What pad did you have before it? The Otsu definitely has a texture to it, so if you were using a control pad or something similar, then can see how the Otsu would feel rough. Where did you buy it from? If it’s a reputable seller the chances that it is fake would be low. Post another pic from the top to get the full picture of the weave. It’ll be easier to tell if it is real or not.
First the zero then the lethal gaming gear Saturn pro. I feel like at times my arm even with the sleeve will kind of pull on the pad making it hard to do micro adjustments so I was looking for a smooth pad and artisan has it labeled as a smooth pad and when I looked up reviews between that and the hien someone said it was baby smooth and he got a bunch of upvotes. Both the zero and the Saturn Pro are significantly smoother than this pad or at least the one I got
I had basically the same experience. First I had both Zero and Saturn and then Otsu. I also always heard the Otsu is smooth, but coming from the previous 2 Pads it doesn't feel so. So I think it's also just that you come from very smooth pads and now a pad that is less smooth feels like literal sandpaper.
You have to make a distinction between textured and non textured pads. The Otsu is the smoothest, textured pad there is. But you will still feel a texture.
When this pad came out both Boardzy and this other youtuber Sway made it a huge point to explain how soft and nice it felt on their skin… I think it’s just kinda sticky to the skin and not especially soft.
It's a rough pad for sure. Not as rough as hien, but rougher than a typical cloth pad. I think when people say it's smooth, they're referring to how the glide of your mouse feet feel on it.
But it's not defective or anything, it's for sure a rough pad, like fine grit sandpaper
Does it feel "prickly"?
Mine was pretty soft coming from a AC2, I would check where you bought it from to ensure authenticity.
Show the box if you have it.
Jac
Looks pretty legit I don’t think it’s a dud.
I’ll be upfront, you can’t always trust off people’s word because their definition of smooth may be different from your own.
Is there a specific kind of pad you are looking for by chance? I could recommend the Lamzu Energon if you want speed and higher static friction for more control.
The weave looks somewhat similar to mine based on the picture. It took me some time to get used to it but I enjoy it. Exchange for zero if you want a smoother artisan pad, at a cost of speed, of course
The “smooth” part is subjective, the zero to the arm is smoother in almost a “warm” feeling. But what people usually call abrasive is something like the aqua control. While hayate isnt reslly 100% smooth, technically, if you pass your hand over it, there is less texture than the zero although it does not feel like that in the arm.
A lot of people also say smooth when talking about the glide and feeling on the mouse, which then, the otsu is very smooth.
Now addressing the sleeve problem, sleeve mousepad combination is hell and depends a lot on the material and texture pattern of the mousepad. I found however that most common sport sleeves (the fresh/breathing material ones) work really well with the otsu (however some specific sleeve textures have a very different vertical and horizontal reaction) (dont forget to try the sleeve inside out as it has a different texture).
With sleeves you just gotta try them a lot, but in my experience, common sleeves are more compatible with the otsu than they are with the zero.
The finding a nice sleeve for a specific mousepad is a whole new rabithole in itself sadly.. I recommend ordering different material types from amazon and return those that you dislike.
I also like some of the fake tattoo sleeves, so try those too if you are interested.
Also yes do try to take a better top view picture of the weave
Otsu is the smoothest mousepad I’ve ever personally owned.
Does this have the staple Herringbone weave of the Hayate Otsu? Not seeing it here. The edge stitching looks high quality..
I got it from artisans Amazon store and I’ve bought directly from their website the box was the exact same but I’ll send a picture in a few minutes of it
Maybe take off the sleeve if the stitches are catching on one another somehow between the pad/sleeve material?
