Has removing lead from your hoop ever stripped its paintjob?

DeShaun

Banned
I removed some lead tape from a racket recently, and the adhesive side of the tape took with it some of the paint job off of my Prestige Pro. I was really bummed. Has anything similar to this ever happened to you?
 
I removed some lead tape from a racket recently, and the adhesive side of the tape took with it some of the paint job off of my Prestige Pro. I was really bummed. Has anything similar to this ever happened to you?

Frequently; get used to it. However, I do know that if the company knows this, they try to fix the problem. Volkl did with the DNX Line.
 

Bud

Bionic Poster
No and I've used it on a bunch of frames. I use the roll/reel sold through TW

Do you all just place it, stick it on by hand and then just make sure it secure?

Or do you really mash it, use a hair dryer to make sure it stays, etc.?

Also, when removing, pull it very slowly.
 
Last edited:

J011yroger

Talk Tennis Guru
Yea a few chips come off sometimes, I don't see the big deal.

But I am pretty hard on equipment, IMO racquets are made to be played with, not looked at.

J
 

ollinger

G.O.A.T.
Beware with Boris Becker frames....the cross-hatched design at 3:00 and 9:00 on many of them comes off like wallpaper if you remove lead tape from that area.
 

movdqa

Talk Tennis Guru
Good reminder for me. I just did some additional touch-up on my most two recent frames with a whiteout - pen-style applicator. I did the sharpie touch-up earlier this week.
 
Beware with Boris Becker frames....the cross-hatched design at 3:00 and 9:00 on many of them comes off like wallpaper if you remove lead tape from that area.

They were aware of that and fixed the problem on later releases. If you have frames from when the BB 11s were first released, the DNX honeycombs came off crazy easy.
 

TimothyO

Hall of Fame
But I am pretty hard on equipment, IMO racquets are made to be played with, not looked at.

J

same here.

Today my wife noticed lead tape residue on my PB10 Mid. She immediately removed it.

I believe marks and nicks tell a history of the racquet. It becomes personal.

I also fence (as do my sons). We practice kendo and every mark on our shinais (bamboo swords) represents another strike on an opponent's armor. Our dirty pommels represent many hours of practice. We love our equipment that way!
 
Last edited:

Marcus

Semi-Pro
Yea a few chips come off sometimes, I don't see the big deal.

But I am pretty hard on equipment, IMO racquets are made to be played with, not looked at.

J

+ 1

Took loads of paint off 3 brand new head speed pro's a while back, not bothered in the slightest, I don't see how you can play your best tennis and keep your frames pristine.... To me it's a relief after I've scuffed a new frame !!!
 

Rusty10201

New User
Yeah i heard it does happen a lot, so i put a layer of clear tape on my racquet before applying the lead tape.
Much easier to take off than the lead, and no damage done to the paint.
 

scotus

G.O.A.T.
Yes, it happened on my Head Ti.Radical.

Some lead tapes have adhesives that are way too strong, and of course, some racquets have shoddy paint jobs.

Perhaps what some of us might want to do is put a piece of head tape on the frame and put lead over that.
 

russell

Semi-Pro
Never happened to me thank the Racquet Lord. I just wouldn't be able to bear the emotional toll nor the embarrassment of admitting where the chips came from.
 

Noltae

Rookie
Heat the glue up with a hair dryer before attempting to peel off tape - this will reduce the chance of paint coming off :)
 

pyrokid

Hall of Fame
Happened all the time with the PSL and K90. Microgel radicals too to a certain extent.

Never with the Ti.s so far.
 

MAX PLY

Hall of Fame
Yeah i heard it does happen a lot, so i put a layer of clear tape on my racquet before applying the lead tape.
Much easier to take off than the lead, and no damage done to the paint.

This is an excellent tip and what I have done for years. If you already have the lead on--the hair dryer tip may work best--heat up the adhesive and it should come off easier.
 

dadozen

Hall of Fame
it happened once with one of my 4D100s. They have a worse pj overall quality than the previous versions( AGs ), but the damage wasn't big. I just used some clear tape on the chips to prevent them getting bigger.

