How to Customize Tennis Rackets

There are many tennis racket choices on the market. Finding the one that suits your style and game can be challenging. When you think you have found the right racket, making a few minor adjustments to it might make it an even better fit for you. The easiest way to customize a racket is by adding lead tape to different locations on the racket frame. Lead tape will change its weight, its balance and the sweet-spot location.

Things You'll Need

  • Lead tape
  • Scissors
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Instructions

    • 1

      Apply small strips of lead tape at the racket head's 12 o'clock position to change the swing weight of the racket. Lead tape can be purchased from most online tennis suppliers. Putting tape in this position will make the racket more head heavy and increase your power. Loss of maneuverability will be noticeable. Baseline players like a racket that is head heavy.

    • 2

      Cut small strips of lead tape and put them at the racket head's 6 o'clock position to make the racket slightly heavier, but still maintain the racket's overall balance and stability. Lead tape in this position will result in some loss of racket maneuverability.

    • 3

      Put lead tape at the racket head's 9 and 3 o'clock positions to increase the racket's torsional stability, make it more head heavy and slightly more powerful. Loss of racket maneuverability will be minimal with lead tape at these positions.

    • 4

      Cut small strips of lead tape to add to the racket's handle if you want to make your racket more head light. You will need to remove the current synthetic grip and apply strips of lead tape on the sides of the handle and then reinstall the synthetic grip. It is best not to wrap the handle with lead tape. Serve and volley players tend to like rackets that have more weight at the handle.

    • 5

      Change the location of the sweet spot by placing the lead tape at different locations on the racket head. The sweet spot of a racket is the location on the string bed where hitting the ball feels perfect and solid, with no jarring or vibration. The sweet spot will follow the lead tape. If the tape is at the tip of the racket frame, the sweet spot will move higher. If it's at the 6 o'clock position, the sweet spot will move lower and toward the throat. The sweet spot will widen if the lead tape is placed at the 9 and 3 o'clock positions.