZ1 because i have medium-sized hands and i like to fingertip grip, so it forms to my hands extremely well. The Artisan Hien gives good control with the texture as well as good speed for smooth tracking and flicks.
@@this_katharsis2227 hard disagree I've tried every mousepad you could imagine, (AC+, skypad, shidenkai, artisan zero, gsr-se, glorious 3xl, you name it, I've tried it) it may be expensive but it's the mousepad I've aimed the best with
@@128px I swear everyone who says the hien is overrated has never tried one.
Mz1 with the GSR has been a dream. The light weight of the mz1 allows me to be mobile while the gsr allows me to obtain the control of the mouse. Definitely ordering 2 of the Zys dmg pads.
Awesome, thanks for the support!
great video! helped me make my decision finally
I've been using the Zowie GSR pad for years. Used many mice during it. I've used the EC2 for most of it. I don't know if it was just because I was playing more but I've always felt I aim the best with this combo. That said I used the FK2 and found I still aimed very well even with larger hand size (19.5x10). For now though I'm still using the Zowie GSR. Found It a good material for control and been using the G Pro superlight. Never felt right with the regular GPRO but I dunno I feel comfortable with the superlight. Although I had to put the grippy tape they provided with it to get a good grip with it. I've just felt control pads are good for me. Even with a low sens and mouse that's considered heavy these days (90g) I've still managed to flick from one side to another and hit shots just fine so even with a heavier mouse or a lighter mouse I go for a control pad.
I went with Logitech G PRO X SL and Zowie G-SR, absolutely love this combo.
surely you dont go with an extremely good mouse and an absolutely bogged mousepad
I found once I got used to a hardpad, I couldnt go back to cloth. For me cloth is more difficult to make intricate mouse movements compared to hardpads where I have more feel for what im doing with my aim at a given moment. As always, great content.
Do you use ceramic mouse feet with your hard mouse pad?
@@bm2618 I did works nicely with it
“Once I realized the weakness of my cloth , I was disgusted by it , I craved the strength and certainty of hard pads”
Im also using a hybrid mouse pad after many mouse pad over the years. Great video as always.
This sounds pretty cool! Ill have to try it at some point
Hati S Wireless & Zowie GTF-X. Don't think I'll ever switch away from the GTF-X, the texture, glide and control just seem perfect for me.
Phenomenal hybrid pad, especially for CS-and reasonably priced to boot. Not many may know this, but that pad was actually developed in collaboration with a legendary CS 1.6 player named "SpawN" well over a decade ago. We're talking circa 2009 here, it's THAT old. The fact that it's still being sold after all this time speaks to just how good this pad is.
I thought I'd share what SpawN had to say about it on the original box art: "As everybody knows, I don't play with cloth mouse pads since cloth does not give me the performance I need - SPEED. By putting a coating on it, the cloth pad is no longer durable and is soon discarded and thrown away. But now with the new ZOWIE GEAR TF Series, I no longer have that problem. I get the Feel (cloth), and most importantly, Performance (Speed!) That is why I named it TF (Two Faces). I am so proud to be associated with this amazing new pad. See for yourself the SpawN Pad TF Series. Welcome to my World!"
Very excited. 👍
How about we factor in the weight of a boney skinny arm, a heavy jacked arm or a heavy fat arm.
A heavier arm will be less impacted by the weight of the mouse vs a lighter arm.
Would you say it's overall faster or slower than the gp4? Especially when starting your movements
just ordered your mouse/mousepad/bungee bundle. They better be GOOD!
I don't have a bungee... but hope you like the mouse and pad!
My combo is a speed pad with a light-ish mouse. I've always been using a crazy high sensitivity, it was just a freak thing I've learned as a kid and never dropped. I've reduced my sens multiple times over the years but it's still well over average. Because of this I rely on fine movements more than others, and any resistance coming from the mousepad affects my aim more than it would affect a low-sens user as I have less time and space to compensate for it during a flick. My hands are a little bit jittery so the speed pad + high sens combo makes my tracking notoriously unreliable but on a good day my flicks can look like aimbot.
Also I seem to have a thing for discontinued products so I use the SteelSeries 9HD mousepad with the Logitech G302.
