The physics underlying tonearm skating forces are well established. Various tonearm designs employ different mechanical or magnetic methods to counteract these lateral forces, each with inherent advantages and limitations. Some audiophiles contend that anti-skating mechanisms introduce more problems than they solve and choose to operate without compensation. Empirical observations from cartridge retippers indicate that both insufficient and excessive anti-skate lead to asymmetric stylus and groove wear. Furthermore, skating forces are not constant—they vary with groove modulation, stylus geometry, tracking force, and record eccentricity—thus, anti-skating compensation represents an averaged corrective force intended to minimize the net lateral load over the duration of playback.