Anyone else use lead tape on their clubs?

[firstcut]

A while back I cut down my driver in an attempt to get a little better accuracy. I got a quick lesson in shaft/head dynamics and learned that by doing so I actually made the shaft swing stiffer, which for me is a bad thing.

Since then, I've been goofing around with lead tape at various sizes and locations on the driver head. I've been amazed at how much difference it makes. i.e., I've gone from a pretty consistent slice to a pretty consistent draw/hook, although the hook is getting better as I move or take off tape.

I've read various articles on the net about how it does or does not help. Obviously it really seems to be helping me. I can't believe no one told me about the miracle of lead tape until I almost destroyed my driver.

Anyone else use it? Do *you* notice a difference?

[tonyy]

I used lead tape on my putter because I had it cut down a bit. I put it on the bottom so it can't be seen. I haven't used it on any other clubs though because I don't really like the look of some random tape on my clubs. I know function over form, but it looks a little bit tacky. In my opinion at least. But hey, if it helps then I'm all for it.

[georgep]

I've used lead tape on all of my clubs at one point or another. I currently have it on my wedges and the putter I cut down 2 inches (I had about 15g of tape on it alone). I think lead tape looks kind of cool once it's been on a while and loses its shine. The key with lead tape in my opinion is to have a plan about what you're trying to achieve and to keep the lengths (and thus the weights) the same. Where you put it on the club matters too. Above the sweetspot will tend to lower the trajectory and vice versa. As TaylorMade and others have shown, you can also tweak your driver's ball flight quite a bit by putting weight in different locations.

[N.V.M.]

ok, so why does all the lead tape i use fly off after a few hits? this $2 crap i'm buying is made in China junk, what are you guys using?

[Stacey_E]

Lead tape will change your ball flight. But this happens only, repeat only, because you are then able to feel the head correctly. You need some 30 grams of lead tape to reposition the center of gravity on a club head. The effect you see by adding lead tape is due entirely to your ability to make a better swing with a clubhead you can actually feel. I have 27" of lead tape on my driver to compensate for a 1" shaft cut. Did it effect my ball flight? Yes. I am more consistantly hitting the center of the face and controling my flight. Is this due to changing the center of gravity of the clubhead? At 12 grams, I don't think so.

Just my opinion and the opinion of many club builders. But I'll be watching the forum for others opinions as well.

[firstcut]

  N.V.M. said:

ok, so why does all the lead tape i use fly off after a few hits? this $2 crap i'm buying is made in China junk, what are you guys using?

I bought mine at Golfsmith. I think it's their brand, but I can't remember the name off the top of my head. Red label. Sticks VERY well.

  Stacey_E said:

Lead tape will change your ball flight. But this happens only, repeat only, because you are then able to feel the head correctly. You need some 30 grams of lead tape to reposition the center of gravity on a club head. The effect you see by adding lead tape is due entirely to your ability to make a better swing with a clubhead you can actually feel. I have 27" of lead tape on my driver to compensate for a 1" shaft cut. Did it effect my ball flight? Yes. I am more consistantly hitting the center of the face and controling my flight. Is this due to changing the center of gravity of the clubhead? At 12 grams, I don't think so.

Ya, I've read something similar which is why I posted this.. Even if we subscribe to the "not enough weight to affect center of gravity", I *think* there are two factors missing.. 1. More weight reduces club head speed. 2. More weight adds flex to the shaft.

IMHO, that's more than just being able to feel the head better, although that may incorporate into what you mean when you say "feel the clubhead". I've been wondering if the tape is slowing down the clubhead and I'm getting my wrists turned over faster vs the weight keeping the head turned in itself? Regardless I'm going to try an experiment this weekend. As I've taken tape off, the hook has decreased. I don't know why. Instead of taking more tape off, I'm going to add the amount I've take off to the outside top of the club. If the weight is simply adding feel and helping my wrists to turn faster, then the tape on the outside should simply increase my hook. If the tape is in fact moving the center of gravity around the head, then I should see the hook straighten out. As a side note, I'm hitting a draw bias driver to begin with, although it didn't seem to help pre-cut and tape. That *may* be helping as well? Anyone know how much weight a manufacturer adds to a club to make it draw biased?

[NM Golf]

  firstcut said:

A while back I cut down my driver in an attempt to get a little better accuracy. I got a quick lesson in shaft/head dynamics and learned that by doing so I actually made the shaft swing stiffer, which for me is a bad thing.

How much did you cut it down? If you cut it from the butt end it shouldn't affect the stiffness too much unless you cut off several inches. You have to cut it down from the tip end (called tipping the shaft) to increase stiffness too much.

To answer your question no I do not use lead tape I have moveable weights in my driver and the clubs today have CG's put in places for specific reasons. To move the CG in a modern club it takes a great deal of lead tape which will screw up swing weight and possibly other swing characteristics.

[mikelz]

I have lead tape on 4 clubs in my bag.
I think it adds "character" - like Sean Connery's gray hair and wrinkles.

[TommyD69]

I too like the look of lead tape on my clubs... IMHO it means you are a player!

Moving the tape around the entire perimeter of your drive will really help you learn a lot about club dynamics. The closer you move the tape to the heel, the fast the toe will close, and create your draw. Vise versa, the closer the tape is to the toe, the slower the toe will close causing a fade.

I once heard the ice skater analogy. When the skater spins with her arms out stretched, she spins slower, when she pulls her arms in (closer to her center spin axis) she spins fast. It's the same (kinda) things with the lead tape and the shaft (the center of spin axis)...

Good luck, and have fun with it.

and wash your hands afterwards.

[ElWagonne]

I've used some lead tape on my driver to try to correct a problem with a fade. I put 3 1inch strips towards the heel of the club and it has worked pretty well. I did it because instead of getting a heavier shaft (currently using a stiff 65g) why not weigh the driver down with lead tape which only costs like $8 a roll @ Golfsmith....just my thought.

[NI4NI]

  Stacey_E said:

Lead tape will change your ball flight. But this happens only, repeat only, because you are then able to feel the head correctly. You need some 30 grams of lead tape to reposition the center of gravity on a club head. The effect you see by adding lead tape is due entirely to your ability to make a better swing with a clubhead you can actually feel. I have 27" of lead tape on my driver to compensate for a 1" shaft cut. Did it effect my ball flight? Yes. I am more consistantly hitting the center of the face and controling my flight. Is this due to changing the center of gravity of the clubhead? At 12 grams, I don't think so.

Can you share any pics for those of us interested in learning more?