Customising a Racket *

Balance:

Rackets are described as Head Light or Head Heavy. Balance of a racket is highly individual and as well as comfort for the user, balance also affects the racket head speed and momentum.

Balance is usually measured with a 'balance board' but can be more accurately measured by weighing the racket as below.

Measuring Balance:

The most accurate way to check the balance of a racket is to use an accurate scale. First, measure the Total Weight of the racket. Then, with the racket horizontal, weigh first one end and then the other. The sum of the two end weights must equal the overall weight of the racket. If not, you may not have the frame level, the frame might not have been suspended from both ends or the scale readings are fluctuating.

Once these three weights are available, the balance point can be calculated. Multiply the weight of the head by the length of the racket, then divide by the total weight of the racket. It doesn't matter what the units of measure are used for the weight as long as they are consistent. If the balance point is wanted in centimetres then use centimetres for the length. Using the numbers from a typical racket; 165 (weight of the tip in grams) times 68.58 (length in centimetres) equals 11315.7. Dividing this by 350 (the total weight) gives a balance point of 32.31 cm. for this racket.

If the balance point is required expressed in points, perform the procedure above, using inches for the length. Divide the length of the racket by two to calculate the mid-point(in this case 13.5inches) and subtract this number from the balance point, 12.729 minus 13.5 equals -0.771 inches. (The negative number is because this racquet is head light.) To convert to points, multiply by eight. for the racket in this example, the balance is 6.17 points head light.

This method works for tennis, racquetball, squash and badminton rackets.

Lead Tape:

When using lead tape to balance a racket head, calculation of the amount to use is relatively simple.

Lead tape 1/4 inch wide is 0.25 grams per inch.

10 grams in the head requires 4 pieces each 10 inches in length.

NB. This only works at the head end of a racket, because the lead tape is applied on both sides of the grommets - 4 pieces of tape each time. 4 times 0.25 grams = 1 gram

* - Much of this material is derived from original material of the United States Racquet Stringers Association