If you are a serious gamer, then you should use a mousepad regardless of what kind of mouse you have. Contrary to popular belief, even optical mice can benefit from having a good mousepad. Some recommendations for these “luxury pads” include the EverGlide and RatPadz mousepads; most are less than fifteen dollars and provide a long time of comfortable use. Cleaning a (plastic) mousepad is as easy as sticking it in the dishwasher with your cups and spoons. Ratpadz are avaliable at www.ratpadz.com and EverGlide pads are avaliable at www.everglide.com . It’s a small purchase that you will not regret!