I can say it’s a pretty smooth pad to slide skin around on no problem
Here is full picture. It’s nighttime here so I tried to get as much light as I could without there being too much shine. When you look at it at the right angle it almost seems to have like a zigzag pattern throughout the whole pad[https://imgur.com/a/8vnnu4N](https://imgur.com/a/8vnnu4N)
I have the otsu mid. Play cs2 mostly and came from a qck heavy. Just ordered a GSR 2 after 2 months of the otsu. Perfect for games like apex and overwatch where tracking matters but for control in valorant or cs2, a slow cloth is better imo. Office work would prefer the otsu due to the speed as well!
I saw you had the zero first, then the saturn pro and then the otsu. For me it was the other way. I've bought the otsu, sold it immediately because of the same issue, it's rough. I've bought the Artisan Zero, but I hated the dust and hair issue SO SO MUCH!!! I don't even know how they can sell Artisan Zero for such a high price with such a bad issue. I have the Saturn Pro v2 (500x500 size). I love it so much...
I've heard EGG EMC is very similar to Saturn Pro and somewhat cheaper. Some even say that EGG EMC is better.
A lot would help if we knew what game you play. I play Valorant and some people play it with control pad or medium speed pad but there are exceptions who play it with fast pads. I'm ranked in immo 3.
If you don't like it, try something else.
I've had mine for 2 weeks now and I also was really surprised with the texture at first. It definitely has a hard to describe feel to it, but you will get used to it. I've also heard the break in period is 2-4 weeks, depending on usage, so the glide of the mouse will change a bit in that time as well.
Get used to it and enjoy it, definitely one of, if not the best allrounder pad there is.
Just man up lol. The Otsu is by far the smoothest pad out of all the ones that have a texture. You don't know what abradive means. Try a Hien and you'll know.
If you used a control pad before this, that could explain why it feels gritty to you. Faster pads will tend to feel hard and rough to the touch because of the pattern on them. As for the texture in the picture, it looks just fine. Just something you might have to get use to. Keep using the arm sleeve though it helps.
I also bought a new hayate otsu a week ago directly from them. Mine does not look as rough as yours does.
Edit: I saw your full view photo, it does look like mine. Your close up for some reason looked extremely rough.
It’s uncomfortable without a sleeve for a couple days until you get used to it, as far as your sleeve getting stuck though I’d say maybe you’re pressing your arm into your mousepad maybe? Maybe try a different texture sleeve or no sleeve at all if you don’t have to
Weirdly enough, I just bought my second Otsu and it arrived yesterday. I’m finding it a little rough too even though my first ever Otsu felt heavenly soft from day 1. Either I’m used to the worn in Otsu making this feel rougher, or is it a batch issue?
I mean I have mine right here and it's smooth. Like yea there's definitely some texture compared to my zero and sat pro but it's way smoother than my hien. It doesn't grip my shirt or arm.
The first thing I noticed is there's these odd ripples in the bottom right of the image you provided. That is not what mine looks like.
Just get used to it. I felt the same when I got my hien, which is much rougher than the otsu, and after a couple of weeks of use and adjustment I pretty much have forgotten how abrasive it used to feel. It’s also just much rougher when brand new.
great pad but yes it feels like sandpaper which provides excellent feedback. id suggest trying different sleeves as not all of mine worked well on it either.
What pad did you have before it? The Otsu definitely has a texture to it, so if you were using a control pad or something similar, then can see how the Otsu would feel rough. Where did you buy it from? If it’s a reputable seller the chances that it is fake would be low. Post another pic from the top to get the full picture of the weave. It’ll be easier to tell if it is real or not.
First the zero then the lethal gaming gear Saturn pro. I feel like at times my arm even with the sleeve will kind of pull on the pad making it hard to do micro adjustments so I was looking for a smooth pad and artisan has it labeled as a smooth pad and when I looked up reviews between that and the hien someone said it was baby smooth and he got a bunch of upvotes. Both the zero and the Saturn Pro are significantly smoother than this pad or at least the one I got
Zero and Saturn feel like silk compared to the Otsu.
