Customizing Racquet Weight & Balance
Many of today’s touring pros play with customized racquets. Whether these players have their racquets customized during manufacturing
(extra graphite reinforcement, weight, balance, handle shape, etc.) or after-market, they want racquets tailor-made for their needs.
There’s no reason why you can’t do the same. More and more, we’re finding non-professional players benefitting from this
"tweaking" of their racquets to improve performance. From matching racquets to increasing overall weight, increasing torsional
stability, raising the racquet’s sweetspot or counter-balancing a head-heavy racquet to make it head-light - all levels of players are
finding benefit in customizing their racquets’ weight and balance.
In most cases customizing your racquet’s weight and balance is a reversible procedure - if you don’t like it, you can simply remove
the lead tape that you added. This makes it possible to experiment with different amounts and placements of lead tape to find the
"spec" that is just right for your game.
Tools You’ll Need
Postal Scale
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Preferably one that reads in 1-2 gram increments for measuring racquets and lead tape. Model shown below is the Pelouze PE-5,
available at Staples for $65. Other brands available include O-Haus and Sunbeam.
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Balance Board
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Balance Board, or you can also make your own balance board, using a dowel and yardstick.
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Staple Gun
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Necessary for re-installing butt cap if adding weight inside the handle. Arrow T-50 is acceptable for racquets with polyurethane foam
handles and is available for about $20 through Home Depot. Racquets with graphite or composite handles require a more powerful staple
gun. Sears’ Craftsman 9 Volt Staple Gun is $99 and will penetrate any handle type.
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Hot Glue Gun
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For attaching lead weights to inside of handle. About $15 through Home Depot.
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Lead Tape Techniques
Lead Tape Basics
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Lead tape comes in 1/2 inch and 1/4 inch widths. 1 inch of 1/2 inch wide lead tape weighs .5 grams (1 inch of 1/4 inch lead tape
weighs .25 grams). If adding small amounts of weight, it’s best to either cut the 1/2 inch tape in half (lengthwise) or use 1/4
inch tape. This width fits nicely between the existing grommets and the frame edge. If adding substantial weight inside the rim,
it’s more convenient to remove the grommet strips and/or bumper, use 1/2 inch wide lead tape and punch holes with an awl to
accomodate the grommets. If using this method, be sure to punch the holes from the opposite side and snip off the punched pieces of
lead to avoid having them come loose inside the frame. Finish making the holes from the grommet side and replace the grommet/bumper.
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Applying Lead Tape
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Keep lead tape strips short (no longer than 6 inches) to best achieve your objective. If necessary, you can add more layers to reach
your weight objective. Pete Sampras’ racquet has 4-5 layers of lead tape at 3 and 9 o’clock.
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Why Add Weight?
The following are general guidelines for adding weight to meet certain objectives. Many players "mix & match", depending on their racquet's
current specifications and what they're trying to achieve. Players with two or more of the same racquet can also match the weight and balance
of each racquet by adding weight - see our Racquet Matching section below.
Torsional Stability
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This is one of the most common reasons for adding weight to a frame. Placing weight at the sides (3 & 9 o’clock) not
only makes the racquet heavier, but will help reduce frame twisting, or torque, during off-center hits. Power will also be
increased for most players. We don’t recommend adding more weight in the upper hoop on head-heavy (Hammer-type) racquets,
unless counter-weighting is added in the handle. We’ll talk more about this later.
Start with about 10 grams, which will be divided into 4 strips of lead tape, weighing 2.5 grams each. If using 1/2 inch wide
tape, each strip will measure 5 inches in length (1 inch = 1/2 gram). If using 1/4 inch wide lead tape, you’ll need to
layer 2 of these 5 inch strips at each location, cutting the top strip slightly shorter. This allows you to more easily identify
how much lead tape is on a particular racquet.
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You can keep adding layers until you find the right combination of weight, balance and swingweight.
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Raising a Racquet’s Sweetspot
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Traditionally weighted (11-12 ounces) and balanced (1/2 to 1-1/2 inches head-light) racquets have their sweetspot located in the
center or lower center of the stringbed. Many players tend to hit the ball high in the stringbed, though, resulting in lackluster
power and irritating frame vibration or "flutter". Adding weight at 2 and 10 o’clock will effectively raise the
racquet’s sweetspot*, making shots hit high in the stringbed feel much more solid, while at the same time increasing torsional
stability (albeit, less than with weight applied at 3 and 9 o’clock). If you’re not sure where you most often contact the
ball on your strings, look for a wear pattern, in the form of ball fuzz. If this still isn’t revealing enough, you can stencil
your stringbed (suggested on old strings and old balls!) and then go out and hit balls. A wear pattern will quickly appear. Again, we
don’t recommend adding weight in the upper hoop of lightweight, head-heavy racquets. The sweetspot on these racquets is already
higher than with traditionally weighted and balanced racquets. Adding more weight in this area will only make these racquets more
head-heavy and increase their swingweight, resulting in an inordinantly head-heavy, high swingweight racquet.
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Lead tape located at 2 and 10 o'clock
Lead tape located at 3 and 9 o'clock
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Increasing Swingweight with Minimal Added Weight
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Players seeking to make a racquet swing heavier, without substantially increasing overall weight should add 5-10 grams of lead tape
at the 12 o’clock position, or racquet tip.
