Measuring balance

[Rogael Naderer]

I can't believe how much I'm thinking in to this, but regarding the table and tape measure method.

I usually nudge my racquet along the table edge until it just teeters on the edge and the butt cap slightly raises up.

Now, here is my query, surely I am underestimating the balance point as:

a) I am not actually balancing the racquet (as I would be able to on a board) I'm in fact having to go a little beyond the BP to allow the racquet head to begin to drop toward the floor.

b) The butt cap is raised anway meaning that to see the handle lift slightly I am again having to go beyond the balance point (push the head of the racquet futher out from the table).

So, if my assumptions are true I am measuring my sticks at slightly more HL than they actually are? (perhaps 5mm or so too HL?).

Ridiculously precisionist I know, but hey!

 

[jimbo333]

I can't believe how much I'm thinking to this, but regarding the table. and tape measure method.

I usually nudge my racquet along the table edge until it just teeters on the edge and the butt cap slightly raises up.

Now, here is my query, surely I am underestiamting the balcne point as:

a) I am not catually balance the racquet (as I would be able to on a board) I'm in fact having to go a little beyond the BP to allow the racquet head to begin to drop toward the floor.

b) The butt cap is raised anway meaning that to see the handle lift slightly I am again having to go beyond the balance point (push the head of the racquet futher out from the table).

So, if my assumptions are true I am measuring my sitkcs at slightly more HL than they actually are? (perhaps 5mm or so too HL?).

Ridiculously precisionist I know, but hey!

I do a similar thing when measuring the balance, only I have the head on the table and the grip end sticking out over the end of the table. So when I reach the balance point, the grip end dips slightly and I measure from the slightly dipping buttcap end to the edge of the table.

Basically I'm doing the same as you, but just the other way around. It is quite accurate to maybe +-3mm I would say. So actually not that accurate I suppose. I really should buy (or at least make) a proper balance board!

 

[fuzz nation]

I use that same method with the head of my racquets hanging off the edge of the table or counter top. Once I get to the 1/8" mark where the racquet begins to tip over the edge (and would fall off without my catching it), I figure that the balance is basically at that spot minus one point of balance.

Maybe a balance board is more precise, but this method is fine for me. It's easy enough for me to compare the balance of different racquets this way and get an accurate enough impression of the balance point for whatever I'm doing. When I'm trying to get two of my racquets more or less matched in terms of balance, this method gets it done for me. No matter what, the final test for me happens on the courts anyway.

 

[spinovic]

I use that same method with the head of my racquets hanging off the edge of the table or counter top. Once I get to the 1/8" mark where the racquet begins to tip over the edge (and would fall off without my catching it), I figure that the balance is basically at that spot minus one point of balance.

Maybe a balance board is more precise, but this method is fine for me. It's easy enough for me to compare the balance of different racquets this way and get an accurate enough impression of the balance point for whatever I'm doing. When I'm trying to get two of my racquets more or less matched in terms of balance, this method gets it done for me. No matter what, the final test for me happens on the courts anyway.

I agree. Maybe a balance board would be more precise, but I'd rather use the money on something else because the table method is good enough for me.

And, BTW, I use the other method - with the handle hanging off the table. Just found it makes the measurement a little easier for me.

My SW calculating probably isn't the most precise either, but it works good enough for me. And, the main thing is doing it consistently so you know you can trust similar numbers mean the racquets are similar. The actual precise number doesn't matter so much to me.

 

[BlueB]

Do it both ways and split the difference - that should be dead accurate.

 

[Muppet]

I use a wooden kitchen mixing spoon and shift the racquet back and forth slightly until I'm satisfied that I've reached the balance point. I find a marking on the frame (due to graphics or specs) and measure to there from the buttcap. Since I do it the same way every time and I'm not "skewing the data" while measuring the balance, with what I want the balance to be, I can get very precise measurements. Accurate though? That depends on what you want the balance to be, and requires more modding of the frame.

 

[jimbo333]

I agree. Maybe a balance board would be more precise, but I'd rather use the money on something else because the table method is good enough for me.

And, BTW, I use the other method - with the handle hanging off the table. Just found it makes the measurement a little easier for me.

My SW calculating probably isn't the most precise either, but it works good enough for me. And, the main thing is doing it consistently so you know you can trust similar numbers mean the racquets are similar. The actual precise number doesn't matter so much to me.

Interesting, so that's 2 of us hanging the head off the table, and 2 hanging the handle off the table, so far at least. I don't suppose it makes any difference which way, but I find it easier to measure it with the handle hanging off the table as well.