Evaluation of Racket Head Weight Augmentation Through Lead Tape Application on Accuracy in Tennis First-Serve Performance

The purpose of this study was to determine if adding weight to the head of a tennis racket affects first-serve accuracy. It was hypothesized that the addition of weight to the head of the racket with lead tape would increase first-serve accuracy due to increased racket stability and a reduction in the effects of off-center hits. To test this hypothesis, an experimental design was employed using a Yonex EZONE 98 tennis racket with varying amounts of lead tape applied to the racket head (0g, 6g, 12g, and 18g). Fifty serves were executed for each weight condition, divided between the deuce and ad sides of the court, at the Spring Valley High School tennis courts under controlled environmental conditions. The accuracy was recorded and analyzed using a camera on the receiving side of the court. A chi-square test of independence was used to evaluate the influence of racket head weight on serve accuracy. The results showed that there was no significant relationship between racket weight and serve accuracy, χ² (3, N = 200) = 4.32, p = 0.228, with an effect size (Cramér's V) of 0.11. While trends show that serve accuracy peaked at 66% with 6g of weight, it decreases for heavier weights, reaching 48% at 18g. These results indicate that the weight of the racket head does not significantly affect first-serve accuracy within the conditions tested. This study demonstrates the complexity of tennis performance and tests the idea that increasing racket inertia uniformly benefits all aspects of serve performance.