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what does lead tape do for golf clubs

by Reyes Dooley MD Published 2 years ago Updated 2 years ago
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Lead tape can be applied pretty much anywhere you want. From the clubhead, in the cavity of your irons, directly on the shaft, or even underneath your grip. The point of lead tape is to increase the swing weight of a club by adding weight. In theory, it can help you hit it further and straighter than a lighter club.

What pros use lead tape on golf clubs?

Placing led tape on the shaft of the club underneath the grip is a practice which Jack Nicklaus and Sergio Garcia have implemented throughout their careers. The method, known as counter-balancing, is said to make the club feel lighter and is designed to help a golfer gain extra swing speed.12 Dec 2020

How does lead tape affect ball flight?

Apply lead tape on the front portion of the sole near the face. This will drag CG low and forward, helping knock spin rates down and lower the ball flight. Watch out, because this lead tape positioning could reduce forgiveness, thus placing greater importance on center strikes.4 Feb 2020

Should I put lead tape on my driver?

Add lead tape to the bottom of the driver's heel (near the shaft) to prevent or minimize a slice. This has the opposite effect of placing tape on the toe. Adding tape to the heel makes the toe relatively lighter so that it moves quicker, helping the golfer square the clubface on impact.

Is lead tape on golf clubs illegal?

Is lead tape allowed? The USGA stipulates in Rule 14-3 that “Lead tape may be applied to the head or shaft of the club for the purpose of adding weight (see Decisions 4-1/4 and 4-2/0.5)”.9 Aug 2019

How do you apply lead tape to irons?

1:124:50How to add LEAD tape to your GOLF Clubs | Beginner Golf Ep.1 - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipSo for me i like to add it more towards the middle of the club. And that's kind of what i do here iMoreSo for me i like to add it more towards the middle of the club. And that's kind of what i do here i put it right in the middle.

Why use lead tape on golf clubs?

But there is another reason for using lead tape on a golf club, and this one is legit: changing the swingweight. Adding lead tape will increase the swingweight of a golf club, increasing the feel of more weight or "heft" during the swing.

What is lead foil tape?

Lead is a very heavy metal, and when made into a tape (sometimes called "lead foil" or "lead foil tape") it can be affixed to a golf clubhead, adding weight. But what's the point of adding lead tape to golf clubs?

Who is Brent Kelley?

Brent Kelley is an award-winning sports journalist and golf expert with over 30 years in print and online journalism. One of my earliest encounters with golf technology—beyond just owning and using standard golf clubs—was the time a childhood friend added strips of lead tape to the clubhead of his driver.

Why do golfers use lead tape?

How and why to add lead tape to golf clubs. Many tour pros apply lead tape to their clubs to alter the weight of the club, how it feels, affect the ball’s trajectory, and to help cure a swing defect. Despite the increase of weight adjustability features in modern drivers, lead tape’s enduring prominence in today’s game is necessary to note.

Where to put lead tape on a golf ball?

If you’re struggling with a low ball flight and a lack of forgiveness on your drives, you can apply lead tape to the rear portion of the sole away from the face. This will pull CG (center of gravity) more rearward, resulting in a driver offering higher spin and launch.

How much does lead tape weigh?

Lead tape can be applied in a multitude of ways to a golf club, and its function is to increase the swing weight of the club, as a 1-inch strip of lead tape typically weighs about 1 gram. So not only can it help fix a common miss or change shot shape, the added weight can, in theory, help you hit the ball further and straighter.

Where is lead tape applied on a golf wedge?

Since you don’t shape your wedge shots, lead tape is applied directly behind the center of the wedge. In doing so, the heavier swing weight can benefit ball flight and ball striking. Some pros believe placing lead tape lower on the club will help increase launch as well.

How to stop slicing the ball?

To stop slicing the ball or promote a draw. Place a strip of tape on the heel portion of the driver, typically on the bottom of the clubhead. In doing so, the heel will be weighed down by the added weight from the lead tape, allowing the toe to release more.

Can you put lead tape on a putter?

Putter. Yes, you can even apply lead tape to your putter , and it’s something 15-time major champion Tiger Woods has done in the past. Sole of Putter: Placing lead tape on the sole of the putter will help square the putter at impact assisting those who struggle with opening or shutting the putter face.

Can you use lead tape on a big stick?

Applying lead tape to your driver can help you fix your big miss. Applying lead tape to the big stick in the bag can alter a multitude of different factors. Let’s take a look at where to use an inch of lead tape depending on what your desired goals are/what your primary struggle is with the club.

Why use lead tape on golf clubs?

