How to Customise a Tennis Racket with Lead Tape
Updated 5 July 2026 · 6 min read
Adding lead tape is the cheapest, most reversible way to change how a tennis racket plays. A few grams in the right place can turn a light, whippy frame into a stable, powerful one — or a stiff board into something you can actually swing. This guide covers what lead tape does, how much to add, and how to plan a customisation before you commit.
What lead tape actually changes
Lead tape adds mass to your frame. That mass changes four numbers players care about: static weight (how heavy the racket feels at rest), balance (whether it is head-light or head-heavy), swingweight (how hard it is to swing) and twistweight (how stable it is on off-centre hits). The key idea is that where you add the weight matters far more than how much you add.
A gram near the tip and a gram in the handle both add one gram of static weight, but they do completely different things to swingweight and balance. That is why "just add 4 grams" is bad advice — you need to decide the goal first.
Is lead tape safe? Tungsten tape as an alternative
Lead is toxic, so handle lead tape sensibly: wash your hands after applying it, keep it away from children, and cover it with the grommet strip or an overgrip so it is not in constant contact with your skin. If you would rather avoid lead altogether, tungsten tape is a safe, non-toxic alternative that works in exactly the same way — you place it in the same positions for the same effect on swingweight, balance and twistweight. Tungsten is denser than lead, so the strip can be thinner for the same weight, though it usually costs a little more.
Step 1: measure your starting specs
Before you add anything, record your racket's current weight, balance and (if you can) swingweight. Many manufacturers publish these, or a stringer can measure them. You can enter them into the Racket Smith customisation tool to see your live starting point.
Step 2: pick a goal
- More power and plough-through: add weight high in the hoop (12 o'clock).
- More stability and a bigger sweet spot: add weight at 3 and 9 o'clock.
- More mass without losing manoeuvrability: add weight in the handle.
- A quicker, more head-light feel: add weight in the handle and keep the hoop light.
See where to add lead tape on a tennis racket for the effect of each position in detail.
Step 3: add a little, then test
Start small — 2 to 4 grams total is a meaningful change. Apply the tape, play a few games, and judge feel, not theory. Weight is additive and reversible: you can always add more or peel it off. Add symmetrically (equal amounts on both sides of the hoop) so the racket does not twist in your hand.
Because swingweight rises quickly with tip weight, add hoop weight in small increments. A single gram at 12 o'clock changes swingweight far more than a gram in the handle — plan it in the tool before you cut the tape.
A note on matching a pair of rackets
If you play with two of the same frame, lead tape is how you match them so they feel identical. Measure both, then add small amounts to the lighter or lower-swingweight frame until the numbers line up.