All Discussions Tagged 'tuning' - Tennisopolis : Tennis Social Network2024-03-29T09:23:27Zhttp://tennisopolis.com/forum/topic/listForTag?tag=tuning&feed=yes&xn_auth=noTuning a racket ;)tag:tennisopolis.com,2011-02-27:1869403:Topic:5173572011-02-27T14:54:32.221Zakajohnhttp://tennisopolis.com/profile/CristianIonut
<p>So, currently I'm playing with a Babolat AeroPro Drive GT and I'm somehow satisfied about it. I have another Head Youtek Pro Prestige (Wawrinka racket of choice) that I just got it but somehow it fits better my game the Babolat. Actually I was going for that Head racket because of better balance (6 points HL) and smaller head (98 vs 100 for Babolat) and in the end for me the Head YPP is a very good racket, quite close to the Cortex AeroPro of Babolat but with better control and less power...…</p>
<p>So, currently I'm playing with a Babolat AeroPro Drive GT and I'm somehow satisfied about it. I have another Head Youtek Pro Prestige (Wawrinka racket of choice) that I just got it but somehow it fits better my game the Babolat. Actually I was going for that Head racket because of better balance (6 points HL) and smaller head (98 vs 100 for Babolat) and in the end for me the Head YPP is a very good racket, quite close to the Cortex AeroPro of Babolat but with better control and less power... What I enjoyed a lot in the HYPP is the whip feeling and the very good head speed for top spin especially plus the control at the net even the pattern is similar but the smaller head makes the strings density better... Ok, after this introduction I just wanted to say that I want to add few grams in the handle of my APDGT (around 8-10 grams) for more handle balance than now. Why I want that? Because I'm thinking that this will make the racket more maneuverable and I can get more head speed plus the plow through on service. All these are assumptions and I'm really curious if one of you already did that with the same racket or different model and what was the result ;) for me currently the 4 points HL of APDGT are not enough and I want to make the racket at least balanced as the Cortex model (5 points HL) even more...</p>
<p>Any ideas?</p> Tuning your racquet: swingweight, balance, lead tape adjustments, polarized/ depolarized setups.tag:tennisopolis.com,2010-12-17:1869403:Topic:4866402010-12-17T00:15:16.049ZTim Praponghttp://tennisopolis.com/profile/TimPrapong
<p>After my years of fiddling with lead tape, I would like to share what I know on tuning a racquet by altering the weight and balance.</p>
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<p>First off, you should determine the swingweight of the racquet. Swingweight is different from overall weight. It is possible to have a very light racquet which swings heavy. Manufacturers do this by placing all the weight in the head and not much in the handle, so it will still perform. Avoid these racquets because the shock produced by these…</p>
<p>After my years of fiddling with lead tape, I would like to share what I know on tuning a racquet by altering the weight and balance.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>First off, you should determine the swingweight of the racquet. Swingweight is different from overall weight. It is possible to have a very light racquet which swings heavy. Manufacturers do this by placing all the weight in the head and not much in the handle, so it will still perform. Avoid these racquets because the shock produced by these racquets can hurt your arm.</p>
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<p>You can measure the balance of a racquet by balancing it on a rod or hanging it off the side of a table until it leans. Measure the distance from the balance point to the butt cap. Then subtract that number from 13-1/2 inches (the midpoint of the overall length). Let's say you get 12-5/8. That would make it 7/8 inches away from the midpoint. Every 1/8" is 1 pt head light, so you have a 7pt HL racquet.</p>
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<p>Baseliners generally like a racquet between 3-6 pts. HL. Serve and volleyers generally like 8-10 pts. HL. But this is a matter of taste.</p>
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<p>Let's say you have a 7 pt. HL racquet and you want more power out of it. You can balance it to 4 pt HL by placing lead in several locations.</p>
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<p>Putting lead at 12 o'clock will change the balance the most. It will also give you more spin because it pulls the tip around faster on strokes. It is said Federer puts about 3-5 grams of lead on the tip, Nadal 6-8 grams. They put it under the bumperguard. The average club player can just put it inside the rim to good effect. This setup is called a polarized setup. Think "pole" as being "top of the globe", like "North Pole". (However, Federer's balance point is said to be around 8 pts. HL/ 32 mm from the buttcap)</p>
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<p>Putting lead at 3 and 9 o'clock will change the balance less, per strip, but substantially also. This setup will give you more solid volleys, because the racquet will be less likely to twist on off centered shots. It will also make flatter groundstrokes more dependable for the same reason. Sampras was known to put gobs of lead along the side inner rim, which suited his flat loop forehand and volleys.</p>
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<p>Let's say you wanted an 9 pt. HL racquet instead. You will have to put weight in/on the handle to make this change. You can either remove the grip and place the lead horizontally or vertically down the handle. The problem is that it will make your grip size bigger.</p>
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<p>To avoid this problem, you can put the lead tape near the top of the handle and layer it there. Or you can take off the butt cap, by removing the staples, or open the trap door of the buttcap. The handle is hollow, and from there, you can place cotton two inches or less, and put in a known amount of silicone or fishing weight, or poster tack. Measure the material first, so you will know or be able to arrive at the desired balance point later.</p>
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<p>I have found that putting lead at the top of the handle works better, because you do not have a reduction in power as you do when putting weight in the bottom of the handle. It is also much easier to put lead at the top. When putting lead at the bottom, I have had too much reduction in power where the racquet feels substantially less responsive.</p>
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<p>A mysterious racquet customizer, John Cauthen, advocated putting 50 grams of lead at the top of the handle. I have put 24 grams and feel the difference already. It makes the racquet much more maneuverable, yet produce a noticeable increase in power. Cauthen's claim is that Agassi and Muster had their racquets customized in such a way and thus, rose to number 1 in the world when they did. I do not know if that is true, but I can speak from my own experience only.</p>
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<p>Remember, a 4 inches of a 1/4" wide lead is 1 gram. So if you want 3 grams at the tip, multiply that by 4 and so you will need 12 inches of lead. So if you wanted to do a polarized setup, take 6 inches on one side, and 6 inches on the other side of the rim at the top of the frame. It doesn't take a genius to lay it in there, just put it in there nice and neat, then go out and try it.</p>
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<p>If the swingweight feels too heavy, either reduce the size of those strips or counterbalance the weight you put at the top, with an amount in/on the handle. Then tune according to your taste. My taste is 8 pts. HL. with 24 grams at the top of the handle. What's yours?</p>
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<p>Note: I achieved 24 grams by using 3/4" wide lead tape, using 8 inches length, wrapping the top of the handle twice. I found this tape at the Racquet Doctor for $1.75/ ft.</p>