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Increasing Weight Without Changing Balance
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Some players seek to simply make their racquets heavier without altering static balance. To increase overall racquet weight and
retain the same balance, add weight in the throat, or 6 o’clock position. This will slightly increase swingweight, though,
making the racquet a little less maneuverable.
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Counter Weighting Head-Heavy Racquets
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More and more players who have purchased lightweight (8-10 ounces), head-heavy racquets are experimenting with counter weighting
to reduce head-heaviness and increase overall weight. Counter weighting is, as the name implies, simply adding weight to the
opposite end of the racquet where most of the weight already exists. On head-heavy racquets, this means adding weight to the
handle area. Again, this is a fairly straightforward procedure but does require removing the grip and butt cap. We also suggest
using lead fishing weights rather than lead tape. The fishing weights come in various sizes and these weights are denser than
lead tape.
There are a few racquets that won’t allow for adding weight inside the handle, which is the procedure outlined below. They
typically feature some sort of handle system for dampening frame shock & vibration. For these racquets, including Pro
Kennex's Kinetic models, you’ll need to add weight by wrapping lead tape around the top of the handle.
Once you’ve determined the amount of counter weight you want to apply, remove the grip and butt cap. If you are working
with a polyurethane foam handle, it may be necessary to dig out some foam material to make room for the lead weights. Do this
very carefully, using a long, narrow screwdriver. Hollow graphite handles won’t usually require much, if any, preparation
for adding weight.
Again, racquets featuring built-in dampening systems may not allow for adding weight inside the handle. These include Head's
ShockStop, Pro Kennex's Kinetic System, Prince's ShockEraser Insert, etc.
If you’re experimenting with counter-weighting, you’ll want to start with a reversible procedure that allows you to
remove any added weight. This is outlined in Method 1. If you are certain of the weight you want to add in the handle, follow
Method 2.
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Counter-Weighting Method 1
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For this procedure, you’ll need a roll of absorbent cotton, the kind used in bandaging wounds. Start by stuffing cotton
down both openings and packing it in tightly until there is about 2 inches of space left. Wrap the desired amount of fishing
weight(s) in enough cotton so as to keep it from rattling against the side walls and insert into the handle. It must be small
enough, however, to still fit inside the opening.
Fill the remaining space with cotton, packing tightly and loosely replace the butt cap. Shake the racquet, hitting it against
your hand to check for rattles. If the weights are hitting the side walls of the handle, remove and repack them in cotton and
replace, being sure to fill in the top with cotton. Check again by tapping the racquet against your hand (fairly hard). If no
rattles are apparent, secure the butt cap with a staple gun and rewrap the grip. Re-weigh and balance the racquet and record
these numbers. Over time, the weights may work loose and start rattling, which is why we also offer a more permanent procedure.
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Counter-Weighting Method 2
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If you’ve already counter-weighted your racquet, using Method 1 and/or you’re certain of the amount of weight you
want to add, this method bonds the weights to the handle for more permanent counter-weight. For this procedure, you’ll need
a hot glue gun and/or epoxy resin.
Similar to Method 1, start by stuffing cotton down both openings and packing it in tightly until there is about 2 inches of space
left. Insert a small amount of hot glue or epoxy into the handle. Place the desired amount of fishing weights inside the open
handle,and surround the weights with hot glue or epoxy.
Allow to dry overnight before replacing butt cap and grip. If desired, you can add lead tape to other areas of the frame to
fine-tune the racquet’s weight, balance and swingweight.
*A racquet’s sweetspot will move toward the area weight is being applied.
I encourage you to experiment with customizing the weight and balance of your racquet. You’ll know when you’ve found
just the right formula....and so will your opponent!
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Racquet Matching
If you are playing competitive tennis, or simply want the best performance from your racquets, racquet matching is essential. Starting with two
or more like racquets, matching weight and balance will take your customization to the next level. Using the methods above, establish the
weight and balance of your racquets. Record the measured specs of each racquet on a piece of paper and attach it to the racquet (either with
some tape to the frame or with a rubber band around the handle). Once you have recorded the weight and balance of each racquet, there will
likely be a slight difference in the measurements you have taken.
Correcting The Difference
While it is not impossible to reduce weight in a racquet, adding weight is much easier. If you have two or more racquets, making each racquet
feel and play like the heaviest one is the easiest way to go.
As stated above, you can change the balance of your racquets by adding weight to various areas of the frame. If you have two racquets with the
same balance, but different weights, simply add some lead tape to the throat area of the lighter racquet to bring it up to spec with the
heavier racquet. Establish the amount of weight required and cut sufficient lead tape to add the required weight. Remember: 1 inch of 1/2 inch
wide lead tape weighs .5 grams, while 1 inch of 1/4 inch lead tape weighs .25 grams.
If the balance points are slightly off, you will have to add weight to either the handle or the head of the lighter racquet to correct the
difference. If after correcting the difference in balance, one racquet is still lighter, simply follow the directions above to add weight to
the throat area of the lighter racquet.
With your racquets matched for weight and balance, treat each one to a fresh set of your favorite string and you'll be ready to hit the
tournament circuit.
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