My Stylus/Tonearm Jumps or Skates Across the Record?

A jumping or skating stylus can be a frustrating experience. Here are some steps you can try to troubleshoot the issue:

Stylus Guard: Double-check that the stylus guard has been removed from the cartridge.
Level Surface: Make sure your turntable is on a flat, stable surface. Even minor unevenness can cause the tonearm to wobble and mis-track.
Dirty Stylus: A dirty stylus can struggle to grip the record grooves, leading to skipping. Use a soft brush designed for cleaning styluses to gently remove dust and debris.

Tracking Force: The weight of the tonearm on the record, known as tracking force, needs to be set correctly for your cartridge. Please look at your turntable's manual for the recommended tracking force (usually measured in grams). An incorrect force can cause skipping or mistracking.
Anti-Skate: Anti-skate counteracts a natural tendency of the tonearm to skate inwards due to the record's rotation. An improperly set anti-skate can cause the stylus to pull towards the centre of the record, leading to skipping on the outer grooves. Set the anti-skate to match the tracking force for most setups.
Balance the Tonearm: Most tonearms have a counterweight that balances the tonearm horizontally. An unbalanced tonearm can put too much or too little pressure on the stylus, causing skipping. Refer to your turntable's manual for instructions on how to balance the tonearm.

Warping: Severely warped records can cause the stylus to jump out of the grooves. You might be able to play slightly warped records with a stabilizer disc, but badly warped records are often beyond repair.
Damage: Scratches and other damage on the record can also cause the stylus to jump.

Worn Stylus: A worn stylus can lose its ability to track the grooves properly. If the troubleshooting steps above don't solve the problem and your stylus looks worn or damaged, consider replacing it.
Internal Issues: In rare cases, there might be internal issues with your tonearm or cartridge causing the skipping. If none of the above solutions work, consult a qualified audio technician.