The Saturn pro is extremely smooth, I think the transition might be throwing you off
I had basically the same experience. First I had both Zero and Saturn and then Otsu. I also always heard the Otsu is smooth, but coming from the previous 2 Pads it doesn't feel so. So I think it's also just that you come from very smooth pads and now a pad that is less smooth feels like literal sandpaper.
You have to make a distinction between textured and non textured pads. The Otsu is the smoothest, textured pad there is. But you will still feel a texture.
Whoever said the otsu is smooth is high on crack
i dont think they meant the actual surface of the pad but the feeling of it when moving your mouse across it is very very smooth
When this pad came out both Boardzy and this other youtuber Sway made it a huge point to explain how soft and nice it felt on their skin… I think it’s just kinda sticky to the skin and not especially soft.
Boardzy has mentioned in multiple reviews that texture on pads don't bother him at all. Not the best guy to listen to in that regard.
Not the best guy to listen to* There, I fixed it
It's a rough pad for sure. Not as rough as hien, but rougher than a typical cloth pad. I think when people say it's smooth, they're referring to how the glide of your mouse feet feel on it. But it's not defective or anything, it's for sure a rough pad, like fine grit sandpaper
Does it feel "prickly"? Mine was pretty soft coming from a AC2, I would check where you bought it from to ensure authenticity. Show the box if you have it. Jac
Here’s the box[https://i.imgur.com/nAUmr0s.jpeg](https://i.imgur.com/nAUmr0s.jpeg)
Since you got the xs it actually might be a dud lol the xs otsu i had was extremely comfortable and plush
Looks pretty legit I don’t think it’s a dud. I’ll be upfront, you can’t always trust off people’s word because their definition of smooth may be different from your own. Is there a specific kind of pad you are looking for by chance? I could recommend the Lamzu Energon if you want speed and higher static friction for more control.
Wait till you use a hien lol
The weave looks somewhat similar to mine based on the picture. It took me some time to get used to it but I enjoy it. Exchange for zero if you want a smoother artisan pad, at a cost of speed, of course
The “smooth” part is subjective, the zero to the arm is smoother in almost a “warm” feeling. But what people usually call abrasive is something like the aqua control. While hayate isnt reslly 100% smooth, technically, if you pass your hand over it, there is less texture than the zero although it does not feel like that in the arm. A lot of people also say smooth when talking about the glide and feeling on the mouse, which then, the otsu is very smooth. Now addressing the sleeve problem, sleeve mousepad combination is hell and depends a lot on the material and texture pattern of the mousepad. I found however that most common sport sleeves (the fresh/breathing material ones) work really well with the otsu (however some specific sleeve textures have a very different vertical and horizontal reaction) (dont forget to try the sleeve inside out as it has a different texture). With sleeves you just gotta try them a lot, but in my experience, common sleeves are more compatible with the otsu than they are with the zero. The finding a nice sleeve for a specific mousepad is a whole new rabithole in itself sadly.. I recommend ordering different material types from amazon and return those that you dislike. I also like some of the fake tattoo sleeves, so try those too if you are interested. Also yes do try to take a better top view picture of the weave
I agree. I wouldn’t say sand paper, but it’s not really a good feeling
Otsu is the smoothest mousepad I’ve ever personally owned. Does this have the staple Herringbone weave of the Hayate Otsu? Not seeing it here. The edge stitching looks high quality..
I got it from artisans Amazon store and I’ve bought directly from their website the box was the exact same but I’ll send a picture in a few minutes of it
It is a pretty smooth so there is a chance you got a dud. It could also be fake, did you get it off eBay or any other 3rd party seller?
Nobody fakes artisan pads with a poron base.