Sens is a big factor too. Im medium sens player, 1.25 csgo, 800dpi. So I dont really need the speed, I need more control. So Im currently using the Artizan Zero XSoft because of the extra control it provides, and I have tried quite a most similar control pads, Hoyas Mpad gdoc is well done and I find it accurate. And I use Corepad feet as they have much more rounded corners compared to their competitors and sink more consistently into my pad.
Maybe try swaping the pads on Hoya's list, see if you find it accurate and try to place it. Would be very useful.
As for mouse, after using smaller, I cant go back, as hard as the transition has been. I tried your Rail, with a claw and its length I just didnt suit me. So Im back to the Razer Viper mini until I can get my hands on a Starlight small witch looks like it has the perfect grip width for me, as your rail too thin for me and I was cramping, while the Mini and M42 are just a tad too wide. So 5.35cm looks to be perfect. Only slight issue I have with the viper mini is not having as much downforce for control with the back not being high enough but youd have to have swappable backs is it depends on your grip.
where did you find the xsoft without paying for absurf prices?
@@koreanese9602 Its worth the prices dont spend more than $70
@@karp8 I had a Artisan Zero Classic XL its the same like the Artisan Zero expect it hasnt stitched edges. It was great on the beginning but it lasted only 30 days. It was way slower on the more used surface.
Sorry for breaking it to you but 1.25 x 800 is not a medium sens for CSGO. When the average among pros is 875.4 eDPI yours stands on 1000 which is a HUGE difference.
Bruh, that ain't a medium speed...
I’m a Valorant and Counter Strike player. I have tested a large variety of mouse pads as well as a variety of mice. Through my testing, my ideal combo is a speed pad (Artisan Raiden, Mid) in combination with a medium weight mouse (60-70grams) such as the superlight. A 40 gram mouse with a control pad just didn’t offer optimal performance for me in tac fps and aim trainers.
Why is that?
@ I noticed that I’m much faster and more consistent with Micro corrections when using faster mouse pads but I’m more consistent with larger flicks on control pads. When using 40 gram mice, the reduced weight made it a lot harder for me to feel the mouse when making micro adjustments. I know everything is all preference but this was just my initial thoughts after testing. I feel with Tac FPS games, lighter mice isn’t always better.
On a more demanding game that requires a lot more arm movements such as Quake. I can see the benefits of an ultra light mouse.
Yeah it's personal preference, but there are other factors here too. How much time did you spend with each? I was struggling with the lighter mice (Finalmouse UltralightX) for weeks, even on control pads, until I finally adjusted and now I play extremely well with it. I do wonder how many people are prepared to give it that much time.
And what if you needed even more control? I have multiple pads so I test a lot of these combinations. If the mouse is light and the skates glide well, you should still be able to get the benefit of having a light mouse to move/stop/pick up (which is clearly going to be easier because physics), while having the stability/control of the cloth pad.
Obviously I'm just some guy with his own preferences, but I am trying to figure out the objective answers to this because I want to play my best... so far the "science" seems to point toward control pad + extremely light mouse (with a good shape).
@ I agree that I could definitely could get used to an ultra light mouse given enough time. I’d agree that you are right when it comes to ultralight mouse + control pad = best results overall. I’m just very used to using mice around the 60-70 gram weight and I feel like it’s the sweet spot for me, at least for tac fps. I think if you are going to main a sub 40 gram mouse, it’s crucial that you balance the experience by either playing with a control pad, or changing mouse feet to a hardened ptfe material or any type of controlled feet.
Currently use a Artisan Hien with za13/mz1/302, honestly the Hien is just all round amazing for every game and the quality is still superb after 1 year of heavy use. Medium weight mice on rough fast-ish surface works for everything
aint hayate otsu now better than hein?
@@effect5 ye I think so, the surface is smoother, no x y difference and apparently the same speed but people say it’s faster and some say it’s slower.
I’d buy it but I dont have any real issues with the Hien to make me spend money on an otsu. I will probably wait a few years and get it but for now the Hien and raiden are good enough that I don’t need to buy anything else
Rocking the Endgame MPC1200 with the Origin One X/Aerox 3 Wireless/MZ1, love this deskmat with any mouse really.
You better ship it without it being rolled or at least give some more room for the pad inside the package. I HATED everything about the GP4, starting with the packaging. It came out very folded and stood like that for more than 3 weeks.
Yeah unfortunately it's rolled up, but they all straightened out really quickly, so I don't think it's an issue for this type of material. Really depends on what they use in the pads.
