Where to Add Lead Tape on a Tennis Racket
Updated 5 July 2026 · 5 min read
The position of lead tape decides what it does. The same two grams can add power, add stability, or keep your racket quick — depending only on where you stick it. Here is what each classic position does, described by clock positions on the hoop.
12 o'clock (top of the hoop)
Weight at the tip raises swingweight the most and shifts balance towards head-heavy. You get more power, depth and plough-through, but the racket becomes harder to swing and less manoeuvrable. Add here in small doses — a gram or two goes a long way.
3 and 9 o'clock (the sides)
This is the most popular spot for a reason. Weight at 3 and 9 raises twistweight — the racket resists twisting on off-centre hits — so the sweet spot feels bigger and shots stay stable. It raises swingweight moderately and barely moves the balance. Always add these as a symmetric pair.
The throat
Weight in the throat mostly adds static mass with little change to swingweight or balance. It firms up the feel and makes the racket more solid without making it noticeably harder to swing — useful when you want more mass but not more sluggishness.
The handle
Weight in the handle adds static mass while making the racket more head-light and easier to swing. Swingweight barely changes. Handle weight is how you add total mass for stability and comfort without slowing your racket head speed.
Combining positions
Most real customisations use more than one spot — for example, weight at 3 and 9 for stability plus a counterbalance in the handle to keep the frame head-light. Because the positions interact, it helps to model the combination and read the resulting swingweight, balance and twistweight before applying anything.
New to these terms? Read swingweight, balance and twistweight explained.