Racquet weighting experts--Please Help!!!

[mfactor]

I have a Babolat Pure Drive (standard), and I would like to increase the weight of the racquet while keeping all the same specs (Swingweight etc.)

Currents Info. on racquet:
Weight: 11.2 oz./ 318g
Swingweight: 310
5pts head light

I would like the following specs on the racquet:
Weight: 12.6 oz/357g (Prostaff 6.1 weight)
swingweight: 310
5pts head light

Is there anyone who could tell me exactly where to add the lead tape to the racquet, as well as how much to add? Is this even possible to do on the racquet? What type of lead tape should I use? (I normally use Unique brand).

Thanks

 

[HeavyBall]

First, everything you want is not possible. Adding lead will increase the swingweight, regardless. If you want to increase SW as little as possible, you must add all of the weight to the handle. The balance point, however, will be considerably more headlight. If you want to keep the balance point, add all the weight to the throat (point of balance). The balance point will still be 5 pts. HL, but the swingweight will go up pretty considerably.

It's one or the other.

 

[NoBadMojo]

cant be done...310 swingweight in a 12.6 oz frame and keep the same headlightness??.....and if you wish to add this much weight to a frame i think you should look to buy a much heavier frame to begin with...but it will have a much higher swingweight. you cant turn one racquet into another one very well IMO. Ed

 

[@wright]

Can I have my cake AND eat it too?

 

[mfactor]

Ok, well I guess I was a little demanding on the swing weight of the racquet to be the same. However, If I add even amounts of lead tape to the handle and head (3 and 9 positions). Will the balance of 5 pts head light stay the same? I assume that it would. I don't understand why a previous post said that it would not be good to add 1.5 oz to the racquet's overall weight? Could this possibly damage the frame?? The only reason that I ask, is b/c of a case of tennis elbow that I now have, that I did not have when I used a heavier racquet (prostaff 6.1).
Thanks

 

[Gaines Hillix]

mfactor, adding 1.5 ozs of weight to a racquet is doable, but consider that 6" of standard 1/2" lead tape only weighs 3g. An oz is about 28g. If you add half the weight to the head that is still 3/4 oz or 21g. That means you'll need 7 x 6" lengths or 3 on each side of the head plus one 3 each piece on each side. And then you'll need to add that much to the handle. Adding this much tape to the handle could change the grip size and feel of the handle. If you're lucky and the handle is hollow and has a removeable butt cap you could use fishing weights inside the handle(you have to fill the handle with cotton or something similar that is as light as possible and then glue the weight in-place to keep it from vibrating or moving around. I think most people would say that it is better to get a heavier racquet than try to add this much weight.

 

[NoBadMojo]

prob you got the tennis elbow from changing to another frame and changing to one that is known to be unkind to elbows and/or bad mechanics. ed

 

[Plawan]

You could maintain the 5 point HL if you add 19.5g of lead tape at the 3&9 positions and add 19.5g of lead tape to the handle at the same distance from the original balance point to 3&9 position. So you have to figure the distance from the balance point to your handle to add your lead tape. If the distance is about 20 cm, you would increase the SW roughly about 10 points. I don't think 1.5 oz would damage the frame if you put them equally on both sides of the frame.

 

[Plawan]

Sorry, it should be roughly about 70 points aded to your original SW.

 

[shissncg]

I happen to have a very heavy pure drive plus (just over 13oz strung). The handle is the place to add the majority of the weight. Get some 1/2 or 1/4 oz fishing weights, cotton balls, and some hot glue. Put some of the weight in the handle without the glue, then put the racquet on a balnce board at 5pts head light. Add the remainer of the weight to the frame to get the racquet to balance.

 

[Stitch626]

If you add the same amount of weight to the head and the handle, the balance would be the same but the SW will be crazy heavy. I added twice as much weight to the handle as 3&9 on a Pro 1 FT and it felt pretty good. SW felt about the same but with a little more heft. Swingweight should go up no matter how much lead u add unless you put it all in the handle. But then I think that would make it sooo unstable.