What's The Balance Of My Racquet After Adding Tape?

[WilsonPlayer101]

Well, I added some lead tape to my Head Youtek Prestige MP. The specs are that the racquet should be 7 points headlight. I weighed the racquet before adding lead tape and it was 336 grams. I added 4 grams of tape then weighed it again to make sure I was precise, and after adding it, it was 440 grams, so I was precise in my weighing of the racquet before and after and weighing of the lead tape. I put 2 grams at 9 o'clock and 2 grams at 3 o'clock for the total of 4 grams that I weighed before adding.

How do I figure out the balance on the racquet now that I added 4 grams of lead tape in the head? I was trying different mathematical formulas that I thought would work but not sure if I am accurate. I won't even post how I figured it out because I think I might be totally wrong and rather have some of you answer the question if you know how.

Don't even know if I will like the racquet with the added weight, have not tried it yet.


Thanks,


James

 

[Larrysümmers]

make/buy/go to a pro stop and use a balance board.

 

[BobFL]

Well, I added some lead tape to my Head Youtek Prestige MP. The specs are that the racquet should be 7 points headlight. I weighed the racquet before adding lead tape and it was 336 grams. I added 4 grams of tape then weighed it again to make sure I was precise, and after adding it, it was 440 grams, so I was precise in my weighing of the racquet before and after and weighing of the lead tape. I put 2 grams at 9 o'clock and 2 grams at 3 o'clock for the total of 4 grams that I weighed before adding.

How do I figure out the balance on the racquet now that I added 4 grams of lead tape in the head? I was trying different mathematical formulas that I thought would work but not sure if I am accurate. I won't even post how I figured it out because I think I might be totally wrong and rather have some of you answer the question if you know how.

Don't even know if I will like the racquet with the added weight, have not tried it yet.


Thanks,


James

Why would you try to figure it out when you can measure? Just put it on the edge of a table and measure where the balance point is...

 

[Torres]

I weighed the racquet before adding lead tape and it was 336 grams. I added 4 grams of tape then weighed it again to make sure I was precise, and after adding it, it was 440 grams, so I was precise in my weighing of the racquet before and after and weighing of the lead tape. I put 2 grams at 9 o'clock and 2 grams at 3 o'clock for the total of 4 grams that I weighed before adding.

Assume you mean 340g rather than 440g.

It also won't feel like its swinging properly with 4g at 3 and 9. You need some weight in the upper hoop.

 

[RF_fan]

Find the balance of your frame, and measure it from the end of handle. You can do it by placing your frame on the edge of the table or on a pencil. The midpoint for 27" racquet is 13.5". So you subtract your measurment from 13.5. 1" is equal to 8 points, so for example if your balance point is 13" then it's 4 points Head Light.

 

[WilsonPlayer101]

Assume you mean 340g rather than 440g.

It also won't feel like its swinging properly with 4g at 3 and 9. You need some weight in the upper hoop.

Ooop's, good catch. Yes 340 not 440. I made a typo. I will put some at the upper hoop as you suggest. How much weight do you suggest in the upper hoop?


Thanks.

 

[WilsonPlayer101]

Find the balance of your frame, and measure it from the end of handle. You can do it by placing your frame on the edge of the table or on a pencil. The midpoint for 27" racquet is 13.5". So you subtract your measurment from 13.5. 1" is equal to 8 points, so for example if your balance point is 13" then it's 4 points Head Light.

Thank you very much, RF_fan for the help with this. I am running out of the house now but later on I am going to try what you say about how to measure it.

 

[WilsonPlayer101]

Why would you try to figure it out when you can measure? Just put it on the edge of a table and measure where the balance point is...

LOL, because I don't know what I'm doing!

 

[RF_fan]

It also won't feel like its swinging properly with 4g at 3 and 9. You need some weight in the upper hoop.

It all depends on each player's preference. Adding weight @12 should help with top spin. Adding @2 and 10 will move the sweetspot up. Adding @3 and 9 will increase the weight, stability and power.

 

[RF_fan]

Thank you very much, RF_fan for the help with this. I am running out of the house now but later on I am going to try what you say about how to measure it.

You're welcome. It's pretty simple.. then try measuring the swingweight. I tried and think I got it wrong LOL.

