Most tweaking I've done on a racket: Ti80

[ferrari_827]

I'll admit the most tweaking I've done has been on my Yonex Ti80.

I've varied the amount and location of lead about three different times, reshaped the handle (removed the butt cap), and put in new Babolat Brio strings (57lbs).

There are some basic things I like about the racket, including the thin beam, higher sweetspot, and cosmetics. My goal was to make the racket as good as possible, maybe even great. I added a substantial amount of lead (16" total) in the hoop, especially at the 8-10 and 2-4 positions, even adding a second layer over the first, and a small amount at 10-11 and 1-2 positions. Then to counterbalance, I added about 8" of lead near the buttcap area.

This fine-tuning takes patience, trial and error, and time, but the result is a customized gem, a real monster. Fortunately, my other rackets required little or no lead customization. I can say that I don't want to go through this process again, and this was a special "project", but I'm sort of proud of what I've created.

 

[ferrari_827]

Forget to mention. Total weight of racket after customization, 12.6oz, but because the lead customization is so well-balanced, the racket doesn't feel heavy to swing at all, and is vastly more solid than off the shelf.

 

[spirit]

I'll admit the most tweaking I've done has been on my Yonex Ti80.

ferrari_827
Very timely post for me. I demoed a new McEnroe Maxply last night. It is a 11.3 ounce racquet. I have been using a 10.6 ounce racquet with about 16 in of 1/4 in width lead tape distributed at 3 an 9 o'clock. I like the extra heft in the Maxply. It gave me extra pop on the serve and allowed me to hit some nice flat returns on high balls with my backhand, and appeared more stable on off center hits. Rather than switch to the Maxply I am wondering if I can add still more lead tape to my racquet to try to get some of those advantages from my present racquet. And where should I add the tape? Add another layer of tape at the 3 and 9 positions? Put some at the head? At the throat? Any suggestions?

 

[007]

IMHO if a racquet needs to be 'tweaked' that much it's the wrong racquet from the start. You must really WANT/NEED to like that racquet to subject it to so much tweaking. With sooooooo many sticks available for sale these days having to compromise thru so many mods is really unneccessary.

 

[007]

IMHO if a racquet needs to be 'tweaked' that much it's the wrong racquet from the start. You must really WANT/NEED to like that racquet to subject it to so much tweaking. With sooooooo many sticks available for sale these days having to compromise thru so many mods is really unneccessary. Sure....we all WANT to like a stick we just bought or traded for, but a lemon is a lemon no matter which way you slice it. I'm not saying the Ti80 is a lemon, but if you need to tweak it that much it wasn't for you in the first place.

 

[El Diablo]

Da Vinci, Michelangelo, Rodin, Picasso, Ferrari 827..............

 

[ferrari_827]

007, you are correct. In spirit's case, the original racket already had 16" of lead tape, and to bring it to the 11.3oz weight of the McEnroe Maxply, the poster would have to add 0.7 oz = 19" of lead tape, which is too much.

Not only would the racket look like a mess, it's going to be very difficult to put in the right locations, and would require layering lead upon existing layers.

There were some basic things I really liked about the Ti80, including the way it swings, and the higher sweetspot, otherwise I wouldn't have bothered going through all this effort to optimize the racket. But if you think you have a hidden gem, lead taping can be the answer. Like I said, I wouldn't want to go through this process again.

 

[ferrari_827]

El Diablo, that's a funny one (!)

 

[spirit]

007, you are correct. In spirit's case, the original racket already had 16" of lead tape, and to bring it to the 11.3oz weight of the McEnroe Maxply, the poster would have to add 0.7 oz = 19" of lead tape, which is too much.

Not only would the racket look like a mess, it's going to be very difficult to put in the right locations, and would require layering lead upon existing layers.

Last night I put another 16 inches of 1/4 in lead tape at the 3 and 9 o'clock positions. I just layered these 4 strips, 4 inches each - two at 3 o'clock, one on each side of the gromet/strings, and two at 9'oclock - over the existing lead tape strips. Can hardly tell they are there. Haven't hit with it yet.