My take on weighting down a racquet...

[Xevoius]

I have a POG 107, hit with a one-handed backhand and decided after reading a few threads about using heavy racquets that I wanted to try it for myself.

I went out and bought a pack of Gamma lead tape and applied the entire package to the racquet - about half on the top of the racquet and half in the butt-cap. This only added about 18 grams which is still under one oz of weight. I hit with it a couple of times and determined that it just cause my swing to slow down to the point that I was not hitting the ball as hard and it was making my strokes less effective.

I decided to start taking weight off the head but did not touch the tape in the butt-cap. The more weight, the better the tennis I was playing and after removing alll of the tape on the head, I was able to hit a decent backhand once again. I then started to remove the tape from the butt-cap to see difference that made. In the end, I only removed about 4 inches of the 15 inches I had stuffed in there.

My Coclusions:
There is a range of racquet weight and swing weight that will allow you to perform at your optimum level. This range is different and involves tradeoffs of manuverability, spin and power that your ability and strength will provide. For me, it was definately not the heavier the racquet the better. It was making it heavy enough to feel very stable for my grounstrokes but light enough to allow for a high racquet head speed.

Leaving the lead tape in the handle allowed me to bulk up the weight just a bit and only have this effect the swingweight by a point or two. It also made the frame feel like it had a little more flex which was an added bonus.

There it is and I hope this info helps someone experimenting with custimizing their racquet.

[Bungalo Bill]

You have figured it out! Now, when a player gets stronger and is able to swing a heavier racquet with no sacrifice in swing quality the more weight they can handle.

For now, you have found what you can handle and how it improves your ability to make clean contact because your frame twists less. If you have a weight training program don't be afraid to increase the weight a little more and do your experiment all over again.

All of this falls under the idea that there is always diminishing returns to adding weight.

There will come a time (not to say that isn't now) that you will settle on the racquet weight you will enjoy.

[joe sch]

Adding weights, just as in weight training, needs to be done very gradually over time otherwise you are really risking injury. As BB indicated, it takes strenght and skill to play heavier rackets. With the speed of the rallies and serves at the open level now, its very hard for any players to use much over 13 ozs and most will use less. I really think it maybe advantageous to have a slightly lighter rackets for returning serve, especially if you are a volleyer, but most all players will stick with the setup that is currently working for them and not have diff rackets for serving and returning.

[Xevoius]

My racquet is now 12.6-12.8 oz with a swingweight approx. 328.

[BLiND]

I have to say, that while your right... adding 18g in one go is not the way to do it... you need to give your muscles time to adjust to the extra weight... and you do this by adding gradually!

No wonder you couldn't swin it so much... your swinging a heavier racquet with the same muscles as you use to swing before!

[Bungalo Bill]

Adding weights, just as in weight training, needs to be done very gradually over time otherwise you are really risking injury. As BB indicated, it takes strenght and skill to play heavier rackets. With the speed of the rallies and serves at the open level now, its very hard for any players to use much over 13 ozs and most will use less. I really think it maybe advantageous to have a slightly lighter rackets for returning serve, especially if you are a volleyer, but most all players will stick with the setup that is currently working for them and not have diff rackets for serving and returning.

Very good tip! It depends on what the player is trying to do. I prefer not to tinker with the maneuverability of my racquet. I like a head light racquet. For several reasons, I play doubles more, for handling fast serves, and I do alter my grip on volleys.

I like to add my weight in the middle or at the throat area. If you guys think you can go heavier or want to in the future as you get better, I would highly recommend purchasing the POWER DISC here at TW. THis is an excellent way to practice and get used to handling a heavier racquet.

You know in the "old days" with wood racquets, I don't remember hearing all this "weight" stuff. Obviously, the ball travels faster these days. But I must say the the majority of time you cant get the racquet around in time is NOT because the racquet is too heavy! It has to do with how you prepare.

Knowing you have a heavier racquet at times brings out a glaring problem in your game. Racquet preparation and lining up quickly and properly to the ball.

