Aussie-pro
Rookie
Has anyone ever put blu-tack under the bumper guard before? If so, did it work well?
Cheers
Cheers
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Blu-Tack under the bumper?
- Thread starter Aussie-pro
- Start date
nohandedbackhand
Semi-Pro
I feel like it would be hard to make sure it’s spread out evenly. Could be easy to get the weight lopsided. And may change over time with temperature. Out of curiosity may I ask why? Lead and tungsten much easier.
HitMoreBHs
Professional
I can't imagine Blu-Tack works under the bumper. Seems to me it'll get squeezed out under compression. It also gets soft and gooey if your racquets are in a warm trunk, which means the distribution is likely to change. Lead and tungsten tapes are a lot neater and easier. The more interesting question from my perspective is why you're thinking of using Blu-Tack.
2nd Serve Ace
Hall of Fame
For the reasons mentioned, this is a terrible idea.
Fxanimator1
Hall of Fame
I could imagine it oozing it’s way through the frame, around the grommets.
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ProRadTour
Semi-Pro
I have tried it, it doesn't work. It's difficult to apply under the bumper and when compressed under pressure kind of has mind of its own. Under the bumper is to confined to use Blu tack in a precise and clean manor.
Karma Tennis
Legend
You don't have to apply it under the bumpers.
Just apply it on the inside of the hoop at the positions you want.
Weight it up into 2g, 3g, or 5g lots. Then roll them out into tubes of desired length. Then attach them to the inside of the hoop either side of the grommets.
I have been doing it for years as a temporary way to customise racquets. When you apply it properly, it will not fly off the racquet.
If you don't believe be ... give it a try ... you might be very surprised how well it works.
Just apply it on the inside of the hoop at the positions you want.
Weight it up into 2g, 3g, or 5g lots. Then roll them out into tubes of desired length. Then attach them to the inside of the hoop either side of the grommets.
I have been doing it for years as a temporary way to customise racquets. When you apply it properly, it will not fly off the racquet.
If you don't believe be ... give it a try ... you might be very surprised how well it works.
Karma Tennis
Legend
Lead tape is a good permanent solution. But I find it messy to deal with when doing a lot of experimentation / customisation which involves placing many different weights on many different places on the hoop.
Blu Tack is really handy when you want to get a quick understanding of what is going on. Weigh it up, roll it out to cover the area of the hoop you want to try, stick it on, and try it. If the extra weight feels good, it is easy to fine tune, before going to the lead tape for a semi-permanent solution. If the extra weight is way off, refashion the Blu Tack and try again.
The other good thing about using Blu Tack is that you can go absolutely crazy with the customisation from the start. For example, you can add a huge amount of weight just to see what it feels like without wasting too much time and lead tape.
And Blu Tack in the handle is a great idea. Imho, always encase it in plastic cling wrap before stuffing it inside the handle.That makes it much easier to remove with no mess if you want to change things.
1/4” lead tape goes on and off really easy. The residue left over you can rub off with your thumb and no cleaner or chemicals. The only frame I have had to experiment a great deal with is the PS97. No left over mess on the frame. Tourna lead tape works really well.
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graycrait
Legend
I have shoved up to 2 oz of Blue Tac up the handle on a number of rackets because I could and find removing it is not much of a hassle. I have also used lead "rope,"fishing sinkers, coins,etc. If I want to weight up the head "permanently" under the bumper I like 1/2" wide golfers lead tape. You can spread the 1/2" tape over the holes and punch through with an awl or the string.
I think 1/2" lead tape is "cheaper" than 1/4" tape and you can slice 1/2" inch lead tape into 1/4" lengths with minimal effort if 1/4" is your thing.
I think 1/2" lead tape is "cheaper" than 1/4" tape and you can slice 1/2" inch lead tape into 1/4" lengths with minimal effort if 1/4" is your thing.
Karma Tennis
Legend
It does. But I can add and remove several grams of Blu Tack from racquet hoops way faster than I can strips of lead tape. So I prefer it when experimenting.
The lead tape goes on once the experimenting is 99% done
It does. But I can add and remove several grams of Blu Tack from racquet hoops way faster than I can strips of lead tape. So I prefer it when experimenting.
The lead tape goes on once the experimenting is 99% done
Lead tape comes in a roll. 36 yds. Guess I have never had a problem with using lead tape on frames and silicone or blue tack in the handles. To each his own.
i think the difference between these posts are - using lead under the bumper for a more permanent solution, while using blu-tack is a good option for experimenting/tinkering, before reaching the desired/more perm spec.
(i once used 1 pound and stuck it at the bottom of the butt cap temporarily (removed the trap door) to see if i'd like the new balance, as it is denser than blu-tack... lol)
travlerajm
Talk Tennis Guru
Personal preference for sure.
Over time have realized that whether it’s me or players we work with there is normally not a tremendous amount of weight added when they start with a frame suited for them. For instance, the guys that use the RF97 the only weight we see these players adding is a few grams at 12. The guys/girls that use some of the Wilson frames, Blades, Pro Staffs etc will add a few grams at 3/9 and a few grams of silicone/ blue tack in the handle. The new Wilson Blade Pro frames see the D1 guys adding a bit of weight in the handle. It’s been interesting to see the trend in the D1 players moving to lighter frames.
The Head frames see a large number of players adding weight at 3/9 and the same weight in the handle. Occasionally the weight at 12 and the handle.
*This is not a suggestion about what anyone should do, just an observation.
Over time have realized that whether it’s me or players we work with there is normally not a tremendous amount of weight added when they start with a frame suited for them. For instance, the guys that use the RF97 the only weight we see these players adding is a few grams at 12. The guys/girls that use some of the Wilson frames, Blades, Pro Staffs etc will add a few grams at 3/9 and a few grams of silicone/ blue tack in the handle. The new Wilson Blade Pro frames see the D1 guys adding a bit of weight in the handle. It’s been interesting to see the trend in the D1 players moving to lighter frames.
The Head frames see a large number of players adding weight at 3/9 and the same weight in the handle. Occasionally the weight at 12 and the handle.
*This is not a suggestion about what anyone should do, just an observation.
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HitMoreBHs
Professional
Probably worth mentioning that it’s best to punch thorough the lead tape from inside the hoop outwards. Doing it out-to-in risks little fragments of lead tape falling into the hollow core of the hairpin and causing annoying rattles. These can be tapped out with relative ease if the buttcap has a removable trapdoor. This assumes that one has not filled both handle chambers - which is the main reason why I tend to fill just one side if using something relatively fixed like silicone or epoxy. Otherwise, it can become a real nuisance getting rid of rattling loose bodies in the hairpin.
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Putting lead tape or anything under the bumper guard can make it difficult to get the grommets back in and get them to sit flush. Especially if the grommets aren’t new. Pulling the flared grommets through the frame and then getting them back in is more than difficult.
Completely defeats the purpose of the blue tack being easier to get on and off for experimenting. 1/4” or 1/2” lead tape on the inside of the hoop on both sides of the string is the easier solution.
Completely defeats the purpose of the blue tack being easier to get on and off for experimenting. 1/4” or 1/2” lead tape on the inside of the hoop on both sides of the string is the easier solution.
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LocNetMonster
Professional
One way to never, ever have to replace the bumperWho needs blue tack when gorilla tape exists?
Fxanimator1
Hall of Fame
Who needs blue tack when gorilla tape exists?
You know, you might be on to your million dollar payday. If you made those things out of rubber and with exact weight, you could market those as setup testing rings to use while
dialing in a racquet's weight and balance.
