A Definitive Guide to Using Lead Tape on Pickleball Paddles

Rylan here. Lead tape is one of the best and most cost-effective ways to customize the performance of your pickleball paddle. With just a few small strips, you can fine-tune the weight, balance, power, control, and feel of your paddle.

But knowing exactly where to put lead tape – and how much to use – is critical. I’ll explain everything you need to know about using lead tape to transform your pickleball paddle in this comprehensive guide.

What is Lead Tape and What Does it Do to a Pickleball Paddle?

Lead tape (also called weighted tape) is a strip of tape with very thin lead bonded to one side. It comes on a roll so you can cut it to any size. Lead is a dense, heavy metal that adds weight wherever you apply it.

Adding weight to certain spots on your paddle affects its:

• Overall weight – Heavier paddles generally have more power and stability. But too heavy can slow down your swing speed.
• Balance point – Where the weight is concentrated changes how the paddle feels in your hand and how quickly you can swing and maneuver it.
• Swingweight – How the weight is distributed from the handle to the head determines the effort needed to swing the paddle. Higher swing weight makes it harder to accelerate the paddle head.
• Twist weight – Resistance to twisting on off-center hits. Higher twist weight increases stability and “sweet spot” feel.

Through strategic lead tape placement, you can fine-tune these characteristics to match your playing style, build on a paddle’s strengths, and minimize its weaknesses.

Lead Tape Options

You have a few options when choosing lead tape:

Lead vs. Tungsten Tape

Most weighted tape contains lead. But some players prefer tungsten tape because tungsten is non-toxic. Brands like Selkirk sell tungsten tape marketed for pickleball paddles.

Tungsten provides the same benefits as lead for adding weight. But it’s generally more expensive per ounce.

Tape Thickness

1/2″ wide tape is best for paddles with an edge guard, which provides enough surface area.

For edgeless paddles, go with 1/4″ tape to keep the weight off the hitting surface. Thinner tape also allows for more precise placement.

Tape Weight Density

This is measured in grams per inch or ounces per inch. Heavier density tape requires less length to add a given amount of weight.

1/2″ tape is commonly 1-2 grams per inch. 1/4″ tape ranges from 0.25-0.5 grams per inch.

I recommend using the highest density tape available. This lets you add weight without excessive tape length.

Pre-Cut Strips

Many brands sell pre-cut lead tape squares or rectangles designed specifically for pickleball paddles.

The benefit is you don’t have to measure and cut the tape yourself. Just peel and stick.

On the downside, pre-cut strips don’t allow you to fully customize weight and placement.

How Much Weight to Add

There’s no magic number for how much weight to add. It depends on your paddle, playing style, and personal preference.

A good starting point is adding 0.2 – 0.8 ounces of lead tape per side of the paddle. This is enough to impact feel and performance without drastically changing the swing weight.

Go on the lighter end if you want more control and quickness. Add more weight for extra power and plow through.

You can always add more tape. So start light and work your way up in small increments to find the right balance for you.

Where to Place Lead Tape on a Pickleball Paddle

The placement of lead tape matters more than the actual weight added. Here are the most common paddle zones for lead tape and how each impacts performance:

Top of the Paddle

• Pros: Increases swingweight to provide more power and ball plow through. Gives more spin potential.
• Cons: Makes the paddle more difficult to swing quickly and maneuver due to the higher swingweight. Reduces quickness and reaction time.

Upper Sides of Paddle

• Pros: Provides a good balance of added power from increased swingweight along with more stability from higher twist weight. Also enhances feel and sweet spot size.
• Cons: Slightly raises swingweight which could impact swing speed for some players.

Mid to Lower Sides of Paddle

• Pros: Boosts stability and sweet spot without substantially increasing swingweight or raising the balance point. Good for control players.
• Cons: Doesn’t increase power as much as tape higher on the paddle.