 

[Torres]

It all depends on each player's preference.

You clearly aren't familiar with the YT Prestige MP.

 

[BobFL]

LOL, because I don't know what I'm doing!

Hahahha good point! No worries! As I said, just put on a table and when it starts to slide down - > hold it and measure the balance in either mm or inches. Post the number here and we'll tell what the balance is in points

 

[WilsonPlayer101]

Well, I had 2 grams at 3 and 9 o'clock but I redid it and put 1.5 grams on each side and the left over 1 gram I put at the top of the hoop. Not sure how this is going to work out because I have not played with it yet.

Bob, my balance point that I measured at was 13 inches and RF_fan pointed out that 13 inch is 4 points head light. But when you measure the balance you are measuring from the handle to wear the balance point is right, not from the head to the balance point? This is the first time I did this so I might be wrong but important thing is that when I play with it it feels fine. Reason I am putting this on is not to make the racquet more powerful but I think the 7 point headlight rating on the YT Prestige is a little too much for me. I want to make it slightly less headlight but then again I think there should be more power and that's fine with me. Just balance it out a little more but no, I don't want an even balanced racquet but want one that is a little less headlight for more plow through.

Thanks Bob and FR!

 

[BobFL]

Well, I had 2 grams at 3 and 9 o'clock but I redid it and put 1.5 grams on each side and the left over 1 gram I put at the top of the hoop. Not sure how this is going to work out because I have not played with it yet.

Bob, my balance point that I measured at was 13 inches and RF_fan pointed out that 13 inch is 4 points head light. But when you measure the balance you are measuring from the handle to wear the balance point is right, not from the head to the balance point? This is the first time I did this so I might be wrong but important thing is that when I play with it it feels fine. Reason I am putting this on is not to make the racquet more powerful but I think the 7 point headlight rating on the YT Prestige is a little too much for me. I want to make it slightly less headlight but then again I think there should be more power and that's fine with me. Just balance it out a little more but no, I don't want an even balanced racquet but want one that is a little less headlight for more plow through.

Thanks Bob and FR!

You are very welcome

Now, more mass = more power (everything else being equal). 13inches is indeed 4 points HL. And you are right - BP is measure from the handle up...

 

[WilsonPlayer101]

You know what guys, I remeasured it and did it more carefully this time around. I did it again and double checked then checked again and found out the first time around I did it wrong, I mean I measured wrong. It was actually 12.75 and if I did my calculations right or understood the way to calculate it right it is 6 points HL. Stock it's 7 points headlight so after adding a total of 4 grams of lead tape it is only one point HL less or 6 points HL.

That does not sound like a lot different so I wonder if I will even notice any difference in the feel of it. I might have to add more lead tape. I am out of it so I have to buy more if the 4 grams I added is not enough. I don't want to make it too heavy though but if this doesn't give me any difference then I will add some more.

 

[WilsonPlayer101]

Funny enough that 4 grams might be a small amount on paper but my racquet feels a lot more heavy and substantial. The racquet is only 1 less head light too, it's 6 not 7. Did not try it out after I leaded it up because I got a Wilson nBlade after that and loved playing with it. I finally played with the Prestige with lead and I am loving it.

I get more plow through and move top spin too. I think I am happy with this but must play with it some more. I thought I was going to add more tape at first because I thought 4 grams is not much but after playing with it then the 4 is perfect so far. Imagine that 1 point less headlight with only 4 grams of tape and also feels far heavier but not to the point where I can not play. I guess you call this a player's racquet, huh?

 

[Deuces Wild]

If you play with an over grip, that could have also made your racquet more headlight.

 

[WilsonPlayer101]

If you play with an over grip, that could have also made your racquet more headlight.

I don't have an over grip but that is a great point. I do however do not have the stock Head grip but a Wilson synthetic grip. Maybe that ways more than the stock Head grip which changes the balance then when I added the lead tape it didn't affect it much since the weight of the Wilson grip might be heavier than the stock Head grip. Not sure because I did not do a balance check before I leaded it up. It did not occur to me to do that, I only did a balance check after I added the lead, therefore I was comparing to stock specs here at TW.


Thanks