Racquet Customization - Tennis Racquet Resource Center

Racquet Customization

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The probability that any racquet manufacturer produces a racquet that exactly matches your playing style and requirements is essentially zero. For this reason, most serious players and practically all tour pros play with some sort of customized racquet. Whether the racquet is altered during manufacturing or an “off-the-shelf” racquet is tailored to fit their specific requirements.

More and more we are finding that recreational players benefit as much if not more than touring pros from this “tweaking” of their racquets. Whether it is to improve performance or help alleviate an injury, there is no reason why you should not seriously look into racquet customization.

What is racquet customization? Racquet customization can range from matching two or more racquets to the same specifications, increasing overall weight, improving torsional stability, changing balance, or changing the racquet’s sweetspot, to counter-balancing a racquet, and shortening the length. All levels of players are discovering the benefits in customizing their racquets.

In most cases, customization is a reversible procedure – if you don’t like it, you can simply remove the modification. Customization is a trial and error process, requiring experimentation to find that “right” mix that is just right for you.

Customization Properties
The following racquet properties can be modified by customization:

Grip size
Grip shape
Weight
Balance
Length
Swingweight

Head size, racquet stiffness, and string pattern are three properties that cannot be modified in “off-the-shelf" racquets.

Customization Recommendations
There are some basic concepts for recommending changes to your equipment. Steve Davis, Director of Research and Development for Prince Sports Inc, compiled the following list.

A heavier frame generates more power
A heavier frame vibrates less
A stiffer frame generates more power
A stiffer frame has a larger sweetspot
A stiffer frame transmits more of the shock load to the arm
A stiffer frame provides a more uniform ball response across the entire stringbed
A larger frame generates more power
A larger frame is more resistant to twisting
A larger frame has a larger sweetspot
A longer frame generate more velocity and therefore more power
A stringing in a longer frame generates more spin due to its increase in velocity

Racquet Weight

Heavier racquets are more stable, more powerful, have larger sweetspots, vibrate less, offer better directional control and are more stable. The only downside of a heavier racquet is they can be less maneuverable. This can be a very important drawback; if you can’t get the racquet around to hit a ground stroke or generate racquet head speed to serve, then the other characteristics won’t help much. Our bottom line is: you should play with the heaviest racquet that you can comfortably handle. Put another way, if you are using a lighter weight, stiffer, head-heavy racquet you should start putting weight back into the frame where it will do the most good.

How much weight and where the weight should be placed is a matter of personal choice and requirements. There are advantages and disadvantages to adding weight at any given location or locations. Weight can be added to any location on the racquets surface but there are 8 primary locations:

Weight Placement
(A) 12 o’clock	(E) 6 o’clock
(B) 10 & 2 o’clock	(F) Throat
(C) 3 & 9 o’clock	(G) Handle
(D) 4 & 8 o’clock	(H) Inside the handle

Position A: Adding weight in the vicinity of 12 o’clock produces the most dramatic increase in power, swingweight and head-heavy balance and produces the most dramatic decrease in maneuverability. Adding weight to this region moves the sweetspot towards the added weight.
Position B: Adding weight in this vicinity increases power, swingweight and head-heavy balance but not as drastically as with Position 1. Adding weight to this region increases stability on off-centered hits and reduces racquet torque or twisting.
Position C: Adding weight in the 3 / 9 o’clock location provides the greatest increase in stability. Power increases, as does swingweight and head-heaviness, but not as much as in location A or B, and so not as much maneuverability is lost.
Position D: Adding weight in this location provides an increases stability and weight without significantly affecting swingweight. Power and mass increase. This is the vicinity that weight is added in conjunction to another location to match racquet measurements.
Position E: Adding weight in the 6 o’clock region increases the mass without significantly altering the balance or swingweight.
Position F: Adding weight in the throat is usually designed to increase mass without altering the swingweight. This is another location that weight can be added to match the weight and balance of another racquet
Position G: Adding weight to the handle makes the racquet more head-light without losing maneuverability or significantly increasing power. Players wanting to counter-balance their racquets would most likely add weight in this location. Adding lead tape to the handle can increase the circumference of the grip, so caution should be exercised before adding too much weight.
Position H: Adding weight in the handle is another alternative for counter-balancing, that will not add additional width to the racquet handle. This procedure requires the removal of the butt cap and grip. Adding weight inside the handle cannot be performed with racquets that have some sort of vibration suppression technologies in the handle like (Prince’s Air Handle System, Pro Kennex’s Kinetic Technology or Dunlops’s ISIS System). There will be no noticeable change in swingweight or power.

