World #1 player, Ben Johns, shares with us how he customizes the JOOLA Ben Johns Perseus CFS 16 to fit his game. Ben discusses how to make adjustments to your grip, weight distribution, and edge guard, why he makes these adjustments and what it does for his game.Adjusting the grip:

• STEP 1: Leave the stock grip that comes on the paddle
• STEP 2: Add another over-grip on top of the stock grip

Why two grips?Ben uses two grips to increase the feel that he has on the paddle. This may be a good idea for someone who has larger hands or feels like the paddle is slipping in their hand frequently. Someone with smaller hands may want to use only one grip.Adding Lead Tape:

• STEP 1: Starting with a roll of lead tape, cut four separate 5-inch strips
• STEP 2: Place a strip on each side of the throat of the paddle, starting just above the grip and finishing about a third of the way up the paddle, trying to make the sides as symmetrical as possible.
• STEP 3: Repeat step 2 by placing the second set of strips directly on top of the first set of strips.

Ben states that he places his lead tape at the base of the paddle to offer more stability and control on his shots because he feels as though he has enough power and spin. Placing lead tape more so at the top of the paddle would be a way to increase power or spin if a player desired.It is important to note that the location and density of lead tape on a paddle should vary based on personal preference and your game style.  Adding Electrical Tape: The last step of setting up your paddle is adding electrical tape around the edge. Adding a layer of extra tape around the edge will protect your pieces of lead from being damaged and protect you from touching the lead that may be harmful to your health. The electrical tape can be placed all the way around the edge of the paddle, or strictly over the pieces of lead. For a more in depth explanation, watch the full video below. 



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