Racket Smith - Customisation Visualisation Tool

Racket Smith shows how adding lead tape or weight to your tennis racket or pickleball paddle changes its swingweight, balance and twistweight — so you can plan a customisation and predict how it will play before you touch your frame.

Your paddle

Base, out-of-the-box specs — before any added weight.

New specifications

Weight
225.0→225.0g

No change in overall weight.

Balance
9.50→9.50in
12.0 pts HH → 12.0 pts HH

Balance essentially unchanged.

Swingweight
115.0→115.0kg·cm²

Swingweight essentially unchanged.

Twistweight
6.50→6.50kg·cm²

Twistweight unchanged — weight on the centerline (12/6/throat/handle) does not affect off-center stability.

3 & 9 o'clock

Adding weight at 3 & 9 gives the biggest boost to twistweight — the most stability on off-center hits — with a moderate swingweight increase and no balance change.

Per gram added here: Balance +0.0043 in · Swingweight +0.27 kg·cm² · Twistweight +0.103 kg·cm²

12 o'clockTop left & right3 & 9 o'clock
+g
Bottom left & rightThroatHandle

Frequently asked questions

How does adding lead tape change a tennis racket?
Lead tape adds mass at the spot you place it. Near the tip it raises swingweight and makes the racket more head-heavy and powerful; at 3 and 9 o'clock it raises twistweight for stability on off-centre hits; in the handle it adds weight while keeping the racket head-light and easy to swing.
Where should I add weight on my racket?
It depends on your goal — 12 o'clock for power, 3 and 9 o'clock for a bigger sweet spot and stability, and the handle to stay manoeuvrable. Try each position above and watch the swingweight, balance and twistweight update instantly.
How much does lead tape change swingweight?
It depends on how much weight you add and how far it sits from the swingweight axis (about 10 cm from the butt). A gram near the tip changes swingweight far more than a gram near the handle. The tool shows the exact change per gram for your racket.
Can I customise a pickleball paddle too?
Yes — switch to pickleball mode for paddle geometry and inch units, then plan edge weight or handle weight and see how it changes the paddle's swingweight, balance and twistweight.
Browse all customisation guides →