Altering Stock Properties

The following are general guidelines for altering the stock properties of any racquet.

Torsional Stability
This is the most common reason for adding weight to a frame. Placing weight on the sides increases the overall mass of the racquet but helps reduce frame twisting during off-center shots. Increasing the weight of the frame will increase the power of the frame.

Changing the Racquet’s Sweetspot
Many recreational players tend to hit the ball higher in the stringbed, resulting in a less powerful shot and an increase in racquet vibration. Most traditional frames have the sweetspot located in the middle or slightly below the middle of the stringbed. Adding weight to the 10 / 2 o’clock position effectively raises the racquet’s sweetspot, making shots hit higher in the stringbed feel more solid and powerful. As an added bonus, this increase in weight increases torsional stability (albeit, less than with weight applied at the 3 / 9 o’clock position). We do not recommend adding additional weight to head-heavy, lightweight racquets. The sweetspot on these racquets is already higher than even balanced or head-light racquets.

Increasing Swingweight with Minimal Weight Change
Some players want to increase their racquet’s swingweight without substantially increasing the overall weight of the racquet. This can be accomplished by adding weight to the upper portion of the hoop, around the 12 o’clock region.

Increasing Weight with Minimal Balance Change
Increasing the overall mass of any racquet without altering the racquet’s balance can be accomplished by adding weight to the 6 o’clock position. Placing weight in this location will increase the swingweight, resulting in a slightly less maneuverable racquet.

Increasing Weight with Minimal Swingweight Change
Adding weight on or in the handle produces a more head-light balance without a noticeable increase in swingweight or power. Player wanting to counter-weight their racquets would follow this procedure. Increasing the weight in the handle can sometimes lead to an increase in grip size, depending upon how much lead tape is needed. The best method is to determine how much weight is needed then secure the weight inside the handle. Remember the racquet’s sweetspot moves towards the area that weight is being applied.

Counter-Weighting
Many players who purchased lightweight (sub 10 oz), head heavy racquets have discovered that adding additional mass and reducing the head-heaviness produces some positive results. Counter-weighting involves adding additional weight, to the opposite end of the racquet where most of the weight already exists. On head-heavy racquets this translates into adding weight to the handle region of the racquet.

Racquet Matching
If you feel your two racquets are different or looking for the best performance out of your racquets, then racquet matching is essential. Start with you two racquet, decide which one you prefer (hopefully it will be the heavier, since it is virtually impossible to reduce weight in the newer graphite racquets). From this juncture you can match the racquets for length, swingweight, balance and mass. All this takes time and lots of experimenting.

Changing the Racquet’s Length
Many adult racquets range from the standard 27 inches long to 29 inches long. After playing with these racquets many players decide they they would prefer their racquet in a shorter length. Reducing the length of a racquet is a two step process that yields some very positive changes. The first step is to cut off a small portion of the handle (this porcess is irresersible so be sure of your decision), then re-weight the racquet to replace the weight that was cut off. By reducing the length by a little as .25 inch, you can reduce the swingweight by 10 - 20 units and reduce the weight by .2 - .4 of an ounce, depending upon the racquet. Once the racquet has been shortened, the opportunity presents itself to change the balance of the racquet more to your liking, since replacing the weight that was removed is necessary.

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Sandia Racquet Services
Chip Brenn
3016 Camino de la Sierra NE
Albuquerque NM 87111

505-299-8052

Or Email:
Chip@SandiaRacquetServices.com

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