I have heard a lot of problems with the Ytk pjs, the quality doesn't seem to be at a high level.
 

Bud

Bionic Poster
I find it amazing reading about all the folks here at TT, who have experienced paint lifting from lead tape removal :shock:

I've put lead tape on at least 50 different frames of varying ages, brands, etc. and have never seen the paint lift one time when removing.
 
I find it amazing reading about all the folks here at TT, who have experienced paint lifting from lead tape removal :shock:

I've put lead tape on at least 50 different frames of varying ages, brands, etc. and have never seen the paint lift one time when removing.

I burnish the lead tape onto the frame. Sometimes, the paint is removed to the graphite when the tape is lifted off.
 

Bud

Bionic Poster
I burnish the lead tape onto the frame. Sometimes, the paint is removed to the graphite when the tape is lifted off.

Why do you burnish it? Just place it and press lightly as it won't come off.

Perhaps, folks are trying to secure it too well.

- - -

For those who have experienced the lead tape lifting the paint on removal... what brand of lead tape are you using?
 
Why do you burnish it? Just place it and press lightly as it won't come off.

Perhaps, folks are trying to secure it too well.

- - -

For those who have experienced the lead tape lifting the paint on removal... what brand of lead tape are you using?

I know my specs, so when I put it on my frames, they are designed to never come off.

I have pulled paint off when I have leaded frames for others, or when I have done it to demos that I was trying.
 
Why do you burnish it? Just place it and press lightly as it won't come off.

Perhaps, folks are trying to secure it too well.

- - -

For those who have experienced the lead tape lifting the paint on removal... what brand of lead tape are you using?

I burnish it because it does come off in mid swing or at ball contact in the CENTER of the frame. I've experienced that and so have my players who didn't burnish it. When it does happen, you have to search the court to hunt it down, and hope that you aren't playing on clay or Har Tru where some of the particles stick onto the tape, forcing you to cut more--if you have it on-court--stopping play, or, dumping the stick and playing with another. I have enough things to concentrate on while on-court then my own preventable irresponsible behavior.
 

Bud

Bionic Poster
I burnish it because it does come off in mid swing or at ball contact in the CENTER of the frame. I've experienced that and so have my players who didn't burnish it. When it does happen, you have to search the court to hunt it down, and hope that you aren't playing on clay or Har Tru where some of the particles stick onto the tape, forcing you to cut more--if you have it on-court--stopping play, or, dumping the stick and playing with another. I have enough things to concentrate on while on-court then my own preventable irresponsible behavior.

You've experienced a 4-6" strip of 1/4" lead tape flying off your frame?
 

snoopy

Professional
I know I would be annoyed by little cosmetic imperfections on my racquets if I saw them. Because I know this I don't let myself examine them too closely. This works well for girlfriends too.
 

djNEiGht

Legend
Put lead on the handle and a new grip. Wrapped the grip up about 2 inches past the cut off as to score the grip and get a nice straight cut. The adhesive on the grip took off part of the silver border around the "W" badge on both sides of the racquet as I peeled the grip back.

Not lead...but still bummed
 

Kirko

Hall of Fame
I know !!!!!!!!! I can't tell you how many rackets I have thrown away because some paint came off while taking lead tape off or playing them :)
 
1

15_ounce

Guest
Well, the only racquet that I put lead tape and got it's paint peeled off was the Bosworth Rossignol 9R yellow power... but it only peeled off the 'clear varnish' layer.. so the colour / graphics are still intact.

I put lead tape under the bumper guard of my wilson K Six One 90.. so I won't worry about paint job peeling off.
 

Maui19

Hall of Fame
I know I would be annoyed by little cosmetic imperfections on my racquets if I saw them. Because I know this I don't let myself examine them too closely. This works well for girlfriends too.

Great all purpose advice!

I don't care about chips or scuffs on my racquets. But there is an easy way to remove lead tape without removing paint. Just heat the tape with a hair dryer before removing it. Heat will soften the adhesive and the tape will come right off. Remove any tape residue with alcohol or mineral spirits and you are good to go. This works even with tape that has been burnished (burnishing the tape helps keep it in place and prevents the corners and edges from loosening and catching on things).
 
Top