I'd like to add some lead tape to my KBlade Tour. Where?

[ogruskie]

I want to add more power to my KBlade Tour, and thought I could achieve that through the application of lead tape. I'm a complete newbie in regards to this, so please help me out?

WHERE should I apply the lead tape?
HOW MUCH should I apply?
If I ever decide to take the lead tape off, will it leave marks on the paintjob?
Would adding weight to the head of the racquet cause tennis elbow/wrist pains?

That's basically it...

 

[Murray_Maniac]

To add more power and stability, I recommend adding it to the 3 & 9 o'clock if you dont want the sweetspot to move up. If you want the sweetspot to move up, add to the 10 & 2 or the 12. However, the 12 makes it most head heavy. Wherever you put it on the head, you may want to counterbalance it by wrapping lead tape to the hande (take off the grips and wrap it around the grip near the buttcap. Then, put on a new replacement grip). You could put on a leather grip instead of a normal one like Wilson tru grip to add even more weight to the handle. I recommend using 1/4 on the head, or cut 1/2 really carefully in half. Use 1/2 on handle.

Remember, one inch of 1/2 weighs .5 g and 1 inch of 1/4 weighs .25 g. For adding tape to the head, a little bit heavier is 3-5 g and a great deal heavier is 10+ g. Dont put on longer than 6 inch strips. If you have to make it heavier in one spot, overlap with another layer.

Lead tape may strip the paint on some racquets, and some may not. On the one that I customized, the Ksix-one team, the paint didn't strip. I think that adding lead only makes pains if you make it too heavy and/or head heavy. & remeber, adding lead on the head takes away some feel from the racquet. If your a feel freak & need a hevy racquet with tons of feel, switch to a naturally heavier racquet such as the K90.

Heres a link to clarify, enjoy! http://www.tennis-warehouse.com/LC/Customizing/customize.html

p.s., dont eat the lead tape

 

[2nd_Serve]

To add more power and stability, I recommend adding it to the 3 & 9 o'clock if you dont want the sweetspot to move up. If you want the sweetspot to move up, add to the 10 & 2 or the 12. However, the 12 makes it most head heavy. Wherever you put it on the head, you may want to counterbalance it by wrapping lead tape to the hande (take off the grips and wrap it around the grip near the buttcap. Then, put on a new replacement grip). You could put on a leather grip instead of a normal one like Wilson tru grip to add even more weight to the handle. I recommend using 1/4 on the head, or cut 1/2 really carefully in half. Use 1/2 on handle.

Remember, one inch of 1/2 weighs .5 g and 1 inch of 1/4 weighs .25 g. For adding tape to the head, a little bit heavier is 3-5 g and a great deal heavier is 10+ g. Dont put on longer than 6 inch strips. If you have to make it heavier in one spot, overlap with another layer.

Lead tape may strip the paint on some racquets, and some may not. On the one that I customized, the Ksix-one team, the paint didn't strip. I think that adding lead only makes pains if you make it too heavy and/or head heavy. & remeber, adding lead on the head takes away some feel from the racquet. If your a feel freak & need a hevy racquet with tons of feel, switch to a naturally heavier racquet such as the K90.

Heres a link to clarify, enjoy! http://www.tennis-warehouse.com/LC/Customizing/customize.html

p.s., dont eat the lead tape

This is a pretty good explanation. And good advice at the end

 

[ogruskie]

What if I only added 1/4 inch strips to the head? 4 strips on all the sides of the head, without any lead in the handle. Would that be bad?

 

[Murray_Maniac]

It would make it more head heavy. If you want to make it like the original balance, then add lead to the handle.

 

[ogruskie]

It would make it more head heavy. If you want to make it like the original balance, then add lead to the handle.

But if its head heavy, then wouldn't it produce more power?

 

[AlpineCadet]

You want to add weight to the frame because you need more power, correct? Maybe you should switch to the kBlade 98 instead of adding so much weight.

 

[ogruskie]

You want to add weight to the frame because you need more power, correct? Maybe you should switch to the kBlade 98 instead of adding so much weight.

I'd rather spend $4 on lead tape rather than paying $189 + strings on a new racquet. Its just a slight difference of cost...

 

[AlpineCadet]

I'd rather spend $4 on lead tape rather than paying $189 + strings on a new racquet. Its just a slight difference of cost...

But you're playing at a self rated 3.5 level with the kBlade Tour 93. Nevermind.

 

[ogruskie]

But you're playing at a self rated 3.5 level with the kBlade Tour 93. Nevermind.

You hurt my feelings.

 

[Murray_Maniac]

But if its head heavy, then wouldn't it produce more power?

Yea, but do you like a head heavy racquet or a head light racquet? Head heavy racquets are harder to swing and may give you arm problems, plus it would probably be too powerful. As long as theres more weight in the head, even if its counterbalanced, will provide more power than originally.

 

[amiG]

Adding weight to the head will make it more powerful, balancing it is very important if you enjoyed the way your blade swung before leading it. I would suggest experimenting, altering your racquet with lead is something I really have to feel out adding and removing the whole time.

I added 1.5 grams of lead at 10 and 2
1.5 grams at 4 and 8
a total of 6 grams in the head.
Then I balanced it out with 6-7 grams at the bottom of the handle, obviously under the leather grip.

It added some really nice stability and pop without sacrificing balance, feels great.

 

[ogruskie]

Coming back to this thread...

I'm paranoid about damaging the paint, so would it be alright to first apply the lead to a piece of electrical tape and THEN putting it on the racquet frame? I guess I'd put an extra layer on top just to hold things down.

Also, is it OK if I put the lead on the actual grip (underneath the overgrips) rather than under the replacement grip?

 

[bertrevert]

For the lead at the grip what you can do is prise open the buttcap trapdoor (use little screwdriver) and roll your lead tape into a coil (keep the backing tape on) or just roll it up into a lead ball, insert some cotton wool first, or scrunched paper, and then put the lead balls in. They shuoldn't get past whatever you put in first so taht they do not go downt he handle (easy enough to get out even if they do).

The lead on the hoop is harder but you should just rest assured that's it's v unlikely the lead will damage the matt black paint anyway, or at least no more than a typical scuff.

Otherwise yeah keep the backing tape on the lead and secure it with electrical or head tape.

Don't think that the lead's glue is nec any heavier or stronger than elec tape so not sure what yr saving there by using the latter...?

Eucalyptus oil gets sticky goo off later...

 

[[d]ragon]

you dont always have to counter balance. depends on how much lead u add. unless u add a crap load, the balance of the racquet wont be affect all that much

 

[ogruskie]

you dont always have to counter balance. depends on how much lead u add. unless u add a crap load, the balance of the racquet wont be affect all that much

Well, I'm going to start with 2 grams to the head. Basically 2 inches of lead on each side of the frame/stringbed. I don't know if thats too much or too little...

 

[AlpineCadet]

Coming back to this thread...

I'm paranoid about damaging the paint, so would it be alright to first apply the lead to a piece of electrical tape and THEN putting it on the racquet frame? I guess I'd put an extra layer on top just to hold things down.

Also, is it OK if I put the lead on the actual grip (underneath the overgrips) rather than under the replacement grip?

Thanks for making my night!

 

[ogruskie]

Never mind.