This is great but it is a fixed weight in fixed positions. Lead tape gives you far more flexibility as to where the weight goes and how much of it there is.

Why do you put lead tape on a putter?

The only reason to add lead tape to your putter is to add swingweight or counterbalance the weight by adding it under the grip. If your putter is shorter than standard you may want to add a little bit of tape to improve the weighting of the putter.

How to increase spin on golf wedges?

Adding Lead Tape To Wedges. Wedges will require a similar approach to your irons. You can actually increase and decrease your spin by adding tape to different areas. Lead tape added to the bottom of your wedge can help increase the spin you impart on the ball and give you more control around the greens.

Is lead tape reversible?

As I discussed in the section before this, adding lead tape can help correct shot shape issues or even give you a shape that you are struggling with. The best thing about tape is that it is reversible too.

Is fairway wood the same as driver?

The positions for tape on a fairway wood are the same as the driver. This will be of little surprise since the clubs have very similar shaped heads. One benefit of a fairway wood over the driver is how much side spin you can put on the ball.

Can lead tape help you swing?

The golf swing is a very personal thing, it is like a fingerprint. Whilst the golf club market has never had so many customisation options, sometimes you need a little tweak and lead tape can help you. For the skilled golfer, lead tape can make your clubs absolutely perfect and save you strokes.

Why do golfers use lead tape?

Golf players apply lead tape on their club’s driver to alter the clubs weight distribution. Adding weight can alter the golf balls flight of path and increase distances. Expert professionals have a mixed opinion on the benefits of lead tape usage. Some professionals of the PGA pros, like Phil Michelson, have enjoyed using lead tape on their clubs.

What is lead tape?

Lead tape is an affordable way for tweaking you performance on the golf course. If you have been experiencing some minor swing faults or would like to enhance the weight of the club, you should try using a lead tape. It’s best to use tapes that are available in rolls and not the pre-cut varieties.

How to fix a golf driver?

To help you rectify further faults you should keep the following in mind: 1 If you want to reduce the hook of your driver, add a piece of tape to the tip or the toe of the club head. 2 If you usually square the clubface, then add a piece of tape to the heel of the driver. 3 If the driver’s center of gravity is giving you issues and you wish to alter it, you can add some tape close to the bottom of the driver. 4 You can add some tape around the grip area to help counterbalance your driver.

How does lead tape help golf?

Lead tape for golf is an effective way to improve your game by altering the weight of your clubs and shaft. But don’t forget, lead tape is a band-aid fix and suggest to always look at addressing the big issues like grip, stance, and alignment to create a consistent swing.

What is lead tape used for?

Finally, lead tape has been used by iconic players such as Jack Nicklaus to increase the clubhead’s swingweight. You can use it to act as a counter-balance to the head and possibly gain extra swing speed.

How to use a putter?

If you want to use it on your putter, you can add it to several places including: 1 Putter sole: If you’re struggling with closing or opening the face, you can add a few strips underneath on the side in which you aren’t closing. This should help square the putter at impact for a better roll. 2 Putter cavity: Depending on the shape of your putter, you can also add it on the blade or the cavity behind the center of the clubhead. 3 Putter shaft: Finally, you can also add it to the sole of the putter well. This can help with your tempo and ensure a smooth 1-2 stroke.

Does a heavier putter help with putting?

While it works for all clubs from wedges to drivers, don’t forget that it can help your putting as well. A lot of golfers prefer a heavier putter as it makes it easier to keep the putter on a straight back, straight through path.

Why do golfers use lead tape?

Some other golfers, including Jack Nicklaus and Sergio Garcia, have used lead tape under the grip to reduce the clubhead’s swingweight. This makes the club feel lighter and theoretically, can help a golfer gain some extra swingspeed. This is also known as “counter-balancing”—a topic we’ve saved for another post.

What is lead tape used for?

It was used to add weight to various places on the clubhead or putter, changing not only the club’s actual weight, but also how it feels.

Does lead tape make a difference?

But where lead tape will definitely make a difference is in a club’s total weight and swingweight. Obviously, the more tape you add, the heavier your club gets. And some players simply like the way heavier clubs feel. When it comes to swingweight though, most golfers who use lead tape apply it to the clubhead to increase the clubs swingweight ...

Is lead tape safe to use?

Lead tape (or lead foil as it’s sometimes called) is generally considered safe to use, as long as you use it properly. If you stick to putting it places where you’re not going to come into contact with it on a regular basis, you should be fine. Also, don’t store lead tape in your golf bag—it can rub off and get on other items, and then gets on you. When it doubt, check the instructions (if any) that comes with your lead tape and wear gloves when handling it.

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