The pad is not there to stop 'oxidation' of any kind. That clear pad just keeps the glue from soaking into the tip causing the tip to come off. If you would just put a dab of glue on the tip, spread it thin , let it set, then sand flat you will seal the surface and the tip will never pop off. As for spin? Give me break, they may 'feel' different but you can generate just as much spin with either tip. I've used every tip from Elk's to rock-hard buffalo to everything in between and i could spin it with any of them. This 'more precision, more spin' is just pr bullshit.