The Official Lead Tape Placement+Racket Customization Thread

[Warren]

Hey Supine -

GREAT suggestion re the .5" squares of lead under the butt cap! I have a PSt GT and already have some lead running up the handle along the top and bottom bevels, and also some wrapped at 7". This config made my stick 5 points HL, but I wanted it tilted a little more towards the HL side. So I followed your suggestion and put in 4g's yesterday (16 squares) under the butt cap. This gave me a balance of 6.2 HL, with very little change in SW (from 327.7 to 328.0), which isn't surprising given that the weight is basically located behind the spot where my palm grips the handle. Your method worked like a charm!

I've previously tried fishing weights under the butt cap, and no matter how densely I packed them with cotton balls and gauze, they always came loose slightly and rattled over the course of time. Your solution for the .5" squares is perfect. Easily modified, no other materials to muck around with, and it seems like they will stay in place for however long you want them to with no chance of rattling because the edges are not in contact with any component of the racquet or butt cap.

Thanks for the recommendation - it is very much appreciated!

[HitItHarder]

Last night I was moving some lead tape on two of my racquets and one strip actually pulled a pretty large paint chip off one of my frames. I was not particularly happy. Not the end of the world -- it is a tennis racquet and not a piece of art or anything -- but I want to try and avoid this in the future. Anyone have tips to help prevent this.

By the way, it was just regular old Gamma lead tape from TW. 3" strips (1/4 wide) at 10 & 2 on the inside of the frame of my MG Rad. Paint chip was probably an inch long.

[supineAnimation]

Originally Posted by Warren

Hey Supine -

GREAT suggestion re the .5" squares of lead under the butt cap! I have a PSt GT and already have some lead running up the handle along the top and bottom bevels, and also some wrapped at 7". This config made my stick 5 points HL, but I wanted it tilted a little more towards the HL side. So I followed your suggestion and put in 4g's yesterday (16 squares) under the butt cap. This gave me a balance of 6.2 HL, with very little change in SW (from 327.7 to 328.0), which isn't surprising given that the weight is basically located behind the spot where my palm grips the handle. Your method worked like a charm!

I've previously tried fishing weights under the butt cap, and no matter how densely I packed them with cotton balls and gauze, they always came loose slightly and rattled over the course of time. Your solution for the .5" squares is perfect. Easily modified, no other materials to muck around with, and it seems like they will stay in place for however long you want them to with no chance of rattling because the edges are not in contact with any component of the racquet or butt cap.

Thanks for the recommendation - it is very much appreciated!

Glad it worked for you. You might want to glue the stack to the buttcap with a little super glue or epoxy just to make sure it doesn't pull away. But honestly I don't know if that's necessary because, since it's not being struck by anything when you swing and it moves exactly as the handle does without any other force acting against it, you might not need anything more than the tap adhesive. Good luck.

[xFullCourtTenniSx]

Originally Posted by HitItHarder

Last night I was moving some lead tape on two of my racquets and one strip actually pulled a pretty large paint chip off one of my frames. I was not particularly happy. Not the end of the world -- it is a tennis racquet and not a piece of art or anything -- but I want to try and avoid this in the future. Anyone have tips to help prevent this.

By the way, it was just regular old Gamma lead tape from TW. 3" strips (1/4 wide) at 10 & 2 on the inside of the frame of my MG Rad. Paint chip was probably an inch long.

There are certain lead tapes that minimize the problem (if not avoid it entirely) by using a different adhesive. I'm not fully sure what kind they are, or where to get them... Sorry.

If you do find them, feel free to share where you got them. Sorry I couldn't have been of more help though.

[gflyer]

I have a Pure Storm Gt I was trying to use as platform to learn some customization.
But I have a problem.
The frame as stock is 1pt HL.
I want to make a depolarized setup. So I added weight at 3-9.
Of course now the balance shifted even more toward the head.
Now, if I want to make this setup HL following the depolarized guidelines (lead on the handle) I have to add too much lead tape.
It would be much easier to add less weight in the butt cap.
But at this point I wouldn't have a true depolarized setup, am I correct?
So what should I do?
Is the racquet intrinsically not suitable for this type of customization because of its even balance as stock?
What are the disadvantage of having lead at 3-9 and then in the butt cap?
Thank you in advance.
cheers,
g

[xFullCourtTenniSx]

Originally Posted by gflyer

I have a Pure Storm Gt I was trying to use as platform to learn some customization.
But I have a problem.
The frame as stock is 1pt HL.
I want to make a depolarized setup. So I added weight at 3-9.
Of course now the balance shifted even more toward the head.
Now, if I want to make this setup HL following the depolarized guidelines (lead on the handle) I have to add too much lead tape.
It would be much easier to add less weight in the butt cap.
But at this point I wouldn't have a true depolarized setup, am I correct?
So what should I do?
Is the racquet intrinsically not suitable for this type of customization because of its even balance as stock?
What are the disadvantage of having lead at 3-9 and then in the butt cap?
Thank you in advance.
cheers,
g

Well, if you have enough weight at both points, it kind of feels like a wood racket... You get that funny flexy feeling.

