Where To Put Lead Tape On Pickleball Paddle

More and more pickleball players are discovering the joy of personalizing their pickleball paddles, from adjusting the grip size to the paddle’s weight. But what if you hit a point where your paddle just doesn’t feel right during a game? That’s where lead tape comes into play. If you’re wondering where to put lead tape on pickleball paddle, read on for a comprehensive guide.

Lead, a dense metal, can be shaped into a tape, commonly referred to as lead tape. This magical tape allows you to make small tweaks to your pickleball paddle’s weight. These adjustments can lead to a more substantial swing, a larger “sweet spot” on your paddle, and a bit of extra oomph when you strike that pickleball. Even the pros are hopping on the lead tape train!

Should you join the trend and give lead tape a go? This pickleball blog will serve up all the info you need to make that call. We’ll cover whether using lead tape is within the rules, why players, including the pros, love it, and how to apply lead tape to your trusty pickleball paddle.

Thinking about using lead tape on your paddle? Well, here’s why it might be a good idea:

More Power: When you add lead tape, your paddle gets heavier. That extra weight means more power in your shots on the pickleball court. Whether it’s drives, overheads, volleys, or aggressive shots, you’ll have a little extra oomph.

Plus, the added weight can give your shots more spin and make handling defensive shots easier, like digging out your opponent’s put-aways, and help you keep the pickleball in play longer.

Bigger Sweet Spot: Lead tape also makes the “sweet spot” on your paddle larger. This means you’ll have better stability and more room for error when you hit the pickleball. Especially for dinking and blocking, the larger sweet spot can make things easier.

Considering the potential benefits and the fact that lead tape is an easy and affordable addition (usually less than $10), it might be worth giving it a shot. If you don’t like it, no worries – you can easily take it off.

But remember, adding lead tape makes your paddle heavier. This might not be everyone’s cup of tea and could even lead to injuries, especially if your paddle becomes too heavy, putting unnecessary stress on your elbow, especially if your playing technique isn’t quite up to snuff.

If you’ve decided to add lead tape to your pickleball paddle, the next step is to determine how much to add and where to place it on your paddle.

Here’s a guide on adding lead tape to different areas of your paddle and the effects it can have:

Sides of the Paddle (3 and 9 o’clock): Placing lead tape on the sides of your paddle will provide a little extra power, enhance pop, and enlarge the sweet spot. This means you’ll have a bit more room for error in hitting the ball.

Top of the Paddle (12 o’clock): Adding lead tape to the top of your paddle will generate more power and pop. However, it will make the head of the paddle feel heavier and potentially affect your swing speed. This might not be suitable for all players, especially if the paddle feels too heavy.

In-Between (2 and 10 o’clock): Placing lead tape in these positions will give you a broader sweet spot and a bit more power, offering a balance between the benefits of side and top placement.

Throat (4 and 8 o’clock): Adding lead tape to the throat, which is the lower sides of the paddle near the handle, adds weight without making the paddle feel excessively heavy. The weight is closer to the grip, so it won’t significantly slow down your paddle speed.

All Around the Paddle: If you want to add at least a full ounce of weight, you can wrap lead tape around the entire edge of the paddle.

This noticeably increases the paddle’s weight, but it generally maintains the paddle’s balance similar to when it has no lead tape. However, there will be slightly more weight toward the head of the paddle.

Consider your playing style and preferences when deciding where and how much lead tape to add to your pickleball paddle.

Based on my personal experience, I added lead tape all around my pickleball paddle. This increased the paddle’s weight from 8.1 ounces to 9.2 ounces. I preferred this approach as it allowed me to maintain the same balance I was used to while gaining both power and an expanded sweet spot.

The additional power was immediately noticeable in the force of my shots and the sound my paddle made when striking the ball. What I appreciated the most was that it made my defensive shots easier, helping me return my opponents’ aggressive shots.

However, after some experimentation, I felt that the paddle had become a bit too heavy. To address this, I removed the lead tape from the top of the paddle while keeping it on the sides and throat. This balance gave me the added power I desired without making the paddle feel overly heavy or slowing down my hand speed.

If you’re not ready to fully commit to wrapping your paddle in lead tape, consider adding it gradually. You can add lead tape to different areas on your pickleball paddle, or layer it on top of itself to increase weight progressively.

Placing lead tape on the sides or throat of your paddle is also a good option to enhance power and sweet spot size without sacrificing paddle weight or hand speed.

Adding lead tape to your pickleball paddle offers flexibility in enhancing your game, but remember there are some rules to follow. Ensure that the lead tape is properly covered to prevent glare and disruption. Beyond this, you have the freedom to decide where to place it. Experiment with different positions to find what suits you best. If it doesn’t feel right, don’t hesitate to make adjustments.

Consider your specific needs. If your paddle is well-balanced, focus on adjusting power or sweet spot size rather than balance. Most importantly, prioritize comfort and safety to avoid potential injuries.

If you have any more questions or need further assistance, feel free to ask! Also, be sure to check out our How To Clean Pickleball Paddle guide for clean paddle cleaning.