Customising a tennis racket by adding weights

Abstract

Most elite tennis players customise their rackets by adding weights at various points to enhance the performance of the racket and to improve its balance and feel. The additional weights also alter the swing weight, vibration frequency, amplitude and node location, the centre of percussion, apparent coefficient of restitution and racket power. In this paper, experimental data is presented on the effects of adding a 30-g mass at several points on the racket frame. The data is consistent with a one-dimensional, nonuniform beam model of the racket, with a few minor exceptions. Mass added at the tip of a racket is more effective in increasing racket power than mass added at any other location, and has the additional advantage of shifting the point of maximum power towards the tip of the racket. For a serve, the point of maximum power can be shifted to a point near the tip of the racket, giving the player a significant height advantage. For a groundstroke, the added mass will shift the point of maximum power to a point near the centre of the strings, where players normally impact the ball.