If I was coaching you I wouldn't so much focus on the weight of the racquet if you made it heavier. I would be drilling your footwork, footspeed, focusing skills, and recovery steps with more intensity. When someone weights the racquet it is a clear sign that the rest of the body also needs to improve to handle the extra weight.

[Xevoius]

Weighting the racquet reinforced the need for earlier preparation and for the development of better shot anticipation especially when playing with some heavy hitters. It has also encouraged me to coil my torso more on my strokes which again forced earlier preparation. One shot that I feel that has suffered from the weight is my backhand serve return. I am no longer comfortable hitting over a hard flat serve return and have developed a block/underspin technique that I really try and get deep into the court. I could use some feedback on this if you care to help.

My whole rationale for even adding weight to an already hefty frame was to be able to hit a heavier ball. I had recently hit against a couple of 5.0 players that hit these big bombing type of strokes that seem to really take apart the 4.5 and lower players like myself. It seems that many players at my level believe that during a rally, a player should try to hit as hard and as close to the tape as possible. Both the net clearance and extreme spin have upped my percentage for keeping the ball in during rallies. I seem to be beating players at my level by keeping that one extra shot in and by the other player's unforced errors while trying to return my deeper balls.

My shots now have huge net clearance, moderate pace and the extreme topspin that seems to force the ball back into the court. If I can get a few of these type of shots really deep, they become an offensive shot even if I hit right into their forehand - nobody likes to have to backpedal during a rally. I am hoping that by mastering this type of play (and with some physical training) I can get my game up into the 5.0 level within this coming year.

[mattm]

The one place that I consistently struggle with when the I have gotten the weight of my racket to high is my second serve. I just don't seem to be able to get enough racket head speed to produce the spin I need. This more than anything seems to be the limiting factor for me in terms of weight.

[Mark Carlisle]

I have started using heavier rackets and it has helped my game. During the past year I weighted my PK 5G with 9 grams of lead in the head. It made a difference on serves and awkward compromising shots such as a high forehand. I was curious on their new Ionic frames and went the whole hog and just purchased the 5g PSE which is 12.90 ozs, this is nearly 1 oz heavier. I had no trouble with the ground strokes. If anything 9 points head light seemed a bit whippy to start with except for the serve. Besides practice, I really believe you need a reasonably well toned shoulder and wrists to be able to generate consistent racket head speed and pronation especially for serving with any frame over 12 ozs. I'll continue with the 12.90 ozs frame till after Christmas to see if I can really handle it. The serves are the only problem. However once you get the bug of being able to play with an increased weighted frame it is similar to the solid feel of closing a Mercedes Benz car door. However I would never be able to go to the extreme of Bungalow Bill who I remember from previous posts plays with a 15 oz frame ?. Conclusion shoulder exercise could be the biggest help and give it a few months.

[Bungalo Bill]

I have started using heavier rackets and it has helped my game. During the past year I weighted my PK 5G with 9 grams of lead in the head. It made a difference on serves and awkward compromising shots such as a high forehand. I was curious on their new Ionic frames and went the whole hog and just purchased the 5g PSE which is 12.90 ozs, this is nearly 1 oz heavier. I had no trouble with the ground strokes. If anything 9 points head light seemed a bit whippy to start with except for the serve. Besides practice, I really believe you need a reasonably well toned shoulder and wrists to be able to generate consistent racket head speed and pronation especially for serving with any frame over 12 ozs. I'll continue with the 12.90 ozs frame till after Christmas to see if I can really handle it. The serves are the only problem. However once you get the bug of being able to play with an increased weighted frame it is similar to the solid feel of closing a Mercedes Benz car door. However I would never be able to go to the extreme of Bungalow Bill who I remember from previous posts plays with a 15 oz frame ?. Conclusion shoulder exercise could be the biggest help and give it a few months.

Yup. It is actually 14.7 oz.

It really isnt an extreme. If you prepare your body quickly and move your feet, the rest is putting the racquet on the ball. with weight I do not have to swing fast.