The disadvantage is a little less power... Not all that huge really...

What I'd do personally is to put some lead in the handle to raise the headlight balance, then work from there. So maybe you can try some lead in the buttcap and some on the handle. Your call though. Try what you think will feel better and if it doesn't work try something else.

[tennis005]

Originally Posted by HitItHarder

Last night I was moving some lead tape on two of my racquets and one strip actually pulled a pretty large paint chip off one of my frames. I was not particularly happy. Not the end of the world -- it is a tennis racquet and not a piece of art or anything -- but I want to try and avoid this in the future. Anyone have tips to help prevent this.

By the way, it was just regular old Gamma lead tape from TW. 3" strips (1/4 wide) at 10 & 2 on the inside of the frame of my MG Rad. Paint chip was probably an inch long.

Thats weird. I use Gamma tape on my YTPP and nothing happens.

[supineAnimation]

Originally Posted by tennis005

Thats weird. I use Gamma tape on my YTPP and nothing happens.

Yeah, never had that problem really. Once I think I took some lead off an old frame where the lead had been on it for years and some paint did come off. But on my last batch of frames I had the same lead on them for 9 months probably and never lost any paint when replacing it. I have gotten reels where the adhesive was crap, which was annoying. Yeah, entire reels... careful about buying from a pro shop that looks like they've had the same inventory for 20 years.

[Fed Kennedy]

Fullcourt, great thread.
Question for you:
I have 3 grams at 12 under the bumper, would you recommend counterbalancing with a leather grip or 5g at the top of the handle with synthetic grip?

[dincuss]

So if i have a heavy racquet with a high swing weight, its SW2 (de-polarized?)

and if its a lighter racquet with a high swing weight its SW1 (polarized?)

[armsty]

Thought I'd chime in

I have KPro Opens with about 8gms at 10 and 2.

I have BLXPro Open with 5gms above the handle (samphras style) and 6gms at 10 and 2.

[xFullCourtTenniSx]

Originally Posted by Fed Kennedy

Fullcourt, great thread.
Question for you:
I have 3 grams at 12 under the bumper, would you recommend counterbalancing with a leather grip or 5g at the top of the handle with synthetic grip?

Do you like leather? If you do, then go with leather. It feels better, it adds plenty of barely noticeable weight, and it looks better. Otherwise use lead. I use leather on all of my rackets, so I don't have much of a choice in the matter.

Originally Posted by dincuss

So if i have a heavy racquet with a high swing weight, its SW2 (de-polarized?)

and if its a lighter racquet with a high swing weight its SW1 (polarized?)

No... A polarized racket is a racket with a relatively low static mass for it's swingweight (or you can say it the other way around) because of it's relatively polar weight distribution (majority of the weight is spread out towards the ends of the racket).

Both types of rackets can be SW2 rackets. SW1 and SW2 refer to swingweight levels, SW1 being low to moderate levels and SW2 being relatively high levels (usually it's easily at least 360).

[Funbun]

Hey Fullcourt, to what extent is attempting to mix both a depolarized and polarized setup?

I'm asking this because I want my racquet to get around to my SW2 range. It's a KPro Tour (you've posted in that particular thread a couple months ago). My current setup is 8g at both 3&9 and 2g at 12. However, I still feel like the swingweight could be higher. Should I add more lead at 3&9 to further depolarize it or should I just add 2 more grams at 12? I'm afraid, though, that I might be trying to mix. =(

Either way, I don't want the racquet to be overpowered.

Thanks FullCourt, you really taught me a lot on customization.

EDIT: Well, I decided to change it to 12g at 3&9 and 4g at 12. I hope it's not too overpowering. What are your views on this?

[Hidious]

I see Federer had lead in the throat in his early days. This seems uncommon, what would be the effect of that?

[supineAnimation]

Originally Posted by xFullCourtTenniSx

Honestly, nothing on swingweight unless you have a Babolat RDC. And sadly, yes, swingweight is the key ingredient to making 2 rackets feel the same. But different people have different preferences. As you know, it's not always possible to match EVERY spec perfectly everytime, so pros generally have a list of which are more important to match compared to the others. Some like balance the most, some like mass, some like swingweight. Sampras was a tough guy to work for because he wanted all 3 the same. Good thing his rackets had so much lead added to them, otherwise it might have been a serious headache for Nate Ferguson.

