Is Pratītyasamutpāda just cause and effect?

Considering the formulation of Pratītyasamutpāda (dependent arising) > When this is, that is. > From the arising of this comes the arising of > that. When this isn't, that isn't. From the cessation of this comes > the cessation of that. Is this essentially the same as the mundane understanding of cause and effect e.g. I hit a ball and the ball moves? If it isn't (as I strongly suspect) then what is it about the formulation that makes it more than this. In fact so much more than this, Pratītyasamutpāda being one of the central teachings of Buddhism.