How to Add Weight to a Tennis Racket (7 Easy Methods)

Customizing the weight of your tennis racket can dramatically change how it feels and performs on court.

Players often add weight to improve power, stability, or control, tailoring their frame to match their playing style.

Below, we’ll cover seven practical ways to add weight to your racket — from using lead or copper tape to replacing your grip with leather — and explain how each affects performance.

Before you Start

• Always wear gloves when handling lead tape.
• Add weight gradually and test after each adjustment.
• Record the new balance and swing weight if possible.

How to add weight to your tennis racket

The main options you have for adding weight to your racket are:

1. Lead Tape
2. Copper Tape
3. Tungsten Putty
4. Silicone
5. Leather Grips
6. Vibration Dampeners
7. Strings

See below for more information on each of the above options.

1. Lead Tape

Lead Tape is probably the easiest and most popular way to make a frame heavier.

Where should you place the Lead Tape?

There are a number of different areas where you can place some lead but below are the most common places that are used:

• At the top of the frame (under the head guard) – if you want more power
• At 10 and 2 o’clock – increases power and makes the sweet spot bigger
• At 3 and 9 o’clock – increases power a little and adds stability
• On the throat of the frame – adds stability
• On the handle of the frame (under your grip) – if you want to counterbalance the weight you have added to the head.

Where you end up putting the lead will depend on what you are trying to add to your frame.

For example, if you want more power then you can add lead to the top of the frame or if you want more stability then you can lead to the sides of the frame.

2. Copper Tape

Copper Tape is a safer alternative to lead tape as you don’t have to handle lead on your hands.

Copper Tape works in much the same way as lead tape in terms of how it affects a racket with the only downside being it stands out a little bit more due to its color.

3. Tungsten Putty

Tungsten Putty is mostly used on the handle or inside the buttcap and is great to use if you want to add a small amount of weight to your racket.

Tungsten Putty easily molds to any shape so it is quite easy to add to your racket.

4. Silicone

Another option you have to make your frame heavier is to inject silicone into the handle of your racket.

The main reason for doing this beyond adding mass to your racket is to shift the balance of a racket, so it is more head light and therefore more maneuverable.

5. Leather Grips

One easy way to add weight to the handle of your racket is to replace the synthetic grip on your racket with a leather grip.

Depending on the leather grip you use, this can add up to 10g of weight to the handle.

An added benefit of using leather grips is that many players say they get a better feel on their shots using a leather grip.

This is why many top ATP Pros such as Roger Federer use a leather grip on their frames.

6. Vibration Dampeners

Vibration Dampeners are probably not the first thing you think about when adding weight to a frame but as they can weigh between 2 and 7 grams, they can be a good option if you want to add a small amount of weight near the bottom of the frame.

For my Wilson Clash 98, I use Wilson’s Shock Trap vibration dampener which weighs about 2 grams.

You mightn’t think 2 grams would make much of a difference but I like the feeling I get on my shots using this vibration dampener.

7. Tennis Strings

You are probably not going to choose a set of strings just because they weigh slightly more than another set of strings but it is good to be aware of the fact that string weights can vary by up to 5 grams.

Where to Add Weight on a Tennis Racket

Where you place weight on your tennis racket is just as important as how much you add. Different areas of the frame will change power, control, stability, and manoeuvrability in very different ways.

Below is a simple breakdown of the most common placement positions and what they do.

12 O’Clock (Top of the Frame)

• Best for: Maximum power and increased swing weight
• Effect:
  • Adds the most power to your shots
  • Increases “plow-through” (the racket drives through the ball more)
  • Makes the racket feel heavier to swing

This is the most aggressive way to add weight and is commonly used by advanced players looking for extra depth and penetration.

3 & 9 O’Clock (Sides of the Frame)

• Best for: Stability and control
• Effect:
  • Reduces twisting on off-centre hits
  • Improves consistency and control
  • Slight increase in power

This is the safest and most popular placement for most players, especially beginners and intermediates.

10 & 2 O’Clock

• Best for: Power + larger sweet spot
• Effect:
  • Expands the effective hitting area
  • Adds power without as much loss of control as 12 o’clock
  • Improves forgiveness on mishits

A good middle ground between power and stability.

Throat of the Racket

• Best for: Subtle stability improvements
• Effect:
  • Adds weight without significantly changing balance
  • Slight increase in control
  • Minimal impact on swing speed

This is less commonly used but can help fine-tune feel.

Handle (Under Grip or Buttcap)

• Best for: Control and maneuverability
• Effect:
  • Makes the racket more head-light
  • Improves maneuverability and faster swings
  • Helps counterbalance weight added to the head

This is ideal if your racket starts to feel too heavy after adding weight to the frame.

Quick Placement Guide

• Want more power → Add weight at 12 o’clock
• Want more stability → Add weight at 3 & 9 o’clock
• Want better balance → Add weight to the handle
• Want a bigger sweet spot → Add weight at 10 & 2 o’clock

Pro Tip

Start with 2–4 grams at a time, test your racket on court, and adjust gradually. Small changes in placement can make a big difference to how your racket feels and performs.

Final Thoughts

Adding weight to your tennis racket lets you fine-tune how it feels and performs — whether you want more power, control, or stability. Start small, test often, and record your changes to find your ideal setup.

For more customization advice, check out:

• Best Tennis Rackets for Arm Comfort
• Tennis Strings used by the pros