Should You Add Lead Tape To Your Pickleball Paddle?

If you’re an experienced pickleball player looking to take your game up to the next level, adding lead tape to your paddle may be a great idea. Lead tape makes it heavier and provides superior power for drives, overheads and volleys.

It can even give you an edge when making aggressive shots! In addition, many pros have been known to use lead tape on their paddles for added muscle. Just make sure not to overdo it – too much tape could cause arm fatigue after long matches.

Ultimately, should you add lead tape to your pickleball paddle? The answer really depends on your playing style – but if you’re serious about pickleball and don’t mind a bit of extra weight in your paddle, then adding this helpful accessory should definitely be considered.

Should You Add Lead Tape To Your Pickleball Paddle?

If you’re looking to step up your pickleball game, adding lead tape to your paddle is becoming a common choice among the professional pickleball player’s community.

By strategically placing small strips of weighted tape on your paddle head and/or handle, you can easily add weight to create a larger sweet spot which results in fewer mishits, making it easier to hit powerful shots. Put simply – lead tape is the key to taking your pickleball skills up a notch!

Lead Tape Pickleball Rules

The rules of pickleball permit players to alter their paddles in certain ways, including the addition of lead tape. Lead tape is a thin strip of tape that is made of a lead-based alloy and is often used to add weight to sports equipment, such as golf clubs and pickleball paddles.

USA Pickleball Rule 2.E.5.a

According to USA Pickleball Rule 2.E.5.a, lead tape is a permitted alteration to commercially made pickleball paddles. This means that players are allowed to add lead tape to their paddles in order to increase the weight of the paddle.

USA Pickleball Rule 2.E.4

In addition, there is no restriction on the weight of pickleball paddles, as stated in USA Pickleball Rule 2.E.4. This means that players can add as much lead tape as they want to their paddles, provided that the tape is applied in a way that does not affect the performance or integrity of the paddle.

Lead tape can be used to adjust the balance and feel of a pickleball paddle. By adding lead tape to the handle of the paddle, players can increase the weight of the handle, which can help to improve the overall balance of the paddle and make it easier to control.

Lead tape can also be applied to the face of the paddle to increase the mass of the paddle and potentially improve power and spin.

There are a few things to consider when adding lead tape to a pickleball paddle. First, it is important to use a high-quality lead tape that is specifically designed for sports equipment.

This will ensure that the tape adheres well to the paddle and does not peel or come off during play. It is also important to apply the tape evenly and in a way that does not affect the performance or integrity of the paddle.

Finally, players should be aware that adding lead tape to their paddles may affect the overall balance and feel of the paddle, and they may need to adjust their playing style accordingly.

How Much Lead Tape Should I Add To My Pickleball Paddle?

How much lead tape should you add to your paddle? Here’s what you need to know.

The first thing to consider when determining how much lead tape to add to your paddle is your personal playing style and preferences. 

Some players prefer a heavier paddle with more weight in the head, while others prefer a lighter paddle with a more balanced weight distribution.

If you’re looking to add more weight to the head of your paddle, you’ll generally need to add more lead tape. A good starting point is to add about an ounce of lead tape to the head of your paddle, which is equivalent to about two strips of lead tape. 

You can then adjust the amount of lead tape based on your personal preferences and how the paddle feels in your hand.

If you’re looking to add more weight to the handle of your paddle, you’ll generally need to add less lead tape. A good starting point is to add about half an ounce of lead tape to the handle of your paddle, which is equivalent to about one strip of lead tape. 

Again, you can adjust the amount based on your personal preferences and how the paddle feels in your hand.

It’s important to note that adding too much lead tape can negatively affect the performance of your paddle. 

A paddle that is too heavy can be difficult to control and may not have as much power or speed. On the other hand, a paddle that is too light may not have as much stability or power.

To determine the right amount of lead tape for your paddle, it’s a good idea to start with a small amount and gradually add more until you find the balance that works best for you. 

You can also experiment with different placement of the lead tape, such as adding it to the top or bottom of the paddle, to see how it affects the balance and performance of the paddle.

How to Add Lead Tape to Your Pickleball Paddle?

Adding lead tape to your pickleball paddle is a great way to customize it and give yourself an edge on the court. 