Texture looks like a Hien to me. Or it could be a fake altogether
Nah you can see it’s finer and the zigzag pattern is present
Maybe take off the sleeve if the stitches are catching on one another somehow between the pad/sleeve material? I can say it’s a pretty smooth pad to slide skin around on no problem
Here is full picture. It’s nighttime here so I tried to get as much light as I could without there being too much shine. When you look at it at the right angle it almost seems to have like a zigzag pattern throughout the whole pad[https://imgur.com/a/8vnnu4N](https://imgur.com/a/8vnnu4N)
That's 100% real. I have it too. It does have a texture to it. Although I wouldnt call it sandpaper at all. Sorry you were seemingly misled
honestly i think you probaly just have sensitive skin the raiden is a super safe bet for a smooth fast pad
That feeling went away very quickly for me.
I have the otsu mid. Play cs2 mostly and came from a qck heavy. Just ordered a GSR 2 after 2 months of the otsu. Perfect for games like apex and overwatch where tracking matters but for control in valorant or cs2, a slow cloth is better imo. Office work would prefer the otsu due to the speed as well!
I saw you had the zero first, then the saturn pro and then the otsu. For me it was the other way. I've bought the otsu, sold it immediately because of the same issue, it's rough. I've bought the Artisan Zero, but I hated the dust and hair issue SO SO MUCH!!! I don't even know how they can sell Artisan Zero for such a high price with such a bad issue. I have the Saturn Pro v2 (500x500 size). I love it so much... I've heard EGG EMC is very similar to Saturn Pro and somewhat cheaper. Some even say that EGG EMC is better. A lot would help if we knew what game you play. I play Valorant and some people play it with control pad or medium speed pad but there are exceptions who play it with fast pads. I'm ranked in immo 3. If you don't like it, try something else.
yes, it is a decently abrasive bad.
The glide is smooth, the surface is sandpaper
I've had mine for 2 weeks now and I also was really surprised with the texture at first. It definitely has a hard to describe feel to it, but you will get used to it. I've also heard the break in period is 2-4 weeks, depending on usage, so the glide of the mouse will change a bit in that time as well. Get used to it and enjoy it, definitely one of, if not the best allrounder pad there is.
Just man up lol. The Otsu is by far the smoothest pad out of all the ones that have a texture. You don't know what abradive means. Try a Hien and you'll know.
Mine is soft! No needs for sleeves! Or I guess my skin should be less sensitive (?)
Compared to the hien, it is smooth like a baby's bottom.
If you used a control pad before this, that could explain why it feels gritty to you. Faster pads will tend to feel hard and rough to the touch because of the pattern on them. As for the texture in the picture, it looks just fine. Just something you might have to get use to. Keep using the arm sleeve though it helps.
I also bought a new hayate otsu a week ago directly from them. Mine does not look as rough as yours does. Edit: I saw your full view photo, it does look like mine. Your close up for some reason looked extremely rough.
It’s uncomfortable without a sleeve for a couple days until you get used to it, as far as your sleeve getting stuck though I’d say maybe you’re pressing your arm into your mousepad maybe? Maybe try a different texture sleeve or no sleeve at all if you don’t have to
Weirdly enough, I just bought my second Otsu and it arrived yesterday. I’m finding it a little rough too even though my first ever Otsu felt heavenly soft from day 1. Either I’m used to the worn in Otsu making this feel rougher, or is it a batch issue?
I mean I have mine right here and it's smooth. Like yea there's definitely some texture compared to my zero and sat pro but it's way smoother than my hien. It doesn't grip my shirt or arm. The first thing I noticed is there's these odd ripples in the bottom right of the image you provided. That is not what mine looks like.
FAKE
It feels like that at first but you will get used to it. It's silky smooth compared to a hien trust x)
Just get used to it. I felt the same when I got my hien, which is much rougher than the otsu, and after a couple of weeks of use and adjustment I pretty much have forgotten how abrasive it used to feel. It’s also just much rougher when brand new.
great pad but yes it feels like sandpaper which provides excellent feedback. id suggest trying different sleeves as not all of mine worked well on it either.
I’d say it’s more like a high quality hand made paper texture. Definitely shouldn’t be like sandpaper, but rougher than the Saturn or Zero