Customizing Racquet Balance with Lead Tape

[TennisProPaul]

Customizing Racquet Balance with Lead Tape

Racquets are described as being "__ points head-light" or "__ points head-heavy." A "point" is 1/8 inch, or 0.3175 cm. Points head-heavy (or head-light) are measured from the midpoint of the racquet's length, so a balance that is 6 points head-light means that the balance point is 3/4 inch toward the butt from the midpoint.

Formula for finding balance point shift: s = d*(m / (M + m)) Derivation

s = shift in balance, in cm
d = distance from added weight to original balance point, in cm
m = amount of added weight, in grams
M = original racquet weight, in grams

This formula finds the balance shift resulting from added weight at the tip, shoulders (9 and 3), or the butt. Change d accordingly. Here's an example:

http://racquetresearch.com/balancetip.htm

 

[djarc]

thanks. you have been informative.

 

[Lleyton Hewitt]

Ok i know how to make my racket sweetsport larger....adding lead at 2 and 10 o clock positions. I want to make my racket more powerful without making the racket heavier. Do i apply lead tape at the top (12) or either side (3 & 9) or at the bottom (6). Also if i add lead tape in more than one place do i have to make sure that all lead that has been added to whatever postions are the same weight? if i add lead at top say 15 grams then at bottom 5 grams would that make it feel weird?

 

[TennisProPaul]

Ok i know how to make my racket sweetsport larger....adding lead at 2 and 10 o clock positions. I want to make my racket more powerful without making the racket heavier. Do i apply lead tape at the top (12) or either side (3 & 9) or at the bottom (6). Also if i add lead tape in more than one place do i have to make sure that all lead that has been added to whatever postions are the same weight? if i add lead at top say 15 grams then at bottom 5 grams would that make it feel weird?

I have some of the same questions and have been testing diff combinations in hitting and matches to find the answer to your questions.

So far the best feeling combination has been weight to the top of the handle .2 oz, and .1 @ 3 and another .1 @ 9.

When I added weight to 11 & 1 it felt like I was drunk until I added the same weight to 7 & 5.

I think the best thing to do is add weight to the top of the handle 7 inches from the butt to make your frame more powerful with the least amout of swing weight.

add .2 oz to 7 inches from the butt first and see how that feels.

 

[Lleyton Hewitt]

does this mean i need to remove the grip and my overgrip because i dont want to buy another grip....i have many overgrips tho. can u post pics of where ur lead tape on the handle is.

 

[Lleyton Hewitt]

2 oz? thats 57 grams! thats a lot?

 

[tennis-skater]

ok i have an n6.1 tour. i want to get more power on my serve for serve and volley where should i add led tape and how much?

 

[tennis-skater]

2 oz? thats 57 grams! thats a lot?

he said 0.2oz lol

 

[TennisProPaul]

2 oz? thats 57 grams! thats a lot?

pay attention Hewitt

Measure from the butt up 7 inches.

You will most likely have to just undue the top inch of your grip still leaving it on the racquet.

Wrap .2 oz NOT 2.0 oz, around the 7inches spot, then wrap the grip back over the lead tape.

Did you know each overgrip ( tournagrip , white wilson ect...) weighs about .2 oz?

If you have a few overgrips thats ok, but the weight to the 7in spot around the handle will be important.

Play with your frame. Then if it feels ok add another .1 oz to the 7in spot. Then keep adding .1 or .2 until you find the perfect weight for you.

easy as pie bro

now go out and eat a slice

here are the pictuires, but dont put any weight at 2, 10, 11, or 1 , just around the 7 inch spot
http://paulkielsmith.com/_wsn/page3.html

 

[Supernatural_Serve]

Does adding lead tape make the sweetspot "move" or only "grow" or neither?

 

[Lleyton Hewitt]

arghh here in the uk we usually say 0.2 not .2 i thought it was a mistype lol. I have never removed a grip before. In fact is it sealed on with a sticker i cant remember coz when i get my racket i overgrip it straight away.,

 

[Lleyton Hewitt]

i just may add 5 grams of leadtape at 2 and 10 for a larger sweetspot is it?

Adding lead tape to 7inches from butt makes racket more powerful right? but without the racket getting heavier?

 

[TennisProPaul]

i just may add 5 grams of leadtape at 2 and 10 for a larger sweetspot is it?

Adding lead tape to 7inches from butt makes racket more powerful right? but without the racket getting heavier?

peeling the grip sticker and taking off the first inch of your grips from the top town is very easy. you need to counter any weight you put at 3 & 9 by adding weight there.

where do you have lead now?

If you add weight to 2 & 10 it will bring the sweetspot up and make it larger, but it may make the frame play difficult.

adding tape to 7 inches from the butt end makes it more powerful without the frame feeling too heavy when swung into the ball.

please just stick with lead tape at 3 & 9 with the tape strips no longer then 4 inches. 3-4 inches in length but no longer.

the more weight you add the longer it will take for your swing to feel right. stick with it as many times with the added weight it will take a few times playing before the weight feels natural

 

[Lleyton Hewitt]

what about adding lead tape at 6 o clock?.......once u peel the sticker of it gets very loose and wont be able to stick back on with some grips.

 

[no skillz]

I added 3 grams at 12 and 3 and 9. Should I add some in the handle?

 

[TennisProPaul]

what about adding lead tape at 6 o clock?.......once u peel the sticker of it gets very loose and wont be able to stick back on with some grips.

hewitt use some tape, come on are you kidding??

 

[Lleyton Hewitt]

what..............

 

[Lleyton Hewitt]

i know i have a lot of questions

 

[Lleyton Hewitt]

Ok last few here answer them then there would be no more questions in this thread from me.

1. If i add lead tape at 2 and 10 to make larger sweetspot would that make my racket even heavier? does it add more power aswell?

Atm i want to make my racket more powerful so i am going to add 20g lead tape 7inches from buttcap and 10g each at 2 and 10. That would balance it out right?