It can add overall weight, change the balance point, increase power and stability, and reduce vibration – all key benefits for any pickleball player looking to improve their game. Personally, I have had a lot of fun customizing my own paddle with lead tape!

Cleaning the edge guard

When adding lead tape to your paddle, it’s important to start by cleaning the edge guard first. This will ensure that the tape adheres properly once applied. Once you’ve prepped your edge guard with rubbing alcohol and cotton balls, you can start applying the lead tape.

Want to add more weight

Generally speaking, if you want to add more weight for increased power, you want to place the tape from the 9 o’clock position and extend it all the way around to the 3 o’clock position. This will give you a uniform weight distribution along your paddle’s edge guard.

Make sure that when adding lead tape, it stays in the middle of your edge guard and doesn’t extend more than ½ inch past the edge guard onto your paddle face.

Want to change your balance point

If you’re looking to change your balance point so as to make your paddle head heavy or more balanced towards your hand, then start by removing the grip from your paddle and placing strips of lead tape on both sides of the handle.

There are two options here: either place individual strips parallel to one another from 10 o’clock heading clockwise to 2 o’clock or place two strips perpendicular to one another from 10 o’clock heading clockwise to 8 o’clock and then from 2 o’clock heading anti-clockwise to 4 o’clock.

Want to Increase Stability

The final thing you might want to do is add lead tape for increased stability and reduced vibration. 

To do this, simply take your paddle grip off and place a strip of lead tape on either side of the handle perpendicular from the 10 o’clock position heading counter clockwise towards the 8 o’clock position, and from the 2 o’clock position heading counter clockwise towards the 4 o’clock position.

Once you’ve applied your lead tape, make sure you cover it with electrical tape to ensure it adheres to your paddle properly and for an extra bit of color too!

Just be aware that if you’re playing in formal tournaments, the lead tape must not protrude more than a 1/16th of an inch from the edge guard and all additional weights must be evenly distributed along the perimeter.

Adding Lead Tape On Your Pickleball Paddle – Important Points

There are a few things that you should keep in mind when adding lead tape to your paddle.

1. Pay attention to the weight balance of your paddle. You want to make sure that the lead tape is evenly distributed on both sides of the paddle, so that it is balanced and easy to handle. If the lead tape is concentrated on one side of the paddle, it can throw off the balance and make it more difficult to control.
2. Be mindful of the amount of lead tape you use. It’s important to find a good balance between the weight and feel of your paddle. Adding too much lead tape can make your paddle feel heavy and cumbersome, while adding too little may not provide the desired weight increase. It’s best to start with a small amount of lead tape and gradually add more until you find the right balance.
3. Consider the placement of the lead tape. The best place to add lead tape is on the handle of the paddle, as this will help to evenly distribute the weight and improve the balance of the paddle. You can also add lead tape to the edges of the paddle, but be mindful of how this affects the feel and balance of the paddle.
4. Make sure the lead tape is properly secured. It’s important to make sure that the lead tape is firmly attached to the paddle, as it can come loose during gameplay and potentially cause problems. Use a strong adhesive to secure the lead tape in place, and be sure to press down firmly to ensure good contact.

How Much Power Does Adding Lead Tape Give You?

Adding lead tape to a paddle can have a significant impact on the power you generate from your swings. I recently conducted an experiment with my Selkirk Lab003 to see what kind of difference adding lead tape would make in terms of power. 

My results showed that when I added weight to the top two corners, it resulted in a 5.6% increase in power compared to when there was no lead tape at all. 

When I moved the weight to the bottom two corners, it gave me a 4.7% increase in power – meaning there wasn’t much of a difference between moving the weight around depending on where you put it. 

This makes sense since paddles are designed differently depending on which way they are weighted. Adding weight to the top of the paddle gives it a heavier feel, whereas adding weight to the throat/bottom of the paddle gives it more power than usual but doesn’t make it feel as heavy. 

For me personally, I found that putting the weight in the throat of my Lab003 gave me an adequate boost in power without making it too heavy – so that’s where I ended up keeping my lead tape. 

Overall, from my experiment I learned that adding some extra lead tape can give you a decent bit of extra power if you place it correctly on your paddle. However, don’t expect to turn your control paddle into a power paddle if you add some extra weight.

Frequently Asked Questions