Matching rackets.

[Rudi Bergner]

This isn’t new, but I have an issue about matching two rackets.
I have one with 297g and 31.5cm balance
And other with 298g and 32cm balance.
(I’m not really sure I could measure the balance the right way but the weight is correct)
I was enjoying the 297g one but then I got used to the other aswell and I liked the extra plow ( the difference is not much but it’s not hard to feel the difference).

I don’t know if I use 1g of lead on the head on the lighter one or match the balance first, that meaning I’ll have to add weight to both... just because I like it a little more headlight.

For example, how much will the swing weight increase if I add like 5 grams on the end of the handle?

thanks

 

[Dufur719]

You have to measure swingweight first, sw doesn't increase if you add weight in the handle, but the further away from your hand you place the weight the more it increases (3.4sw points at 12 for standard length rackets)

 

[esgee48]

"how much will the swing weight increase if I add like 5 grams on the end of the handle? "
Very little, << 1 kg-cm², since the mass is below your hand. Mass will increase and balance will be affected.

Based on you starting point, I doubt you could get the 297 gr frame to match the 298 gr frame in terms of balance and mass. You could match the 2 frames by mass and balance if your goal was 302 gr and 31.5 cm balance. Use this http://twu.tennis-warehouse.com/learning_center/customization.php

 

[Rudi Bergner]

"how much will the swing weight increase if I add like 5 grams on the end of the handle? "
Very little, << 1 kg-cm², since the mass is below your hand. Mass will increase and balance will be affected.

Based on you starting point, I doubt you could get the 297 gr frame to match the 298 gr frame in terms of balance and mass. You could match the 2 frames by mass and balance if your goal was 302 gr and 31.5 cm balance. Use this http://twu.tennis-warehouse.com/learning_center/customization.php

How can I really add weight on the handle at the exact location ahah? I pretend to add at the bottom, at the butcap, but the tool has multiple locations regarding the handle.

 

[esgee48]

Using the tool on the 298 gr frame, you need to add 4 gr at the 5 cm mark. Using the tool on the 297 gr frame, add 5 gr at the 27 cm. Both will be now at 302 gr and 31.5 cm balance.

 

[Rudi Bergner]

Using the tool on the 298 gr frame, you need to add 4 gr at the 5 cm mark. Using the tool on the 297 gr frame, add 5 gr at the 27 cm. Both will be now at 302 gr and 31.5 cm balance.

yes that’s right, but my issue is how do you know exactly where you are adding weight inside the handle. Since I plan to do it removing the butcap, it’s probably preety hard to apply the weight at 5 cm.

 

[esm]

yes that’s right, but my issue is how do you know exactly where you are adding weight inside the handle. Since I plan to do it removing the butcap, it’s probably preety hard to apply the weight at 5 cm.

Best to take the base grip off and wrap the thin lead tape on the pallet. Then replace the base grip and the OG if you use one.

 

[Rudi Bergner]

Best to take the base grip off and wrap the thin lead tape on the pallet. Then replace the base grip and the OG if you use one.

Ok, makes sense. I recently struggled with getting the right grip size for me ahah... so maybe that will increase the thickness of the handle I guess. I believe it’s minimal, let’s see.

 

[esgee48]

You are making life hard on yourself. 298 to 303 requires 5 gr at 11 cm which is above the handle. Balance is 31.5 cm. 297 to 303 requires 6 gr at 25 cm and also gives 31.5 cm balance.

 

[golden chicken]

I personally have trouble replacing base grips as nicely as I would like to, so I would leave the base grip on and just wrap my overgrip over the lead tape. I wouldn't even take the backing off the tape.

 

[Dragy]

You are making life hard on yourself. 298 to 303 requires 5 gr at 11 cm which is above the handle. Balance is 31.5 cm. 297 to 303 requires 6 gr at 25 cm and also gives 31.5 cm balance.

That's cool but without checking SW first it's just random tinkering.