I'd start off by trying to match them before I add weight, then I can add the same amount of weight to all of them. Or, if I know which racket I like, I'll treat any racket heavier as if it had a little weight already added somewhere. Then I just calculate how much less weight I have to put in a general location to have it come out about the same. And any racket that's lighter, I add weight so that the specs are matched. Sadly, it's tough to match the swingweight without a Babolat RDC machine unless you're Pete Sampras.



Depolarized frames are far better on volleys. Not even debatable. lol And for the high one handed backhand, the polarized frame is tricky to use because you need to be able to apply heavy spin to control the shot. However, I don't have a problem with that personally... I have no idea why. Polarized frames are overall better for me. But you can get some easy pop with a depolarized frame. The racket does all the work.

As for making a list of stock polarized and depolarized frames... The only ones I know are K90 being relatively polarized, and the n90 and PS90 being depolarized. I heard the Sampras racket is likely depolarized too, which makes sense since what he uses on court is a heavy, depolarized beatstick.

As for whether he played better with the ProStaff 6.0 Midsize than with his current racket(s), I have no idea. Never seen much of him at the time other than 2001 Wimbledon. He did hit some amazing backhands, but they weren't off high balls. Back then he sliced a lot of high balls if I remember correctly.

As for what Guga used, I'm not sure. I'd guess he used a polarized setup. But during his time, they were a rarity.

I can't find any pictures with any lead on his racket. Perhaps he went stock?



Depends on how much you want to improve stability. If only slightly, then 3 grams total is good. If you want something that's rock solid, then 5-7 is a good number. If you want something that's like a wall, then go into the double digits. Haha.

How long depends on how much you're adding. Some people like it longer to spread out the effects of stretching the sweetspot. I personally like it longer. Looks nicer, and it requires less layers.

Just curious, but when you say 3 grams at 3 and 9, for example, do you mean 3 grams on each side or 3 grams total (1.5 grams each side)? I use 4 grams on each side, 8 total, but I never know which one people mean when they talk about how much weight they add at 3 and 9. Granted I'm not a smart man. Thanks.

[esm]

Originally Posted by xFullCourtTenniSx

/snap/

hi mate, hope you are still around....

post a reply to your post at the other lead tape thread and was hoping you'd give me some advice

anyway, i'm post the same content here and hoping you will be back soon. thanks mate

-------------------------------------

hi X (aka Dr. Lead Tape)

as mentioned before, i have finally got my other FXP Prestige MP back and i have done a few measurements for you to give me advice on how to match them (as closely as possible... please)

so here they are:

FXP Prestige MP 1 (main racquet):
Weight - 356g
Head balance - 31.5cm
Current Lead tape - 4 x 4" of 1/2" width tapes at 3 and 9 oclock (my previous attempt before #2 arrived, outside the CAP)
String - Babolat Attraction Power 16 @ 60lb (eventually this will have Bab Addition 17 on it)
Grip - leather & tourna grip (matched)
Dampener - Wilson smilie

FXP Prestige MP 2 (newly acquired USED ):
Weight - 360g
Head balance - 32.75cm
Current Lead tape - 2 x 6" of 1/2" width tapes at 12 oclock (under the CAP, came with the racquet)
String - Babolat Addition 17 @ 60lb (they dont have 16 in the UK)
Grip - leather & tourna grip (matched)
Dampener - Wilson smilie

now, the tricky bits is - i much prefer the #2 setup, it just feels more solid and has a better plow through for me and enjoyed playing with it much more.

so..... i hope there is sufficient info. can you please advise me on how to match these 2 racquets as closely as possible, thanks very much




PS - is head balance 32.75cm more head heavey than 31.5cm? because #2 is more head heavy than #1

-------------------------------------

[Justin]

If I want to polarize a racquet and make it have a high swingweight, do you think I could add a lot of weight to the handle (without messing with the butt cap and inside the handle), by going down a grip size and then covering the outside of the handle with lead tape, covering it with a leather grip, and then adding an overgrip would be a good idea? I imagine it would smooth out the bevels a lot, so I'm guessing not.

I would like to use a non-instrusive method if possible.

[ManuGinobili]

FullCourt,
been meaning to ask this for a while... I'm tryin to convert an AN90 into having a similar feel to the AK90, I like the latter much more but was able to get the former for 2 old rackets. This is virtually the same process as converting an N90 into a K90.....Since u got good knowledge of the 2 sticks, wanna give me some pointers? I'm expecting a higher SW of course, just want that "feel" of the K instead of the mute-ness of the N....

[enrique79]

when someone says "add lead to the buttcap", does that mean that you have to open up the buttcap?

[ManuGinobili]

Originally Posted by enrique79

when someone says "add lead to the buttcap", does that mean that you have to open up the buttcap?

yes, the inside of the handle...