How many grams of lead tape should I add?

[Jackson Heights]

I recently bought a Pro Kennex Ki-10 - the regular version, not the PSE version. It is slightly head light. I played very well with the demo, especially volleying, and loved the way it played. But my elbow hurt a little (but not a lot) after hitting a few days with it. But my elbow bothered me enough to concern me. I think it is because I swung harder than usual on groundstrokes because the racket is so light. It is about 10.6 to 10.7 ounces strung. (My former racket weighed about 11.0 ounces strung and I had no elbow problems with it. But it was a Yonex and I find Yonex rackets are very arm friendly. But I play better with this Pro Kennex.)

1) I am thinking of adding weight with lead tape to the racket head at 3 o'clock and at 9 o'clock, but not sure how many total grams of lead tape to add. Would adding 1/2 ounce (about 15 grams) be too much? I want to add enough weight to add stability so that I do not hurt my elbow anymore. But I do not want to add too much so that I don't play as well as I did with the demo, and lose the benefits, including volleying well and maneuverability, I originally liked about the racket. How many grams of lead tape should I add to the racket head?

2) Also, how much weight should I add to the handle? I read from an expert stringer that we must add weight to the handle for balance if we are adding weight to the head. And I want to keep this racket head light to prevent tennis elbow. Adding lead tape to the head may make it head heavy. I will use a Wilson Pro overgrip on the handle, so probably will only have to add a little lead tape to the handle, since I think the overgrip weighs about 1/4 ounce (I think but am not sure).

 

[tennisguy11]

I wouldn't bother with lead, if you are playing well with it stock. 10.7 to 11 oz can be changed with an overgrip to get back to 11 oz.

 

[counterpuncher]

Start small with the weight increases - an overgrip on the handle as a first step and then maybe 2-3 grams at each of 3 & 9.

Try it out and see how you go. If you are still swinging it harder than your previous racquet add another 2-3 grams at each of 3 & 9 and maybe a little under the handle. I wouldn't imagine it would take much to get to the same swingweight of your previous racquet.

If your elbow is still bothering after this - take a look at the strings and tension that you are using. Also I have seen varying specs on the stiffness of the Ki-10 witht he PK site listing it at a not so arm friendly 66.

 

[Jackson Heights]

Is it true that you don't really feel the weight added to the handle? That it just affects the balance, but won't make the racket feel heavier?

Also, is adding a total of 1/2 ounce to the head of the racket at 3 and 9 considered to be too much weight?

 

[counterpuncher]

You will feel added weight less in the handle than anywhere else on the racquet, but I can assure you that you will be able to feel the difference when you starting adding 5 grams or more (such as an overwrap) to the handle.

As per my post above, start with the addition of small weights (2-3 grams at 3 & 9) as 1/2 oz or 14 grams is a lot of weight to add to the hoop. You will feel a significant change in swingweight with the addition of this much lead.

 

[Jackson Heights]

How much is too much?

As per my post above, start with the addition of small weights (2-3 grams at 3 & 9) as 1/2 oz or 14 grams is a lot of weight to add to the hoop. You will feel a significant change in swingweight with the addition of this much lead.

That brings up an interesting question. Is 1/2 ounce lead tape too much to add to a racket head? How much added weight negatively changes what you liked about the racket? How much is too much? Sampras put on close to an ounce, but let's talk about weekend players, not superstars. Assume we are putting the lead tape at 3 and 9. I read the TW Learning Center section on customization, and got the impression they didn't think 1/2 ounce was too much.

 

[counterpuncher]

To each his own, personally I feel adding 14 grams of weight to the hoop is almost going to make it a different racquet, others would disagree. It really depends on what your base weight and swing weight and where you add the lead. At 3 & 9, as little as 3 grams on each side increase the swingweight enough points for you to notice the difference.

If you do this in layers of lead tape, you can decide for yourself which you prefer. Start with 1-2 layers, demo then add more if desired - there is no magic amount to add. Simply keep trialing different amounts and positions for lead tape, until you get the desired result.

 

[movdqa]

Adding weight to the handle is generally not noticeable except on the serve.

 

[AJK1]

Seems to me you bought the wrong frame. Leading it up won't alleviate your arm problem. Try changing strings, you'd be surprised at how different strings make a huge difference to your arm.

 

[Jackson Heights]

Seems to me you bought the wrong frame. Leading it up won't alleviate your arm problem. Try changing strings, you'd be surprised at how different strings make a huge difference to your arm.

Actually I used Wilson NXT, 16 gauge, which is fairly soft. Medium tension. I never had problems with that string before. I think my elbow hurt because the racket was light and therefore I swung faster than I usually do.

 

[counterpuncher]

Actually I used Wilson NXT, 16 gauge, which is fairly soft. Medium tension. I never had problems with that string before. I think my elbow hurt because the racket was light and therefore I swung faster than I usually do.

NXT is relatively soft, so apart from the weight issue that you have outlined, the stiffness of the frame (66 ra - from memory) might also be a contributing factor.

 

[sportsmad]

Do you think lead tape will make much difference?I am hoping to make the top 50 or better in Australia this year. Tennis is 99% tecnique and 1% gear you use.dont get caught on the racquets, lead tape, string tension roller coaster.if you are a touring pro than it may make up to 5% differnece but even for us satelite players it doesnt make that much difference.spend your time and effort learning better technique.

 

[Jackson Heights]

I am not hung up about lead tape

Do you think lead tape will make much difference?I am hoping to make the top 50 or better in Australia this year. Tennis is 99% tecnique and 1% gear you use.dont get caught on the racquets, lead tape, string tension roller coaster.if you are a touring pro than it may make up to 5% differnece but even for us satelite players it doesnt make that much difference.spend your time and effort learning better technique.

Well I wasn't talking about becoming a pro. I don't blame the racket if I don't play like Sampras. This was a health issue. I was talking about my elbow hurting from what was probably too light a racket. I thought some lead tape might prevent that. If it is just my poor technique, then why didn't the other rackets I have used hurt my arm? I use the same technique with them. Also, most of the rackets I use have a similar stiffness, in the high 60's, and the other rackets did not bother my elbow. I just played a little better with this racket so I wondered if lead tape might help my elbow - that's all.

And although I know it is not terribly important, I am still curious as to what is the most lead tape, in grams, one could put in at 3 and 9 and still not change the way the racket plays too much. No one seems to have answered that question.