Strike Plate Material.. thickness or stiffness?

[DanielB89]

I am wanting to know if the thickness or stiffness plays a larger role in tuning an arrow.  For example, I have always heard that a martin rug rest is the one of the softest materials out there, but it is also a good bit thicker than my calf skin strike plate.  I am wondering which one should make the arrow appear more weak?  The thicker and softer or the thinner and stiffer?

[Wheels2]

I like furniture pads cut to size.  If not thick enough, I use double sided tape underneath.

[Orion]

A thick pad on the side plate will require a softer spine regardless of whether the pad is hard or soft. Likewise, a thin side plate will handle a stiffer spine regardless of whether it's soft or hard.  Hope that makes sense.

[katman]

Depends if the rug rest compresses to a thickness greater or less than thickness of calf skin. Don't have any here to check. If it compresses to less than the calf skin it would make arrow appear more weak. Not the answer your looking for but your not comparing apples to apples.