Adding Weight to my POG mid?

[TripleB]

I finally had a chance to weigh my 3 Prince Original Graphite Mid racquets this morning. I found out I was correct in my guess that my Original POG Mid (circa 1987) weighs more than my two new POG Mids (last one purchased early 2004).

1987 = 361.5 grams

2003 = 355.5 grams

2004 = 355 grams

I’m going to be adding some lead tape to the two lighter ones in order to bring them to as close as 361.5 grams as I can get. I’ve never (OK once, around 1990 just for the heck of it) used lead tape on a racquet before so I’m needing a little help.

I believe I’m going to get the Babolat Lead Weight Tape since it is twice as heavy as the others, so I don’t have to use so much when adding the 6 to 6.5 grams.

1) Where on the racquet head should I put it? I’m thinking about the 3 and 9 o’clock positions so that it will make it a little more stable...similar to the PWS on the Wilsons.

2) Do you typically put it on the inside of the head?

3) Since the POG mid is so narrow (or maybe even if it wasn’t narrow), should I cut the lead tape in half (length wise) and put some on both sides of the strings? Therefore having 4 total strips - 2 at 3 o’clock and 2 at 9 o’clock...just on both sides of the inner grommets?

Thanks for any help you can provide.

TripleB

 

[BDAZ]

Benjamin, wasn't your whole racquet search, the sole escence for trying every single racquet on the market, an attempt to find a lighter POG? Why now do you want to add lead to it? You've found your lighter POG. It's actually a lighter POG. On the flip side, I too have added a little lead to my POG. Probably about three inches each at 3 and 9. Only a couple of grams, if that, but it does feel a little more stable, like I've got a little more behind the ball. I'm attempting to weight and balance my POG LB like my Mid. I've cut off a 1/2 inch. To get it up to around 12.2, I have to add about a package of lead tape. Half in the head, half in the handle. I guess that translates to about 4.5g at both 3 and 9, and 9g in the handle. I hope this setup is what I'm looking for, in my own personal quest for the Grail.

 

[TripleB]

Yes...I was looking for a lighter POG mid but after having my three racquets strung with various hybrid combinations, I've decided that I really like the weight of my 1987 POG mid. I have seldom used it since I got my newer ones just because they were newer. After having it restrung (for the first time in at least 9 months), and actually playing several sets with it, I really like the way it is weighted.

When you added lead tape to the head of the racquet, did you cut the tape down the middle (length wise) and put have on one side of the "inner" grommets and half on the other side? ie: 2 pieces at 3 o'clock and 2 pieces at 9 o'clock?

Thanks for your help.

TripleB

 

[ferrari_827]

All I can say is anyone looking for the Holy Grail in a POG has their head in their ***. The POG does not volley well at all, lacks feel, and eats up strings.

EOM

 

[TripleB]

I agree with the fact that it doesn't volley well...or better said, I don't volley well with the POG mid.

I think the feel is pretty good...or it feels good when I hit all those dropshots that nobody gets too . As far as eating up strings, it all depends on what string you have in it. I get at least 40 sets out of Luxilon Big Banger ALU Power 16L.

To each his own!

TripleB

 

[mary fierce]

Please don't tell me that after a zillion posts posted and far more read that you truly don't know how people generally put lead tape on a racquet. This is not to be believed. Are you nervous about doing it "wrong"? You need to move to a "blue" state so you can be surrounded by people who know how to think.

 

[TripleB]

Sorry Mary

TripleB

 

[Swan Song]

All I can say is anyone looking for the Holy Grail in a POG has their head in their ***.

Isn't that a little too extreme?

 

[BDAZ]

Benjamin, yeah, you cut it in half lengthwise and place one half each on either side of the grommets. I think that it is generally recommended (at least by the TW learning center) that you use strips no longer than six inches. If you need to add more weight, just add on another layer.

 

[Stormwolf]

If you're very obsessed with modifying you will also want to match swingweight but it's somewhat more complicated. I have a thread on how I made a REALLY heavy POG (14oz+) though another poster has been using one that's 13.5oz. If you want to increase your volley power and stability I say you should add between 3 and 7 layers of lead tape at 3 and 9. I'm experimenting with a racquet with 5 layers. You would be surprised how quickly you can turn the POG Mid. into a *plow* hehe (especially if you add weight at 12 but it will make your racquet more cumbersome).

 

[bcaz]

Benjamin, rather than using the heaviest lead tape available, I would suggest the 1/4" wide variety, such as the one Unique sells. This stuff fits easily against the grommets on both sides of the frame and does not need to be cut lengthwise. And, because it's light, you can add it in very small increments (which I recommend) until you are satisfied. I firmly believe a very little bit of lead goes a very long way, especially for someone as sensitive to his equipment as you are. Unique 1/4" goes about 8 inches per gram.

 

[TripleB]

Thanks for all the advice gentlemen....it was a tremendous help.

If someone will check my math here:

old POG = 361.5 grams

new POGs = 355.5 and 355 grams

If I get the Babolat (since I'm ordering some shoes from TW I thought that I would go ahead and order some lead tape while I'm at it) which is "1 inch equals 1 gram", I should:

1) Add a total of 6 inches of lead tape to new POG A - meaning 3 inches at 9 o'clock and 3 inches at 3 o'clock (ie: 3 inches strips cut in half, length wise, and put on both sides of the inner grommets).

2) Add a total of 6.5 grams of lead tape to new POG B - meaning 3 1/4 inches at 9 o'clock and 3 1/4 inches at 3 o'clock (cut in strips like #1)

3) Pray that the lead tape is actually 1 inch = 1 gram

Thanks again for all your help.

TripleB

 

[BDAZ]

Ben, just so you know, the Babolat lead tape is thicker than, say, Gamma lead tape, so it may be harder to layer if necessary.

 

[Povl Carstensen]

I would definitely check the ballance of the two lighter racket to the old one. Maybe the extra weight is needed in the grip, or in the throat area.

 

[TripleB]

BDAZ,

Would you think that a 3 1/4" strip is too long of strip to put at 3 and 9 o'clock with the Babolat Lead Tape?

TripleB