@Swift you can probably put some weight on top
definitely doesnt look like it lays completely flat @4:39, maybe do to packaging . i foresee it pad skating like a qck, ill stick with my hiens
That was a new one I had just got out of the box, still hadn't flattened properly. Plus a bit of a trick of the light.
They're all lying flat now and over the last 18 months or however long I've been using them, haven't had any issues with movement.
I have not tested many mice with different surfaces, but what I can tell you is that the coefficient of static friction is higher than the coefficient of kinetic friction.
In other words, friction is much higher when you start moving your mouse. That is, when compared to the friction of maintaining that movement. Maybe that pad that you liked captures this effect the best.
Is this pad affected by humidity? Is it coming in the same tight packaging other Xtrfy pads come in? I hope not because those pads never straightened for me.
He appears to show the packaging at 2:35, hope this helps answer your question!
put the pad a few weeks under a floor rug. if you have any. or under the couch big main pillow. hope it helps ;)
Personally I use Zy's Rail with the G440, so a light mouse with a speed pad. I definitely prefer it to the soft pad I used to use. Aiming feels very responsive thanks to the low friction and low inertia, which helps with precision and fast movements. Playing with a higher friction pad means constantly having to overcome that resistance, so I don't think it gives you more control. If you feel that you're lacking control, I'd advocate lowering your sensitivity and staying with a smoother pad.
While I'd be interested to try the GPZ1, I think I'll probably still prefer a hard pad. The claim that it functions as a control pad for small movements but a speed pad for quick ones is intriguing, but with no explanation as to how that's possible I think I'll wait to see what other people think.
Love my Zy's Rail, love the channel and look forwards to more!
try LGG's mercury
I think overall sensitivity or edpi is important. As a CS player with a super low edpi (800dpi x 0.63 in game sens) I prefer light mouse with fast pad, as control isn't too big of an issue. Your sensitivity seems recently high, like the hands movements you make are quite small to make bigger in-game movements, so perhaps that's why you prefer the control pad?
I play on a similar eDPI (800dpi x 0.55 ingame) and loved Zy's Rail (It's still my main mouse) when I found it. I've used soft control pads for the longest time until I finally started trying hybrid and speed pads and it's been a game changer. I dont really find much issue stopping on heads, but with the ultra low sensitivity, the low friction of the pad and lightness of the mouse makes it so much easier to aim with speed while maintaining accuracy.
I bought an Artisan Kou on a whim, 3rd party and have been loving it. Holding no bias to Artisan (over)hype, I paired it with an UL2, a mouse I've despised in the past. And lately the combo has been treating me well on both the UL2 and the OG GPro wireless. It's hard to explain, the X axis is significantly slower, the slowest control pad I've had in a while, while the Y axis is rather fast, making vert tracking a dream, alongside a lighter mouse it's been a blast!
with np-01s and aqua control my aim has been 100% consistent! Which i like it!
I think nowadays its between three mousepads, G640 / Gigantus v2 / Artisan Zero. Other than that, i don't know what is good or bad, these are the most used pads in my opinion, also i didn't type those in a random order, it comes from worst to best, while not being 100% true ofcourse, G640 is an amazing pad even nowadays, the only reason i rank it lower than the Gigantus V2, is because it wears out faster than the Gigantus V2 does, not just that, but the GIgantus V2 has a very similar if not better feeling than the G640, so that's why it's ranked that way. Artisan zero ofcourse the first, it is the best mousepad nowadays and many pros use it because they acknowledged it.
If you're wondering, what do all these mousepads have in common, well it is that they're all control oriented pads. Gigantus V2 more than any of these, but the Artisan Zero is a tiny bit faster, but has allot of more durability, and you will hardly ever replace it (In my opinion).
The one thing they "Don't" have in common, is the brand. G640 is from Logitech / Gigantus V2 Is from Razer / And Artisan Zero is from... well... Artisan :P
my favorite combination currently is the gproX with a g640, I think it offers a nice amount of control and it makes the mouse seem easier to aim with (it feels impossible to aim with a hien since the mouse being so light on a mousepad that’s so fast my micro adjustments aren’t on point).
got my hands on the mz1, loving the shape and I land my best shots with it but the cable makes me inconsistent since it gets it the way (either I pull on the bungee too hard or I give myself more cable to work with and land on the cable)
this is a problem I’ve had with every wired mouse, the day a wireless
I totally agree about you about the Hien. I'm using a Glorious 3XL desk sized mouse pad, but I ordered an Artisan Hien Soft. I play on 39ish cm/360 with the GPX and the Hien made my aim all jittery and it didn't feel good. It was like sliding on ice, so I switched back to my desk sized mouse pad.
