Lead tape is a great way to experiment with different swing-weights because it is so versatile. You can put it on at the range, and take it off as well. This page will teach you how to apply lead tape to different types of clubs.
Before You Start, You Must:
- Understand What Swing-Weight Is
- Measure the current swing-weight of the club you are applying the lead tape to
Here is a reference before we start:
| 4.5 inches 1/2″ lead tape | 1 Swing-weight Point |
| 3.15 inches 1/2″ high density lead tape | 1 Swing-weight Point |
How to Apply Lead Tape
In order to get the lead tape to stick to the area that you are applying it, you must make sure that the area is clean. Also, you can lightly sand down the area with 200-800 grit sandpaper to prep the surface. Last, the area must be relatively flat.
Once you have chosen an area, prepped it, and applied the lead tape, use a golf ball to flatten it out. A credit card works too.
Putter
There are two areas that you can apply lead tape to on a putter. Some putters are oddly shaped, so if in doubt, always apply the tape to the sole of the putter.
Irons and Wedges
When applying lead tape to irons and wedges, make sure you are putting it where all of the weight is. As in the picture, you can see that I’m applying the tape to the thick part of the wedge.
Hybrids, Woods, Drivers
There are a few options when it comes to the tee clubs. Believe it or not, where you apply the lead tape can significantly affect the shape of your shots.
This first photo is an example of a “neutral” lead tape application. This will not alter your ball flight.
The next photo is an application to the toe of the club. When you put weight on the toe of the club, it slows down the “closing” or “rotation” of the clubface, promoting a left to right shot for the right-handed golfer, and a right to left shot for the left-handed golfer. In other words, applying lead tape to the toe promotes a fade shot shape.
The final photo is an application to the heel of the club. As you can see, this driver doesn’t have many places to put the lead tape, but the spot I’ve located should work. As the opposite effect of the previous photo, when we apply lead tape to the heel of the club, it speeds up the “closing” or “rotation” of the clubface, promoting a right to left shot for the right-handed golfer, or a left to right shot for the left-handed golf. In other words, applying lead tape to the heel promotes a draw shot shape.
**Disclaimer–By no means will applying lead tape automatically cure your 40 yard banana slice. That will require lots of practice! If you put a few pieces of lead tape on the heel of the club, you might be able to turn your 5 yard fade into a straight shot or a 1 yard draw, but nothing more.
In Summary
I hope that you have found this page informative. Once again, if you are new to swing-weighting, I highly recommend using lead tape to experiment rather than getting into lead powder, counterweighting, and tip weighting.
Good stuff.. thanks
You’re welcome! Thanks for visiting the site!
i’ll be trying this as soon as my lead tape arrives, i’ll let you know how i get on.
A little bit of lead tape can seriously be a game changer!
Thanks for the information. I’ll be adding some lead tape to my putter, maybe a little on the driver too.
Zach thank you for your advice on applying lead tape. I was wondering if you have any suggestions for weight transfer or weight shift when one has medical issues. You see I underwent major surgery and as a result I only have 50% balance on my left side. I also have ACL damage to my left knee. What I find is that I am hesitant to put a lot of weight on my left side. Thank you.
Mike–I will be honest, I have not studied much on the golf swing with medical issues. Getting the weight to the left side is important for a golfer, so my suggestion would be to look into the Stack and Tilt golf swing where you start with your weight forward and end with your weight forward. This would help you avoid the weight shifting that I’m guessing is painful for your knee. You’ve got to get the weight forward somehow, so hopefully this helps.
Many thanks for your help on applying the lead tape towards.
Alistair
You’re welcome!
Most of the lead tape discussions I’ve read focus on the effects on swing weights, toe and heel weighting, putter feel, and can you really move the CoG enough to notice.
What I’ve read little to nothing on however is the effect of greater clubhead weight (even a small amount) on the increased load on the shaft, and more significantly, the relative weights of the clubhead and the ball (where the equal and opposite reaction occurs)…1 gram might be less than 1/200 the weight of the clubhead, but a golf ball only weighs 45+ to nearly 46 grams.
If I can increase the “pop” of the shaft, then I might be able to play a lower torque shaft without sacrificing distance. And if I can increase the weight of the clubhead relative to the weight of the ball without losing swing speed, then I can increase initial ball speed.
Tape is cheap relative to almost all other aspects of golf. In my experience both of those factors combine to make experimenting with tape very worthwhile.