Teflon: What can't it do?

You don't need to be a pro-gamer to enjoy deliciously smooth mousing.

Sometimes it’s the littlest things that make the greatest impression. Sure, dropping almost a grand on a hot new graphics card will yield tangible results. You’d expect that. Navigating through a stunning 3D world and marvelling at the wondrous graphical effects is a joy indeed.

But consider, it is the mouse you use to do the navigating through the technological wonder world, and indeed, everything else you use your PC for. No this isn’t another mouse review, this is a review of teensy little Teflon stickers that go on your mouse’s underside.

As you read this, slide your mouse around. Is it smooth like silk coated with Vaseline? Or is it just a bit scratchy? If you gave your mouse a shove and let go – how far would it glide before coming to a halt?

When a new mouse comes out of its box, it is usually very glidey indeed. But that magic invariably wears off after a few weeks. Days, sometimes. The solution, as those in the know, know, is Teflon stickers. You can buy them for peanuts at most PC shops that stock quality gear. Here at the PCA and Atomic labs we replace ours every couple of months. We recommend you do, too. Last week we were sent a pack from BFG Tech, a company better known for its thousand-dollar graphics cards. We’re not even sure what the RRP is, but it’s not going to be more than pocket-money. The pack has 24 little round stickers. One goes on each corner of the base of your mouse and the rest are saved up for when the Teflon looses its glideyness, as inevitably happens after a month or two.

If you haven’t made a habit of using these little wonders, we cannot recommend them strongly enough. On the price/performance chart, nothing comes close.