Lead Tape

[kilbyman]

Is it viable to use lead tape to help me close the driver clubface on impact?

[drglew]

I believe the answer is probably "yes and no". (I have lead tape on several of my clubs, & used to use it on an old driver before I went to the adjustable Nickent Evolver).

Per USGA rule 4-1/4, lead tape may be applied to change the swingweight (and not for the purpose of changing flight characteristics). However, there's no rule on where you place it (besides on the face), so if you tend to push or slice and you want a heavier-feeling club, placing the tape nearer to the hosel in theory might make it easier to rotate the clubface closed. (It is against the rules to adjust the tape mid-round however.)

I do remember an article a while back (?Golf or Golf Digest) somewhere though that said that it would take a LOT of tape to make a significant difference--more strips than most would care to really use. That being said, lead tape is really cheap, and a lot easier to experiment with than buying a new driver! (and even if the results are more in the realm of psychology than physics, who cares as long as it helps!)

ADDENDUM: couldn't find the Golf digest article, but found this thread in a different forum which pretty much sums things up:
http://www.golfopinions.com/communit...=14274&p;=79330

[Shanks A Million]

You better have a lot of tape to change the flight of the ball. All it really does is relocate the center of gravity, and change the swingweight. So, if you catch clubs in the toe, you can put the tape on the toe to get the sweet spot closer to the toe. Other than that, it's won't do much.