Lead tape on Junior racket

[ChanK]

My 10 yr old son is using Pure Drive 26'' (250g) as of now. He is around 150cm and now I'm considering to buy him 27'' model, maybe Pure Strike Lite(265g) or Pure Aero Lite(270g).

He plays tournament matches regulary and he is one of the best player in the region/nation. I think he will need at least 2 identical rackets for the matches but he will need 280~300g soon maybe in a few year.

If I buy 265g model, can I add lead tape later up to 280g or even up to 300g making it almost identical with PS 16x19 model if I put them properly? Or it becomes totally different racket?

I just don’t sure if it would be the best idea to buy 2 identical models for the growing junior player in this early age, and maybe I can try to buy Lite & Team model mix not identical model at the same time.

 

[esgee48]

Really light frames have different layups to their slightly heavier cousins. I believe they will flex and feel differently even if you match mass, balance, SW. If you’re afraid he will break string during match and have no backup, you’re going to have to bite the bullet and get him 2. Or restring his one racquet before each match. I am assuming he is still on Nylon SG, so have him get use to 1.35mm or 1.30 mm. If you learn to string, a competent string job can be done by amateur in 50-60 minutes. A good pro could do it in 20-30 minutes but it will cost you. Not sure jr tournaments have stringers on site.

 

[esgee48]

Since he is about 5’ tall, I would opt for the PA Lite or PA Team. Tail weight the strung frames to at least 32 cm balance or less. Just adding another option. Perhaps buy used pair.

 

[TennisCJC]

buy 2 of the same model and year rackets if your son is competitive at national level. If he out grows the frames every year, it will get expensive but he will be using adult rackets soon and then I would buy 2 or 3 of the same model and he can use them for 2 to 4 years or possibly longer. You might want to invest in a stringer and learn how to replace grommets and customize rackets to match them at his desired specs.

 

[LOBALOT]

If he is playing competitively then yes you should have 2 of the same racquet and yes most likely you will be buying new bigger racquets every year or so as he transitions into his teenage years and eventually moves toward upper juniors. During that transition you will see that he will probably need more than 2 racquets.

I also agree that if this is his sport you had better buy a stringer that you can consistently / repeatably string racquets on otherwise the money you spend a ton for someone else to string his racquets then having the machine pay for itself by having you do it at a savings.