A thin felt or cloth disc placed between a vinyl record and the turntable platter, allowing the platter to spin freely while the DJ holds the record still for cueing or scratching.
A slipmat is a thin disc, typically made of felt or a low-friction synthetic fabric, that sits between a vinyl record and the metal or acrylic platter of a turntable. Because the slipmat has less grip than a rubber mat, the platter can continue rotating underneath while the DJ manually stops or moves the record, making it possible to cue a track to a precise point and release it cleanly.
Why it matters
Without a slipmat, the record grips the platter tightly and stopping it stresses the motor; with a slipmat the record floats on a low-friction surface, enabling the fast start releases, backspin effects, and scratch techniques that define turntablist and club mixing on vinyl. Even DJs who never scratch rely on slipmats to achieve clean drop-ins from a held record.
In practice
Replace felt slipmats periodically as they pick up dust and lint, which increases friction and dulls scratch response. Some turntablists apply a thin plastic sheet between the slipmat and the record to further reduce friction for techniques requiring fast hand movement. Standard slipmats fit 12-inch platters on direct-drive turntables such as the Technics SL-1200.