I prefer a light mouse with a slow pad. Currently, I am running G Pro Superlight with Xtrfy GP4, which gives me the control in Valorant and the speed in single-player games, where I move the mouse much more often.
Your pad reminds me of the GP4, maybe even more on the control side, which I love. But my question is, will you try to make them in more sizes? I really love desk mouse pads like Cooler Master MP510 XL - 900 × 400.
Thank you for your response.
I'm in a very similar boat. I use the G pro X superlight with the Xraypad Aqua Control+ Strata edition (Although I'm going to change to the black fly edition), and having that extra control is just something else :D
Same exact boat. Nearly been on the GP4 for a year now and have tried to swap off of it multiple times but there is something about this pad my brain really likes. Would really like a comparison between the GPZ1 and the GP4. Also deskmat would be nice but can the default size be a 500x500 square, that size is goated.
@@nex3877 Yes, I must agree with you. But I must say that I have two issues with GP4. First, the minor one is, that it's too small :D I constantly move it around. I have one position when I work on code and the second when I game :D.
The second issue is the packing. I have had this pad for a year and a half and the pad is still not completely flat even when I did put weights on the pad. The pad is too curled up in the packaging.
@Rocket Jump Ninja I hope you can look into it.
im on gpx superlight and xtrfy gp4, best combo that i had so far
The best combination is standard gaming mice with any cloth mousepad with decent skills.
Got my pad today, felt really good in valorant with my gpx that has corepads. Only negatives are the tag on the base, gonna remove it and the packaging. Its packed super tight so its taking a while to get it 100% flat
Yeah I cut the tag off. Also is it flat yet? All mine have gone flat now.
@@RocketJumpNinja Serious question, is this better than the MP510? In what way do you love it more? debating whether to import the MP510, Aquapad control+, or this.
I use a MP511 rn and it doesn't feel like the MP510's surface. The control+ is well regarded, but I'm really into trying 'your' best mousepad here.
I use a g403 lightspeed without the weight on a qck heavy. I prefer the control the qck heavy gives me over the thinner faster ones.
woahh my main for years was g703 on a qck heavy, also love gunship..wtf
@@dinklezucc5982 Oh yeah, mine is the 703 lightspeed now sorry :D had 2 403's and 2 703's (the most recent I upgraded the switches so it has lasted longer :).
Gunship are amazing!!!
0:38 yeah there’s like a total of 5 people in eu…
😂
Wait...
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I use Hati s with an artisan hien, I guess I am more into speed than control. For me most important is low initial friction and high stopping power, for easier flicks.
A pad now too! Keep them coming! Ignore the down votes. It's easy to complain about something and create nothing. You collaborated with a company and made two different products now. That's pretty amazing. Crossing fingers for a light, wireless MZ1 in the future.
Not first I feel like light weight with control pad would give you the best balance of both worlds but not a super slow pad just a controlled
Yeah i get what you mean not mudpad like a gsr something like a qck/gigiantus v2
i got mm710 with 3xl glrorious black pad
As Zy said: this review is HIS preference. After Zy's CM MP510 review, I picked it up because my DEX started to blister. After 2 years, I decided to retry the DEX and immediately I felt better aim (CSGO bot deathmatch). I also tried my old Razer Sphex (plastic) and had same benefits.
So I'm a hard pad aimer, and the MP510 is the slowest I accept (because I can't find another DEX or something similar).
I can't use hard pads because I have a slightly slanted surface (retractable under desk) and the mouse moves by itself when I let it go. Also dust scraping sounds.
PS: I also tried XTRFY GP1 (no Z), and put it back in the box within 30mins.
PS2: GMOW and regular GPW user.
Maybe you can check out CM MP511. It's MP510 with finer weave making the glide much smoother but still very well controlled. Bought it in larger size unknowingly thinking both are the same but I love the size XL MP511 more than my older size M MP510.
@@nunucheong I remember looking at MP511 reviews, but I did not "save" it in memory cause they don't have M size. I upgraded to tenkeyless to be able to use M-sizes instead of S. But I'm thinking of changing my desk (was built for CRT monitor), but that won't happen soon.
