I notice that you can head tape to increase the handle vs build-up sleeve or electrical tapes. The reason is that some racquet manufacture might uses the same butt-cap. I have some old ADIDAS and FISCHER racquets and I found it they uses 4-1/2 Butt-cap for 4-3/8 as well. That means, if I uses the sleeve, the butt-cap will increase as well. With the tape I starts from the edge of the butt-cap of the handle. Also, it seems using the electrical tapes, takes two layer to increase by full size.
Aloha Eddie, Thanks for sharing. Another IART stringer uses head tape to increase the handle size but only applies it to 4 of the 8 bevels. Then he uses the 1/2-size shrink sleeve to finish it off. He likes using this method since it maintains a more defined bevel. I haven't tried it, but it sounds interesting. You can check out his article here - gssalliance.com/free-public-access/grip-customization-for-a-more-defined-bevel/ By the way, how many layers of head tape does it take for you to increase the handle by one grip size?
If you cover the string holes in the middle then the racquet has more drag and wind resistance when you swing... make sure to cut and apply on the edges only
Aloha, In theory, that makes sense, but I'm not sure how much of a factor that would be for traditional grommets. Maybe for the Prince O-Ports that would make more sense, because of its size. If anything, that "drag" a player may experience, is mainly attributed to the extra weight of the head tape.
@AM Stringing Aloha, first thanks for doing the videos, I'm a long time player 4.5 level, not bad and I'm always looking to extend the life of shoes and racquets. You gave me good ideas to work with. Everyone expirements with these things and comes up with their own style. Overall, we are on the same page, I just only put the tape on the edges to keep weight and drag down, protecting the metal and grommets. The middle top part I leave open but I don't wear it out there...
Good point about the weight of the head tape. Does the tennis specific tape leave the same sticky mess on the bumper that the too popular duct tape does?
Aloha Robert, I've used the Babolat head tape exclusively until recently. I thought I would give the Head tape a try. They feel very similar, but the Head tape is half the cost! I like the Babolat head tape because it doesn't leave a sticky mess as badly as some other brands. Duct tape is the worse though, especially if it's been on the racquet for a while and baked into the frame and bumper!
![Racquet Customization [3 Applications | Adding Weight to the Head of a Racquet]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/AAgv4MMEixo/mqdefault.jpg)
![Racquet Customization [3 Applications | Adding Weight to the Head of a Racquet]](/img/tr.png)
This guy knows his stuff.
Aloha, Thanks for your support!
I notice that you can head tape to increase the handle vs build-up sleeve or electrical tapes. The reason is that some racquet manufacture might uses the same butt-cap. I have some old ADIDAS and FISCHER racquets and I found it they uses 4-1/2 Butt-cap for 4-3/8 as well. That means, if I uses the sleeve, the butt-cap will increase as well. With the tape I starts from the edge of the butt-cap of the handle. Also, it seems using the electrical tapes, takes two layer to increase by full size.
Aloha Eddie, Thanks for sharing. Another IART stringer uses head tape to increase the handle size but only applies it to 4 of the 8 bevels. Then he uses the 1/2-size shrink sleeve to finish it off. He likes using this method since it maintains a more defined bevel. I haven't tried it, but it sounds interesting. You can check out his article here - gssalliance.com/free-public-access/grip-customization-for-a-more-defined-bevel/ By the way, how many layers of head tape does it take for you to increase the handle by one grip size?
it takes 2 layers. to flatten I use roller.
If you cover the string holes in the middle then the racquet has more drag and wind resistance when you swing... make sure to cut and apply on the edges only
Aloha, In theory, that makes sense, but I'm not sure how much of a factor that would be for traditional grommets. Maybe for the Prince O-Ports that would make more sense, because of its size. If anything, that "drag" a player may experience, is mainly attributed to the extra weight of the head tape.
@AM Stringing Aloha, first thanks for doing the videos, I'm a long time player 4.5 level, not bad and I'm always looking to extend the life of shoes and racquets. You gave me good ideas to work with. Everyone expirements with these things and comes up with their own style. Overall, we are on the same page, I just only put the tape on the edges to keep weight and drag down, protecting the metal and grommets. The middle top part I leave open but I don't wear it out there...
@@metoo9357 Right on! 👊
Good point about the weight of the head tape. Does the tennis specific tape leave the same sticky mess on the bumper that the too popular duct tape does?
Aloha Robert, I've used the Babolat head tape exclusively until recently. I thought I would give the Head tape a try. They feel very similar, but the Head tape is half the cost! I like the Babolat head tape because it doesn't leave a sticky mess as badly as some other brands. Duct tape is the worse though, especially if it's been on the racquet for a while and baked into the frame and bumper!