Customizing Racquet Balance with Lead Tape

Racquets are described as being “__ points head-light” or “__ points head-heavy.” A “point” is ⅛ inch, or 0.3175 cm. Points head-heavy (or head-light) are measured from the midpoint of the racquet’s length, so a balance that is 6 points head-light means that the balance point is ¾ inch toward the butt from the midpoint.

Formula for finding balance point shift: s = d×(m ÷ (M + m)) Derivation

s = shift in balance, in cm d = distance from added weight to original balance point, in cm m = amount of added weight, in grams M = original racquet weight, in grams

This formula finds the balance shift resulting from added weight at the tip, shoulders (9 and 3), or the butt. Change d accordingly. Here’s an example:

Tipweighting Effect lead tape applied at 12 o’clock on head, 1 cm from Tip		Measurements example is Wilson ProStaff 6.0 85, strung and gripped			Results
Added Weight (m) (grams)	Resulting Balance (minus = head-light)	Original Racquet Weight (M) (grams)	Racquet Length (inches)	Original Balance Point (cm from butt)	Distance From Original BalancePoint to Added Weight (d) (cm)	Resulting Shift in Balance Point (s) (cm)	Balance Point Shift, in Points (Point = 1/8 in. or 0.3175 cm)	Points Shifted for the last added weight
0	-8.0	354	27	31.75	35.83	0.0	0.0	0.00
5	-6.4	354	27	31.75	35.83	0.5	1.6	1.57
6	-6.1	354	27	31.75	35.83	0.6	1.9	0.31
7	-5.8	354	27	31.75	35.83	0.7	2.2	0.31
8	-5.5	354	27	31.75	35.83	0.8	2.5	0.31
9	-5.2	354	27	31.75	35.83	0.9	2.8	0.30
10	-4.9	354	27	31.75	35.83	1.0	3.1	0.30
11	-4.6	354	27	31.75	35.83	1.1	3.4	0.30
12	-4.3	354	27	31.75	35.83	1.2	3.7	0.30
13	-4.0	354	27	31.75	35.83	1.3	4.0	0.30
14	-3.7	354	27	31.75	35.83	1.4	4.3	0.30
15	-3.4	354	27	31.75	35.83	1.5	4.6	0.29
16	-3.1	354	27	31.75	35.83	1.5	4.9	0.29
17	-2.8	354	27	31.75	35.83	1.6	5.2	0.29
18	-2.5	354	27	31.75	35.83	1.7	5.5	0.29
19	-2.3	354	27	31.75	35.83	1.8	5.7	0.29
20	-2.0	354	27	31.75	35.83	1.9	6.0	0.29