Adding lead tape is one of the most effective ways to add weight to your pickleball paddle, enhancing your game in various ways. Most professional players such as Ben Johns use this technique to customize their paddles for improved power, stability, and control. By strategically placing lead tape, you can adjust the paddle’s balance to suit your playing style and gain a competitive edge on the court.
| Position | Benefits | Considerations |
|---|---|---|
| Head of the Paddle | – Increased power – Enhanced momentum – Stronger volleys and smashes | – May reduce hand speed when hitting the ball. – Can feel heavier on the wrist |
| Top Corners of the Paddle | – Increased power – Improved stability – Enhanced momentum | – May reduce hand speed – Can affect wrist comfort |
| Sides of the Paddle | – Improved stability – Better control – Balanced feel – Expanded sweet spot | – Moderate increase in weight – Less impact on power |
| Bottom Corners of the Paddle | – Enhanced control – Improved handling – Quick reflexes | – Less impact on power |
| Handle of the Paddle | – Enhanced grip – Increased maneuverability – Lighter feel | – Less impact on power – Primarily affects control and handling |
How Do Lead Tape Effect Pickleball Paddle Weight?
Lead tape is a popular solution for players who find their paddle too light. By adding lead tape, they can increase the paddle’s weight to achieve better balance and more powerful shots. Here are some other benefits of adding lead tape:
- Enhanced stability: Placing lead tape along the sides can improve paddle stability, making it easier to control during fast-paced play.
- Customized feel: Lead tape allows you to customize the weight and balance of your paddle, enhancing comfort and performance to suit your playing style.
- Increased control: Adjusting the weight distribution with lead tape enhances control over the ball, improving precision in your shots.
However, if you add too much can make the paddle overly heavy, which may lead to slower reaction times and reduced maneuverability. This added weight can also strain your arm, affecting your overall playing technique and effectiveness. Therefore, it’s crucial to find the right balance when adjusting your paddle’s weight with lead tape.
5 Placement Options for Lead Tape
1. Head of the Paddle
Placing lead tape at the head of the paddle can increase the power of your shots. This placement makes the paddle head-heavier, allowing for more forceful swings and greater momentum. This is very useful for players who want to add more punches to their volleys and smashes.
Benefits:
- Increased power
- Enhanced momentum
- Stronger volleys and smashes
Considerations:
- May reduce hand speed when hitting the ball
- Can feel heavier on the wrist
2. Top Corners of the Paddle
If you apply lead tape to the top corners of the paddle, it can help add strength and improve stability when playing. Additionally, this position helps balance the paddle and adds more power to your shots, especially long shots.
Benefits:
- Increased power
- Improved stability
- Enhanced momentum
Considerations:
- May reduce hand speed
- Can affect wrist comfort
3. Sides of the Paddle
Additionally, you can also apply lead tape along the edges of the paddle which can help improve stability, increase the sweet spot and control. This position distributes weight evenly, creating a more balanced feel for the paddle. This is the right position for players who prioritize precision and raw power control.
Benefits:
- Improved stability
- Better control
- Balanced feel
- Expand sweet spot
Considerations:
- Moderate increase in weight
- Less impact on power
4. Bottom Corners of the Paddle
Placing lead tape at the bottom corners of the paddle can improve control and handling without significantly affecting power. This position is ideal for players who need quick reflexes and precise shots.
Benefits:
- Enhanced control
- Improved handling
- Quick reflexes
Considerations:
- Less impact on power
5. Handle Edges of the Paddle
Adding lead tape to the handle of the paddle can enhance grip and maneuverability. This placement shifts the balance closer to your hand, making the paddle feel lighter and easier to handle. It’s ideal for players who rely on quick reactions and agile movements.
Benefits:
- Enhanced grip
- Increased maneuverability
- Lighter feel
Considerations:
- Less impact on power
- Primarily affects control and handling
How Much Lead Tape Should You Use?
You start by adding a larger amount of lead tape to your racquet. For example, if your paddle weighs 7.5 ounces, you can add lead tape to increase the weight to about 8.7 ounces. After adding the lead tape, try swinging the racquet to assess the feel.
If the racquet is too heavy or difficult to control, slowly remove some of the lead tape until you find the right weight for you. Continue adding or removing lead tape gradually until the racquet achieves the perfect weight and swing feel. Below, I have provided additional lead tape measurement rules for reference.
To help you understand better, consider this example: For 0.5 gram lead tape, 5.6 inches of tape equals 0.1 ounce. This means that if you add 5.6 inches of lead tape to your paddle, you will increase its weight by about 0.1 ounce (approximately 2.8 grams).
Additionally, adjusting the weight of a racquet is not only based on the overall weight, but also on how the weight is distributed, also known as “swing weight“.
What is Swing Weight?
Swing weight is the feeling of how the weight of the paddle is distributed when you swing it. This is not only based on the overall weight of the paddle, but also on where the weight is located on the paddle.
Imagine you are holding a hammer. When you hold the hammer correctly, the heaviest part (the hammer head) is farther away from your hand. This makes the hammer feel heavy and harder to swing. If you flip the hammer over, hold it with the heavy head, and leave the lighter handle farther away. So, you will find it much easier to swing the hammer. Although the overall weight of the hammer does not change, the feeling is different because of the change in weight distribution.
Similarly, when you add lead tape to the head of the paddle, it will increase the swing weight. This will help you hit the ball harder but will reduce speed and control. If you add lead tape to the sides or handle of the paddle, it will reduce the swing weight, making it easier to control and perform faster swings.
Is It Legal To Put Lead Tape on Pickleball Paddle
USA Pickleball Equipment Standards Manual (Nov. 2023) allow players to add lead tape to their paddles. Specifically, there are two key rules to note: (1) lead tape is a permitted modification for commercially manufactured paddles, and (2) there are no weight restrictions for pickleball paddles.
USA Pickleball Rule 2.E.5.a. – Alterations – The only alterations or additions that may be made to a commercially made paddle are edge guard tape, lead tape, changes to the grip size or grip wrap, and name decals and/or other identification markings on the paddle face.
USA Pickleball Rule 2.E.4. – Weight – There is no restriction on paddle weight.
In Short
If you’ve noticed professional pickleball players adding lead tape to their paddles and wondered why, you’re not alone. Adding lead tape is a popular modification that can significantly enhance your game.
There are 5 key positions to add lead tape:
- Head of the paddle
- Top of the paddle
- Sides of the paddle
- Bottom of the paddle (near the handle)
- Handle edges of the paddle.
After speaking with many experienced players and conducting extensive research, we’ve compiled this guide to explain the purpose of adding lead tape and the best places to apply it.