I am very happy with a mousepad that does not have too much friction when I have to make flicks, but that helps me to stop when necessary, moreover it must allow me to make micro adjustments
Would be cool to see deskmat/xl version, can't really go back to smaller pads
I use the MZ1 Zy's Rail with the Zowie G-SR.
Gives me a good bit of control in CSGO.
It seems like the GPZ1 could also work for me.
Im happy, that you found a good Partner in Xtrfy, looking forward to your new innovative (mouse shape wise) products.
We've all seen enough FK and EC clones.
I’m thinking a fast mousepad would work best for me. My range of motion feels inhibited on slower mousepads and makes it harder to do micro adjustments when needed and I feel like I need to use more force to move the mouse.
can i get an update? cuz its the same for me
@@pocketsage25can i get an update too😢
Light mouse , control pad. Always the best for aim in my opinion. Much like you, I was a huuuuuuuuuuge fan and advocate of the Zowie GS-R, but I always wanted more playroom. So I eventually got the current version of the Gamesense Radar. It doesn't really... feel, like a GS-R, but it plays a lot like it and it doesn't slow down as heavy over time. Highly recommend giving it a shot if you can find one. They're 500x500mm and about 3mm thick. Absolutely chungus mousepad.
The edges ARE stitched and you can clearly tell you've hit the edge, but it's not a bad thing like some other pads. It's almost like a guide, in my opinion. It's a hard transition, but not a game stopper. It has definitely saved my behind in countless matches. As for the graphics on the Radar, I believe they use a process called Ink Printing? I'm not sure. But it's more like built into the fabric itself to a point that the whole pad feels ridiculously consistent, even after months of constant use.
I feel like a control pad for me is better, and that's because on a good day, confidence is high, and I can aim with anything, but on a bad day, I'm stressing, aim is shaky, and a speed pad with low friction just makes it worse.
right now i use the Mz1 Mouse and the Razer Strider Mousepad and love it. I'll try your pad when it becomes available in my Country
I'm actually using the MZ1 white rail as my main now. Still not sure if is "the best" I can aim with but definitely my top 3. Still getting used to weight and shape, my grip is like a relaxed claw, would say is fingertip but I do support the back of the mice in my mid palm, pretty good and consistent. Found out the Gamesense Rush is a great combo for this mice and my play style. Oredered this Zy Damage to give it a shot. Thanks for the products Zy
I'm currently using Cooler Master's MP510. I remember you've used MP510 for all mouse reviews for consistency, so how does your pad compare to it?
Yeah I am curious. MP510 is the GOAT. Dunno why they don't produce it anymore. Especially small ones. Dornfinger Cordura is the same and can't get it either.
Would absolutely love a look on the new g303 "shroud edition" when it comes out, perhaps put it up against the superlight?
Been watching your vids since the original g303 and you got me hooked, but for some odd reason went with the g502 instead back then.
Thanks for all the help throughout the years!
I did not know there were different kinds of mouse pads until I came across this video. I thought they were all generally the same. it's still cool though, I have the XXL white mouse pad from ATRIX.
I like my zowie mousepad a lot since it is big, and still feels consistent after 3 years. I was thinking about getting a new one since it looks dirty still even after a cleaning it many times from THC was of all kind. My dumbass and others put the tool we use to scoop the was on the mouse pad since its a safe surface. Now it has a bunch of lines. Doesnt seem to effect the feel, but I am not sure how to get those stains out. My wash method is warm hot water and conditioner, and I scrub with a cloth or my hands. If there is any people out there who know how to get these stains off I am down to try. Worst thing is I get another mousepad; either the same one or something that is close to the large cloth one I have already.
Viper Mini w/ an Artisan Raiden mid @ 6 in/360 fingertip grip, wrist hovering over the mousepad, and I use full finger extension to aim vertically.
I aim best with light mouse, fast mousepad, and fast sens
tried all combos even 30 in/360 when I started gaming, and 10 years later, found 6 inch to be best for me
I love the gamesense radar “control pad with low initial friction but high on dynamic friction” with a light mouse. Tough the pad is a bit wired and behaves completely different with different mouse feet brands.
what mouse feet would you say are the best on the radar? I’m considering picking one up. I’m using corepadz right now.