 

[Irvin]

@Rudi Bergner let me get this straight. What are you trying to match weight, balance, or both? 297 / 298 seems pretty light are these rackets strung? Are these 2 rackets the same or different models?

Or are you just looking for a method to match weight and balance?

 

[esgee48]

That's cool but without checking SW first it's just random tinkering.

Very true. But the tinkering he wants will increase SW minimally

 

[Dragy]

Very true. But the tinkering he wants will increase SW minimally

Yes, but SW of frames might be quite different at the moment. And not making it closer keeps racquets from becoming matched.

 

[Irvin]

If @Rudi Bergner is not sure he can measure balance how is he going to measure SW?

I’m not really sure I could measure the balance the right way but the weight is correct

 

[Dragy]

If @Rudi Bergner is not sure he can measure balance how is he going to measure SW?

Do a bit of researh and reading? We've all started being not sure how to do this or that...
Or visit someone with RDC machine?

 

[Irvin]

Do a bit of researh and reading? We've all started being not sure how to do this or that...
Or visit someone with RDC machine?

I couldn’t agree more but first I think he should focus on weight and balance. If they doesn’t work for him and he wants to go to the next level more power to him. I’ve found many players are happy matching weight and balance.

 

[Dragy]

I couldn’t agree more but first I think he should focus on weight and balance. If they doesn’t work for him and he wants to go to the next level more power to him. I’ve found many players are happy matching weight and balance.

For simplest solution, I'd add 1g to the lighter one and see if it now matches the "extra plow" of the heavier one. If not yet, go with another 1g. Ang not care for balance, as they are actually quite close already, and will be even closer after that 1-2-3g applied to 12 o'clock area.

 

[Irvin]

The OP would have to add 2.65 g to the lighter one at 68 cm to get the balance up to 32.0 cm. Then to match the second add 1.65 g at 32 cm. Both rackets would then weigh 299.65 w/32 cm balance. The lighter one’s SW increases by 8.9 pts and the heavier racket’s SW goes up 0.8 pts.

 

[esm]

The OP would have to add 2.65 g to the lighter one at 68 cm to get the balance up to 32.0 cm. Then to match the second add 1.65 g at 32 cm. Both rackets would then weigh 299.65 w/32 cm balance. The lighter one’s SW increases by 8.9 pts and the heavier racket’s SW goes up 0.8 pts.

lol - i think you are just further complicating things with the 2.65g and 1.65g of weight...... this means the OP may need to get a new scale for those finer weight readings...

 

[Irvin]

lol - i think you are just further complicating things with the 2.65g and 1.65g of weight...... this means the OP may need to get a new scale for those finer weight readings...

I have found that 1 g of 1/4” lead tape is 11 cm long without the backing. So 2.65 g of lead tape would be 11x2.65 = 29.15 cm long. No need for a scale, I would just put 2 7.3 cm strips stacked on each side of the racket. For the racket that needs 1.65 g I’d add 4 4.5 cm strips inside the throat.

 

[esm]

I have found that 1 g of 1/4” lead tape is 11 cm long without the backing. So 2.65 g of lead tape would be 11x2.65 = 29.15 cm long. No need for a scale, I would just put 2 7.3 cm strips stacked on each side of the racket. For the racket that needs 1.65 g I’d add 4 4.5 cm strips inside the throat.

lol - you are adding another layer of complication for the OP.
so... i have different lead tape with different densities, so 1g of 1/4" lead tapes i have will give me 2 different lengths.....
unless you can specify exactly which brand of lead team you were referring to, so the OP maybe able to get the exact the same one, to archive the 2.65g and 1.65g weights you have suggested.....

 

[esgee48]

OP said he liked the plow of the 298 frame. And that means he wanted to get the 297 frame up to there if possible. That's the way I read it.

 

[Irvin]

OP said he liked the plow of the 298 frame. And that means he wanted to get the 297 frame up to there if possible. That's the way I read it.

