Techniques said:
Ok, I'm a junior whos 13. I want to make my Liquidmetal Heat more heavier. I want to know how to apply the lead tape like do you cut it into strips? How big are the strips? Also where should I add my lead tape to? ALso how do you work out the balance of the racquet?
Hi techniques!
Here is a great link found under the "Learning Center" link at TW. I'm sure if you're already interested in customizing your frames, you might want to find more (rather basic) info on other tennis related gear there...
http://www.tennis-warehouse.com/LC/Customizing/customize.html
This link goes about most basic information. As far as if you want to make your LM Heat heavier without changing the racquet too much, just add lead strips at right around the balance point. Others will (probably) recommend you add some in the head, then in the handle to counter balance, but i find that changes the characteristics of the racquet much more than just leading up the throat. It all depends on what you want to achieve.
A few basic rules of thumb that i follow (these are not laws or anything
)
I keep my lead tape strips under 6 inches
3'oclock and 9 o' clock (looking at your frame, handle pointing down, as a "clock" face) add stability (torsional)
10/2 add stability and give a little more swing weight
12 o' clock adds swingweight (maximum)
Adding weight under the half-point on your frame will improve it's mobility, but not it's swing weight (my opinion, this is definitely NOT shared by everyone)
Adding lead tape increases swing weight
The sweet spot moves towards the weight. Adding tape at 3/9 will keep the sweet spot around the same spot, higher spots like 10/2 will move the sweet spot upwards.
As far as finding the "balance point," or, how many points HH or HL your racquet is, you take the length of the racquet and divide it by 2. This is your middle point. If your racquet balances lower or higher determines if it's head heavy or head light. It is common to use a dowel or other round object to balance if you don't want to buy a balancing board.
Post offices typically have scales accurate to .1 oz, if you want a cheap method to find all the specs of your racquet, that, as well as the dowel will get you going.
Good luck!
If you have any more specific questions, post away
