When you buy a paddle, shouldn’t it be perfect? Should you really need to change the manufacturer’s design by changing the weight distribution by sticking lead tape around the edge?
Well if you look at the pro players, the answer to this question is that adding lead tape to your paddle is an Ok thing to do.
If you think about it, everyone is different, not just physically, but our balance and the shots we favour all vary from person to person. So it stands to reason that a one-size-fits-all all paddle is an impossibility.
The paddle alone gets you 95% of the way there, but applying lead tape correctly can make up those small percentages that tailor the paddle much more to each player’s unique dynamics. And when games are won or lost based on one or two shots going awry it’s this level of customisation that can make all the difference between the sweet smell of success and evaluating what went wrong.
So, what exactly is lead tape? It looks like a thick strip of sticky tape, that you can cut into strips and then fix to the edge of your paddle. Generally speaking, it doesn’t help with aesthetics although some weight tape brands are adding colours and patterns to their offerings.
The whole point of the tape is that it adds weight to your paddle, fine-tuning the balance point which in turn impacts how the paddle performs. Depending on where you position the tape it can help generate more power through to improving stability for better control.
Here are the ways that lead weight tape can enhance a paddle’s performance.
Increased Power:
Adding weight to the paddle head can generate more momentum on contact, resulting in harder shots.
- Improved Control:
Placing weight on the handle or throat can enhance manoeuvrability and precision for finer shot placement.
- Larger Sweet Spot:
By distributing weight strategically, the paddle can feel more stable when hitting off-centre, effectively enlarging the sweet spot.
Based on the above you can see that the placement of the tape is critical to the impact it will have on your paddle performance. It is also the case you can increase or dampen the effect of the tape by how extreme the placement is, right at the top of the paddle head will increase power more than placing the tap “near” to the top.
In truth, it’s difficult to get the placement right, and the whole point with tape is customising for very individual needs, so the best way to work with tape is to experiment. Adjust the amount of tape and the placement until you find an equilibrium that works for you.
Tape is not for everyone, but if you are looking to make marginal improvements to your game, it’s worth giving it a go.
