Which side of a mouse pad should I use for control versus speed?

Use the cloth side for control—it has more texture and friction, good for precision aiming in games like CS or Valorant and steady cursor work in photo editing. Use the hard side for speed—it’s slick and fast, better for flick shots in Overwatch or Apex. For productivity, cloth is quieter and feels more natural for long sessions. Most people find one side they like and never flip it.