Balance point of my racquet differs from spec

[kayak4water]

The balance point of my racquet differs from spec by half an inch. I purchased my Yonex ezone 98 as size 4 and had it built to size 5 at House of Tennis in Vegas. The strung weight is 346 gm. Hmm. Spec: 305 (unstrung?) Fifteen grams more due to the grip build up?. Balance spec is six points head light (strung?) , I found its actual balance point at 31 cm (~12 1/4") from the end of the grip. That is ten points head light, right? (Racquet measured strung)
I've measured several times by placing a dowel under the balance point and measuring from the end of the grip.

Does the grip build up affect the swing speed and power potential? I'm sure the extra weight can slow me down a bit and takes more energy to accelerate.

Thank you for your comments.

 

[boulderchips]

The discrepancy probably comes from the grip being built up. 346g is much higher than the expected static weight of that racquet, even with manufacturing tolerances (which are usually pretty tight for Yonex). When the grip was built up, the company probably added something like a heat-shrink sleeve underneath your grip. That adds a decent amount of weight, and it makes the racquet more head-light.

 

[kayak4water]

The discrepancy probably comes from the grip being built up. 346g is much higher than the expected static weight of that racquet, even with manufacturing tolerances (which are usually pretty tight for Yonex). When the grip was built up, the company probably added something like a heat-shrink sleeve underneath your grip. That adds a decent amount of weight, and it makes the racquet more head-light.

I wasn't quite sure what to ask in the original post. I should ask if I can blame the extra weight for less power because I'm still learning to hit and extra weight may impair generation of high racquet head speed. This is my first racquet and maybe the shop didn't want to confuse me with how a grip build would affect things. I suspect, at my level, very little.
That extra weight might affect how I'd approach purchasing a replacement, should that ever happen.
Thanks.

 

[esm]

It sounds about right with ~15g increase at the handle end of the shop built up with a head shrink.
you may felt “loss of power” probably due to the more headlight balance from the grip build up.
If 346g is already on the higher side for you, it will be heavier if you want to counter balance the head with lead tape to bring it to the advertised string balance....
Yonex grip usually runs larger than other manufactures, so maybe it is worthwhile to use a thinker replacement grip to build up (if we are talking about L4 to L5, ie, one size up)... rather than using a heat shrink.

 

[CosmosMpower]

Id sell and get the same frame in the right size grip

 

[Lorenn]

Id sell and get the same frame in the right size grip

That would likely save more time and effort. Yonex sells a size five grip...Yonex also tends to be slightly on the large size so a size 4 might fit. Especially with an Overgrip. I wasn't in the shop, my guess is the person didn't think about the effect or felt you just really wanted what you were asking for... AS for the lack of power it could also be partially strings, technique, or expectations. I find most go straight to RHS for everything, when other areas might offer better returns.

Since you require a size 5 racquet I would assume you are relatively strong, so not sure weight is the issue. Having said that I think you would be better off with a natural size 5 grip or living with it at size 4. Racquets are often designed for certain balance points. If you add too much weight to a racquet ...you change the characteristics you were originally looking for...Maybe the shop will let you demo a size 4 or 5 with similar strings.

 

[kayak4water]

I discovered the resource today on the TennisWarehouse website for measuring swingweight. I got 316 gm, barely 1 gm less than spec. Much ado about nothing.

So interesting. I have a racquet that weighs 26 gm. more than spec. My watch, which I wear on my swing (left) wrist, weighs 26 gm. I'll remove the watch. I can deal with it.

Cheers!