Agreed, that’s the way I read it too. I think adding ~9 pts of SW to the 297 racket may just do that. While matching the weight and balance of the 298 only add ~1 pt so there isn’t much change.

 

[Rudi Bergner]

If @Rudi Bergner is not sure he can measure balance how is he going to measure SW?

I’ll do it with some one that has a proper machine to do this kind of jobs. I just tried to do it with a stick and a measuring strip?..

 

[Rudi Bergner]

Yup my doubt is, I prefered the lighter one wich is balanced more towards the handle, but I liked the extra plow and swingweight of the other racket.

my doubt, is, if I match The balance of the 298 (making it more headlight but not reducing the swingweight) will I like the feeling like the lighter one because it will have the same balance or, because the swingweight won’t be lower, I’ll feel it less maneuverable anyway? Like I feel right now comparing to the lighter one.

I feel thats the way because I liked the balance of the lighter one.

the values are not that different anyway but yeah... that’s it ahah.

 

[golden chicken]

The best way is to have both rackets put on an RDC machine to give you weight, balance, and swingweight numbers. Then you can adjust one or both to make them match. My guess is that you have a difference in swingweight that is much more significant than your difference in balance or mass.

 

[Dragy]

Yup my doubt is, I prefered the lighter one wich is balanced more towards the handle, but I liked the extra plow and swingweight of the other racket.

my doubt, is, if I match The balance of the 298 (making it more headlight but not reducing the swingweight) will I like the feeling like the lighter one because it will have the same balance or, because the swingweight won’t be lower, I’ll feel it less maneuverable anyway? Like I feel right now comparing to the lighter one.

I feel thats the way because I liked the balance of the lighter one.

the values are not that different anyway but yeah... that’s it ahah.

If you want the one with more plow to feel more whippy, throw 10g of lead to above the handle (below the throat) and check how you like it after couple of hours of adjustment. Gather your own experience regarding some basic mods.

 

[tlm]

This isn’t new, but I have an issue about matching two rackets.
I have one with 297g and 31.5cm balance
And other with 298g and 32cm balance.
(I’m not really sure I could measure the balance the right way but the weight is correct)
I was enjoying the 297g one but then I got used to the other aswell and I liked the extra plow ( the difference is not much but it’s not hard to feel the difference).

I don’t know if I use 1g of lead on the head on the lighter one or match the balance first, that meaning I’ll have to add weight to both... just because I like it a little more headlight.

For example, how much will the swing weight increase if I add like 5 grams on the end of the handle?

thanks

The balance is easy to check. Measure the length of the racket which usually is close to 27”. Then mark the center at 13 1/2” now you need to balance the racket on a even surface. I use a 3 sided ruler I move racket on ruler until balanced then measure how far it is from your ruler to the center mark on your racket each 1/8” is one point.

if the racket is head light then there will be more of the head of the racket past the ruler. If you measure from the center balance point and there is a half inch more of the head of the racket past center point then your racket is 4 points headlight. It’s very simple once you get the hang of it and a waste of money to purchase a balance board for checking balance.

 

[tlm]

This is how I match the weight and balance of my rackets which I almost always have to do because rarely do two of the same rackets end up the same weight and balance.

If I have two rackets and one is heavier then I add weight to match. First lets say the lighter racket is 3 grams lighter so I will get even strips of lead tape that equals 3 grams. Then I will get the exact balance of the heavier racket and then take the lighter racket and move the 3 grams around until it matches the balance of the heavier racket.

Then I will attach the tape on those locations and now both rackets weigh the same and have matching balance. This is very accurate and easy to do in a few minutes as long as you have a scale and know how to measure the balance of your rackets.

 

[Rudi Bergner]

Thanks guys.
I tend to be very meticulous about this things but like everything, it’s starts to have more meaning if you do it yourself, and yes it’s about measuring the balance and weight until it’s the same. I’ll try it

and the tool is very nice aswell

thanks guys