swingweight vs racket weight

[TheLambsheadrep]

when looking at a racket set up, is it swingweight or the racket's weight that that causes it to be "low powered?" Because adding lead tape for a polarized setup allows someone to add less lead weight overall to feel its effects but it increase swingweight more, while a depolarized setup does the opposite...

I know unless you take weight away from the racket, the swingweight will never go down. but adding lead in a depolarized way wont increase swingweight much, if any, according to the TWU customization tool, so would adding weight without increasing swingweight de-power a racket? Could/would it increase spin potential?

btw, is the way TWU gives to measure swingweight the most accurate way to do it?

 

[Fuji]

Your on the right track, but the more depolarized a racket you have, (Tape at 3 And 9) the more inherent power you have because of increased inertia and you can really "pancake" the ball more. More spin, perhaps. But for sure more power because of greater stability.

(This is all from my personal experience by the way, take it with a grain of salt.)

-Fuji

 

[TheLambsheadrep]

where TWU wants me to add lead so far is at 7.5 inches up the handle, id prob put additional weight in/around the handle. i think that would add minimal swingweight, would it still be considered adding lead in a depolarized way? so with no weight added to the hoop, could or would that decrease power and/or increase spin potential?

 

[Fuji]

I think that because your making it more HL, your making it more whippy and thus creating a bit more spin potential? I always add my weight 7 inches at the handle, don't ask me why. I'm a bit strange with that.

-Fuji

 

[TheLambsheadrep]

all I want to accomplish with adding lead is getting the specs on my rackets the same, and to decrease power and increase spin potential, plain and simple. I thought it would be easier to find out than this haha.

my friend I worked with last summer said the majority of his racket's weight was in the handle, so he could whip up on the ball, more easily creating spin. that def makes sense, so I can see how that could qualify as more spin potential. but would it also decrease the frames power so I can use more of my own, or at least keep the power where it is even when i add the lead weight?

thinking about it now, its interesting the Prestige is considered the lowest powered, yet is the heaviest, Head racket in the popular line.

 

[Fuji]

Well adding any weight to the head, will increase power I believe.

Adding LOTS of weight to the handle will make it way more whippy and thus have less plowthrough, so less inherent power, but it might be a bit unstable as a result.

-Fuji

 

[TheLambsheadrep]

i think i am going to focus with lead on the handle to keep the swingweight from increasing no more than just slightly. if it becomes unstable, I will add some tape in the hoop and see what it feels like. thank you fuji, you have been very helpful when others in the forum who know about this topic very well have not helped much

I have 2 Radical TT Tours at 9pts headlight and 12.6oz, I prob wont alter them. but the one that's 12oz and 6pts headlight will prob get matched to the first two

My Ti. Carbons will be changed either to match the 12oz Radical TT Tour (which wouldnt be changed in that case) or the 12.6oz Radicals.

 

[Fuji]

For sure!

If it does become unstable, add lead at 3 and 9. Even just a smidgen goes a long way for stability.

Good luck with the altering! I love doing it to my rackets, and I think it's a fun hobby within a hobby!

-Fuji

 

[spaceman_spiff]

Adding weight to the handle doesn't make a frame more unstable. Stability on groundstrokes comes from the amount of weight in the head, and stability on volleys is a combination of weight in the head and weight lower down (throat and handle). The only way to decrease stability is to take weight away.

The same is true about power. The only way to decrease power without messing with strings is to take weight away from the head of the racket. Any weight added to the head will increase power, and any weight added to the handle will only change the timing of your swings, which may or may not be a good thing for you (some people do better with more HL balance, and some people do worse).

Now, adding a lot of weight might result in dramatically lower swing speeds if you are unable to handle it. That in itself is not a decrease in power per se, it's just a decrease in your ability to swing the racket.

If your 12 oz Radical has a similar SW to the heavier two, then that means it simply has less weight in the handle and throat. If you want them to match, gradually add weight to the handle until you get the balance you're looking for. Then, if it's still a bit lighter than the others, add a bit of weight in the throat until they match.

 

[TennisCJC]

Find the TW racket customization tool to show how lead at different locations impacts SW, twistweight (TW) and Plow. If you know your rackets length, static weight, TW, and SW; the tool will show you how lead at certain locations will change each. TW is not required as an input to the tool but it will show TW changes if you have the original TW. You can get TW and the other spec info for most rackets from the TW power zone screen in the TW University.

My experience and supported by the tool is:

Weight high on the frame say above the 24 inch line (positions 10/2 or noon) from the butt, increase SW the most - more than weight at 3/9 or 6 position.

Weight in the handle say at 6 inches from the butt or lower has practically no impact on SW but it does change the balance to more HL and increase the static weight. Primary I use handle weight for balance changes as it seems to have no or hardly any impact on power or stability. Handle weight is good to offset weight added to the head to maintain the rackets original balance point.

Weight at 3/9 position increases TW more than weight at noon/10/2 as the wieght is usually 4-5 inches from the center of the stringbed. A higher TW is good on off center hits as the racket tends to flutter less. Position 3/9 provides a more stable, comfortable hitting area.

Weight at noon/10/2/3/9 all seem to increase power to me.

I think SW is far more important than static weight in determine power, stability, size of sweetspot, and manueverability of a racket.

Check out this thread for info on customizing your racket
http://tt.tennis-warehouse.com/showthread.php?t=309803&highlight=lead+tape+customization

 

[TheLambsheadrep]

Find the TW racket customization tool to show how lead at different locations impacts SW, twistweight (TW) and Plow. If you know your rackets length, static weight, TW, and SW; the tool will show you how lead at certain locations will change each. TW is not required as an input to the tool but it will show TW changes if you have the original TW. You can get TW and the other spec info for most rackets from the TW power zone screen in the TW University.

My experience and supported by the tool is:

Weight high on the frame say above the 24 inch line (positions 10/2 or noon) from the butt, increase SW the most - more than weight at 3/9 or 6 position.

Weight in the handle say at 6 inches from the butt or lower has practically no impact on SW but it does change the balance to more HL and increase the static weight. Primary I use handle weight for balance changes as it seems to have no or hardly any impact on power or stability. Handle weight is good to offset weight added to the head to maintain the rackets original balance point.

Weight at 3/9 position increases TW more than weight at noon/10/2 as the wieght is usually 4-5 inches from the center of the stringbed. A higher TW is good on off center hits as the racket tends to flutter less. Position 3/9 provides a more stable, comfortable hitting area.

Weight at noon/10/2/3/9 all seem to increase power to me.

I think SW is far more important than static weight in determine power, stability, size of sweetspot, and manueverability of a racket.

Check out this thread for info on customizing your racket
http://tt.tennis-warehouse.com/showthread.php?t=309803&highlight=lead+tape+customization

ya, ive been all over the TWU tool and that link, trying to get all the info I can. since one of my Ti. Carbons has a very different balance point than the other two, I don't know if I can ever get the specs exactly the same - but as of now that one would only be .1oz heavier and .5pts more headheavy. i dont think I would be able to tell that difference anyway since before I found the exact specs I never felt the original differences in the first place.