Please test the logitech g303 Shroud edition
Before watching the rest of the video, I'm gonna go on record as guessing light mouse + control surface.
Favourite combo now is XM1R (70g) on the fnatic dash (hybrid pad with good control) for valorant. Cloth pads just feel too sticky, not enough freedom to move. I think this pad sounds great too!
Solid combo! Although personally I'd prefer more control than the Dash.
I use a hybrid pad as well for valorant, although I know many players prefer slower pads, usually cloth.
The best combo is what you are getting used to and what you like more, theres no magic recipe for skill besides practice practice practice. I use Rival 3 with MPC450, best for me, bad for some. Lets not forget CS legends started with basic mice and generic pads and still they were best. 95% skill, 5% peripherals.
The mouse you made is my main one right now, it's just amazing under every single aspect... It's only missing some glass or ceramic skates :D
I think the difference between a speed pad and a light mouse is that a light mouse is easier to stop and easier to move, while a speed pad is harder to stop and easier to move
Best combination for me is heavy mouse with speed pad with little bit of control.
I use it playing COD
G Pro X Superlight + Tiger Ice Skatez + X-raypad Aqua Control Plus Rob Strafa works the best for me
I've tried a ton of combos, this one is best for CPMA and faster gameplay.It is much more easier to aim in QL so it depends.
I'll take speed + light mouse anyway btw
I got your mousepad a few days ago, and I'm struggling a lot, not gonna lie. I found it really hard to do micro adjustments, as the stopping power is really high. I even had to switch from claw to fingertip to compensate for that. It feels like If I'm not 100% accurate on my flicks, I'm going to miss the target, my tracking suffers too. Probably gotta give it more time, but the pad does make my aim very steady though.
This seems like the first real alternative to the Hayate Otsu. I use the Superlight with the Otsu, excited to try this one out
I would imagine this is a lot slower than the otsu, as the only artisan pad that's really a "control" pad is the zero and even that is still faster than most "control" cloth pads out there
@@Curisol I disagree with your opinion on the artisan pads. Hopefully this is a cool pad, anyway.
imo lightweight mouse with slightly fast pad is the best. If you look into pro csgo and valorant players the ones with the highest headshot% mostly use this setup, its the best for any type of aim
Light mouse + control is best. Flick shots on fleek.
looks cool, but that giant tag on the side...
I found out that it is more fun and easier to click on map in Victoria 3 with a light mouse (corsair sabre wired) and xtrfy gp2. I was much more precise than with the old razer abyssus and some old razer pad which felt really coarse compared to the new xtrfy gp2. Xtrfy gp2 does smell awfully of rubber but hopefully it goes away. And i am not sure why they roll the mousepads. It takes more space than if youleave it flat and put it in cardboard envelope.
I have used a control pad for a long time (Corsair MM350) but only recently switched to a light mouse (areox 3) and finger tip grip. I noticed massive improvement in my aim.
I am a fingertip grip and use the finalmoise starlight 12. Control pad better than a speed pad you reckon?
@@FinalBoss429 I prefer a control pad with ultralight mice
Did this man just tell us that the best mousepad in the world is his personal branded mousepad that he makes money on every time someone buys one? As Boardzy would say, that's truly shocking.
I said that I tested a lot of mouse pads, found a fabric I like which I think is better than all the others I've tested, Xtrfy made it into a pad to sell for me, and that's what's now available.
And if I didn't think it was the best, I would've got even more to test until I did find the best, then we would've released that.
Not that hard to understand?
i love the qck hard pan with g502 with full weights cuz it just feels awesome
I'm running Ninjutso Origin One X with CM MP510 and i'm loving it.
(still waiting on OOX review 😉)
Damn zy. I have been searching for reddit for this exact question. Now i have a speed pad and an 80g mouse
Most important thing about mousepad is consistency.
I feel like material depends on whatever range of motion you are comfortable with and always go for the lighter option.