Bottom of Paddle Near Throat

• Pros: Adds twist weight for stability. Slightly lowers balance point for quickness. Minimally impacts swingweight.
• Cons: Provides the least power benefit compared to other placements.

Along Upper and Lower Edges

• Pros: Can increase both power and control depending on whether you add more tape to top or bottom edge. Adding to the lower edge keeps the balance point lower.
• Cons: Can be difficult to keep tape only on the edges with thinner paddles.

How Lead Tape Affects Swing Weight

I conducted hands-on testing to compare how placement of 10 grams (about 0.35 ounces) of lead tape affected power, control, and feel for two different paddles.

Here are the results:

• Heaviest swingweight increase occurred with tape at the top corners. This added the most plow through and power.
• Biggest twistweight boost happened with tape on the sides. This maximized stability and control.
• Bottom corners changed the paddle’s playability the least while still providing some improvement.
• The lighter paddle saw slightly more variation from tape placement than the heavier paddle.

Step-by-Step Guide to Applying Lead Tape

Ready to get hands-on and start fine tuning your paddle’s performance? Here’s a step-by-step guide:

Choose Your Tape

Select lead or tungsten tape in the appropriate width and density for your paddle, as explained above. If you’ll be applying multiple pieces of tape, purchase a roll. For a single application, pre-cut strips can be easier.

Determine Placement

Decide where on your paddle you want to place the tape based on the performance benefits explained above. Start with either the sides or bottom edge to minimize the impact on swing weight.

Measure and Cut Tape

If using a tape roll, measure out the desired length for each piece and cut with scissors. Make each piece equal length for weight symmetry. Measure precisely to get the exact weight you want.

Weigh the Tape Pieces

Use a gram scale to weigh each piece and adjust the length to get your targeted weight. For example, cut two 5″ strips from 2 grams per inch tape to get 0.4 ounces total (10 grams each strip). Weigh pieces on a gram scale to dial in the perfect weight.

Apply the Tape

Peel off the backing paper and apply each piece of tape in your chosen location. Press down firmly. Carefully apply the lead tape to the desired areas.

Seal with Electrical Tape (Optional)

For comfort and to prevent the lead tape from peeling up, you can apply paddle grip tape over top. This also allows easy removal later if needed.

And you’re all done! Now it’s time to play test your newly enhanced paddle.

Adjusting and Removing Lead Tape

One of the great things about lead tape is that it’s easy to add, remove, and readjust until you get the paddle performance exactly how you like it.

To remove weighted tape, simply peel it off gently – the adhesive releases cleanly from paddle surfaces. Any remaining residue can be rubbed off.

To change the tape position or amount, just peel off and replace in the new location.

I suggest keeping extra tape on hand so you can experiment with adding or removing weight during play sessions until the paddle feels perfect.

Key Takeaways

That wraps up my full guide to using lead tape on your pickleball paddle. The key points to remember are:

Lead tape benefits:

• Increases Power – More weight toward the top of the paddle improves plow through and gives more spin potential.
• Enhances Control – Weight lower on the paddle lowers balance point for quickness while improving stability.
• Dials in Balance – Optimizes overall weight and balance point for your swing style and strength.
• Minimizes Weaknesses – Can reduce flexibility or dead spots and expand the sweet spot.
• Economical Upgrade – Significantly improves any paddle for a fraction of the cost of a new one.
• Fully Customizable – Lead tape lets you incrementally adjust weight, balance, feel until the paddle is perfect.
• Easy to Apply and Remove – You’re not permanently altering the paddle, so adjustments are simple.
• Lead tape lets you fine-tune weight, balance, power, control, and feel
• Placement matters more than amount. Tape low on the paddle for control, high on the paddle for power.
• Start with small pieces and work your way up until the paddle performs exactly how you want
• You can adjust and move the tape any time to get the perfect setup

I hope this gives you the confidence to try lead tape yourself.

Let me know how it works for you and if you have or need any other paddle customization tips.

-Rylan