Lead tape on a wood shaft....

[johnnypro]

I've seen shafts with lead tape applied just below the grip and I've seen others with lead tape applied at or just above the ferrule. What purpose does it serve when applied in either place??

[acrazygolfer]

I think Tiger added lead tape to his graphite shaft to achieve the same heavy feel as in his steel shaft driver. Adding lead tape to the butt end will reduce the swing weight but does minimal, or nothing, to the dynamics of the club. A strip of 4" x 1/2" lead tape equals to 1 swing weight point. Most golfers cannot detect a 1 swing weight point change.

[NickBooras]

It's generally used for swing weighting or for modifying the static weight of a club. Usually 4 grams of tape under the grip will reduce the swing weight by about a point, two grams to the head will increase it by a point. The general rule of thumb for shafts is that a 9 gram increase in shaft weight will increase the swing weight by one point, but that depends on where exactly you add the weight...a 65 gram shaft will not always be exactly 1 swing weight heavier than a 55 gram shaft...

Some players also use the tape to change the center of gravity on the club head, and by extension the trajectory of the golf ball. Higher, lower, draw bias, fade bais, etc. For a very good player (read: 5 handicap or better) this is a very effective tool, but when I talk to 20+ handicappers who add 2 grams of tape to the heel of their driver to stop their 40 yard slice...well...I can't help but laugh.