Here is the trick for the return of serve with a heavier racquet - shorten your backswing to almost nothing but a shoulder turn. Volleys the same. :)

[Bungalo Bill]

I have started using heavier rackets and it has helped my game. During the past year I weighted my PK 5G with 9 grams of lead in the head. It made a difference on serves and awkward compromising shots such as a high forehand. I was curious on their new Ionic frames and went the whole hog and just purchased the 5g PSE which is 12.90 ozs, this is nearly 1 oz heavier. I had no trouble with the ground strokes. If anything 9 points head light seemed a bit whippy to start with except for the serve. Besides practice, I really believe you need a reasonably well toned shoulder and wrists to be able to generate consistent racket head speed and pronation especially for serving with any frame over 12 ozs. I'll continue with the 12.90 ozs frame till after Christmas to see if I can really handle it. The serves are the only problem. However once you get the bug of being able to play with an increased weighted frame it is similar to the solid feel of closing a Mercedes Benz car door. However I would never be able to go to the extreme of Bungalow Bill who I remember from previous posts plays with a 15 oz frame ?. Conclusion shoulder exercise could be the biggest help and give it a few months.

Yup. It is actually 14.7 oz.

It really isnt an extreme. If you prepare your body quickly and move your feet, the rest is putting the racquet on the ball. With weight I do not have to swing fast. It is like Vic Braden used to tell us, your feet should be working hard but the upper body should be gliding and smooth.

Here is the trick for the return of serve with a heavier racquet - shorten your backswing to almost nothing but a shoulder turn. Volleys the same. The weight of the racquet will do the rest and you will be surprised at how much power and control you get. :)

[perfmode]

Why did you add an entire pack in one sitting? That's no good. Take it slow and build your swing up.

[Xevoius]

I wanted to start the weight out high and then work down to where it was most playable. Adding the entire package only meant that I added 18 or so grams and that is not even an oz. My racquet was and is still under 13 oz.

There is a guy on the boards with a 15+ oz racquet that attaches dimes to the inside of the throat of his racquet. I really do not see how these guys that have racquets over 13oz and hit with one-handed backhands can return balls on their backhand side comfortably for more than a set.

Bungalo Bill must look something like this:
http://www.extrem-sport.com/bodybuilding/arnold6-1.jpg

[Bungalo Bill]

I wanted to start the weight out high and then work down to where it was most playable. Adding the entire package only meant that I added 18 or so grams and that is not even an oz. My racquet was and is still under 13 oz.

There is a guy on the boards with a 15+ oz racquet that attaches dimes to the inside of the throat of his racquet. I really do not see how these guys that have racquets over 13oz and hit with one-handed backhands can return balls on their backhand side comfortably for more than a set.

Bungalo Bill must look something like this:
http://www.extrem-sport.com/bodybuilding/arnold6-1.jpg

LOL! I have a twohanded backhand. ;)

Just turn and hit. Put the strings on the ball, the rest is history.

[joe sch]

I have a 14oz stick and a one handed backhand and that is the biggest handicap in my game, especially for return of serve. I really need to use good foot & body work and get my racket back early. I have been trying for years to develop a solid 2handed backhand but its still not good enought as a replacement for my single handed return of serve. I think it will be useful next decade :)

[sinoslav]

I play with a 13-oz midplus racquet and I have no problem with getting around on 1-handed backhands. Admittedly it is about 8-9 points head light, but still, it just isn't that hard to do it. I'm not super-strong or anything, it's just more about timing than about strength.

[Marius_Hancu]

Yup. It is actually 14.7 oz.


How heavy was your original racquet?

How is the lead or whatever you have extra distributed? Esp interested in how did you place it in your handle and or buttcap.

I am playing to close to 14oz, but I have everything at 9 and 3, thus it is top heavy, on a Wilson 6.0. I originally had stuff also in the buttcap, but that made the racket vibrate, perhaps it wasn't well fixated there.

[v0nz0rz]

Will the Power Disc training system fit my POG?

[Bungalo Bill]

Will the Power Disc training system fit my POG?

Yes, it should. The Power Disc is notched to fit different frames. I played with mine today. It feels so much like butter when you hit.