A tip when measuring the balance of a racquet

[stoneage]

It is convenient to use a scale when measuring the balance of a racquet. It is also the most accurate method if you are careful (unless you have a balance board). In most descriptions of the set up it is recommended that you place the tip of the racquet on the scale. However, that can be a bit tricky. Either you place only the outermost tip of the racquet on the scale, but then the set up becomes very unsteady. Or you place the upper part of the head on the scale, but then the measurement becomes inaccurate.

But you don't have to use the tip of the racquet! Place a 10-20 cm long bar with an edge (max 2 mm thick) on the scale. Zero the scale. Place the racquet head on the bar somewhere around the top cross string. Place the tip of the butt on another edge and read of the weight on the scale. Measure the distance between the two supports.

To calculate the balance you only need this:

Where Mtip is the weight of the racquet tip from the above set up. Mtot is the weight of the whole racquet. d is the distance between the supports and cg is the distance from the butt to the balance point (center of gravity). Simple

If you can't place the other support at the tip of the butt you can place it further up the handle. If the distance from the butt end to the lower support is b the formulat becomes:

This makes it even easier to place the racquet, but you add one distance that has to be measured carefully, so I prefer the first version.

Sten

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racquetTune, stringBed and swingTool racquet apps for the iPhone/iPad.

 

[Slitch]

Nice find, thanks for sharing.
You've said the balance board is more accurate, but how much more accurate is a balance board?

 

[stoneage]

You've said the balance board is more accurate, but how much more accurate is a balance board?

Well, it is not inherently more accurate. If you measure the lengths and weights accurately it is as exact. But I think that it might be a little easier to get an exact result in practice. But I haven't made any 'scientific' comparisons so that is more of a guess. Maybe I should have expressed it differently: If you have a balance board you don't need this.