The larger your 360° distance, the more you can get away with a speed pad. Unless you're some demon who can control your aim well with a skypad, viper mini, and a 17in 360°(linear mouse accel probably helps too with sensitivities that are this absurd when used with raw input).
its all preference at the end of the day. me personally, light mouse with a speed pad and linear mouse accel got me to top 0.1% tracking on aimlab default scenarios.
but now i find more balanced success (in games such as osu where speed pads are nice but it can get dicey with nerves especially on maps that i farm - 4+ minute consistency) with a control pad and light mouse and no linear mouse accel.
tldr: speed pad + light mouse + accel got me to my (tracking) skill cap
control pad + light mouse + no accel is more consistent with nerves.
specifically my own experience
That seems to match my experience with mouse accel, where it gave me great tracking but I couldn't snap onto people as well as with it turned off. The way I had my mouse accel set was to basically have two sensitivities in one, so that led to my accel feeling really heavy because it would start out really slow at 12in 180, then go to 12in 360. Currently I use no mouse accel, but sometimes I do turn it on just to satisfy my craving for the theoretical perfect setup of two sensitivities in one.
See you say lighter is better but when does it become too light? Think of a golfer with a driver. You'd assume you'd want the driver to be as light as possible to gain the maximum speed, but no that isn't optimal. People get fitted with all different kinds of weights within the driver and shaft to counter their tendencies when playing (Countering the bad shots),
I don't play quake, I mainly play CSGO. Holding angles with a light mouse will probably tougher than a heavier mouse. If you're running around shooting like in Quake then yes I think lighter is better. I still play with G303. I've played with the G Pro but imo it's just to light and actually a bit to bulky in size.
You should look at Fitts law in order to create a test about comparing aiming capabilities.
My personal opinion on pad is get the one that get dirty the slowest. Once its dirty it become unreliable and you brain is not going to adapt fast enough to some many variation. Especially since it does not know at any point in time where the mouse is situated on the pad. It's too complex to adapt perfectly.
The size is crazy, would be nice if there was smaller version also.
dude you're a genius
You are sponsered by Xtrfy, I didnt expect for something else..
Can you really claim that's sponsored? These are collaborations, where I design/choose products and they help release them.
Like if I write a novel and a publisher puts it out, would you say I'm sponsored by that publisher? No, you'd say I was published by them.
Similar deal here, although not sure what to call it.
The artisan zero soft with the starlight 12 medium is just soooo nice, hayate otsu is also nice.
I currently use a heavy mouse on a control pad (I got both without knowing about this kind of stuff yet) and it’s horrendous. Getting the Kone Pro Air and Odin Zero Gravity Pad soon. I’m excited to see the change when going to a light mouse and speed/control pad combo!
I used the qck+ for as long as I remember, constantly switching mouse throughout the years, but I think I peaked with the g pro wireless +qck+ when I got into ow contenders. But the problem with the qck+ is that it degrades fast and builds a lot of dust, also the sides are not braided. It feels really smooth and ideal when first using a new one though
humidity kills that thing so fast. I switched to some coolermaster ones when Zy was listing those as his choice on his website.
Basically it's all personal preference.
Yeah depends on style and stuff, but I'd say there are definitely certain factors that do help aim.
If you're using mouse acceleration, you won't feel static resistance much. Quake players usually use mouse acceleration.
I don't use accel
It probably also comes down to games. I personally use a heavy mouse (Zowie ec1), and a razer gigantus elite with a lot of use. It works well for me in games like valorant, because i feel like i have so much control over my aim.
currently using lightmouse + speed, feels very op tbh
i feel like i can train out shaky aim but i cant train out the extra friction of a control pad i want my mouse to feel like its floating if i miss its because i didnt control my wrist. having a light mouse with a speed pad ( and also pulsar glass skates) there's absolutely zero initial friction and i love it personally.
My control pad was an x-raypad aqua control plus and it was so grippy it almost made it impossible to smoothly track a target my aim was so jittery trying to track i went back to a speed pad and i can track again but my flicks feel like i have no control my muscle memory was so used to the control pad it took me a solid day to get used to a speed pad again.
i cant find a combo i like but so far im liking speed pad on glass skates and a starlight 12. im beating aimlabs scores with the pulsar paraspeed but i want a bigger pad because of my low sens so i also bought a LGG Venus pad 3XL size. excited to try that pad. its fun to experement with different surfaces.
For me, I find aim trainers are the best way to tell if something has improved my aim or not cause you are isolating your aim under controlled and repeatable conditions, then you have direct scores to compare against. Also sounds like what you're looking for is a Artisain Hein.
Currently I'm using a superlight with an xtrfy gp3, micro adjustments are just effortless. I tried going back to my old steelseries qck heavy, but it felt like I was dragging my mouse through mud to be completely honest.