A racket or racquet is a sports implement consisting of a handled frame with an open
hoop across which a network of cord is stretched tightly. It is used for striking a ball in
games such as squash, tennis, racquetball, and badminton. Collectively, these games are
known as racquet sports.This predecessor to the modern game of squash, rackets, is played
with 30 1⁄2 inches wooden rackets. While squash equipment has evolved in the intervening
century, rackets equipment has changed little. The frame of rackets for all sports was traditionally
made of laminated wood and the strings of animal intestine known as catgut. The traditional
racket size was limited by the strength and weight of the wooden frame which had to be
strong enough to hold the strings and stiff enough to hit the ball or shuttle. Manufacturers
started adding non-wood laminates to wood rackets to improve stiffness. Non-wood rackets
were made first of steel, then of aluminium, and then carbon fiber composites. Wood is
still used for real tennis, rackets, and xare. Most rackets are now made of composite materials
including carbon fibre or fiberglass, metals such as titanium alloys, or ceramics.
Gut has partially been replaced by synthetic materials including nylon, polyamide, and
other polymers. Rackets are restrung when necessary, which may be after every match
for a professional or never for a social player.
Spelling Racket is the standard spelling of the word
in the United States. Racquet is the standard spelling in the UK; used more commonly in
certain sports and less commonly in others. Racket is the preferred spelling in tennis.
While some writers, especially those outside North America, prefer the French-influenced
racquet, racket is the predominant spelling by a large margin. Similarly, while some believe
that racket came about as a misspelling of racquet, racket is in fact the older spelling:
it has been in use in British English since the 16th century, with racquet only showing
up later in the 19th century as a variant of racket.
Etymology The origin of the term "racket" is unclear.
According to a popular belief first published by Malcolm Whitman in 1932, the expression
comes from the Arabic term rahat al-yad, meaning "palm of hand". Modern research however reveals
this thesis in a highly questionable light. Instead, the term is more likely to be derived
from the Flemish word "raketsen" which is itself derived from Middle French "rachasser",
meaning "to strike back". Badminton
Badminton rackets are light, with top quality rackets weighing between about 80 and 100 grams.
Modern rackets are composed of carbon fibre composite, which may be augmented by a variety
of materials. Carbon fibre has an excellent strength to weight ratio, is stiff, and gives
excellent kinetic energy transfer. Before the adoption of carbon fibre composite, rackets
were made of wood to their excessive weight and cost.
There is a wide variety of racket designs, although the racket size and shape are limited
by the Laws. Different rackets have playing characteristics that appeal to different players.
The traditional oval head shape is still available, but an isometric head shape is increasingly
common in new rackets. Rackets
This predecessor to the modern game of squash, rackets, is played with 30 1⁄2 inches wooden
rackets. While squash equipment has evolved in the intervening century, rackets equipment
has changed little. Racquetball
According to the current Racquetball rules there are no limitations on the weight of
a racquetball racket.
The racket, including bumper guard and all solid parts of the handle, may not exceed
22 inches in length. The racket frame may be any material judged
safe. The racket frame must include a cord that
must be securely attached to the player's wrist.
The string of the racket must be gut, monofilament, nylon, graphite, plastic, metal, or a combination
thereof, and must not mark or deface the ball. Using an illegal racket will result in forfeiture
of the game in progress or, if discovered between games, forfeiture of the preceding
game.
Racquetball rackets, unlike many other types, generally have little or no neck, the grip
connecting directly to the head. They also tend to have head shapes that are notably
wider at the top, with some older rackets looking almost triangular or teardrop shaped.
Real tennis
The 27-inch long rackets are made of wood and use very tight strings to cope with the
heavy ball of real tennis. The racket head is bent slightly to make it easier to strike
balls close to the floor or in corners. Squash
Standard squash rackets are governed by the rules of the game. Traditionally they were
made of laminated timber, with a small strung area using natural gut strings. After a rule
change in the mid-1980s, they are now almost always made of composite materials such as
carbon fiber or metals with synthetic strings. Modern rackets are 70 cm long, with a maximum
strung area of 500 square centimetres and a mass between 90 and 200 grams.
Table tennis
A table tennis racket is used by players in the game table tennis. The racket is made
from laminated wood covered with rubber on one or two sides depending on the grip of
the player. This is called either a paddle, racket, or a bat, with usage differing by
region. In the USA the term "paddle" is common, in Europe the term is "bat", and the official
ITTF term is "racket." Tennis
The parts of a tennis racket are the head, rim, face, neck, butt/butt cap, handle, and
strings. Modern tennis rackets vary in length, weight,
and head size. 21" to 26" is normally a junior's length, while 27" or 27.5" are for stronger
and taller adult players. Weights of a racket also vary between 8 ounces unstrung and 12.5
ounces strung. Rackets originally flared outward at the bottom of the handle to prevent slipping.
The rounded bottom was called a bark bottom after its inventor Matthew Barker. But by
1947, this style became superfluous. Head size also plays a role in a racket's qualities.
A larger head size generally means more power and a larger "sweet spot" that is more forgiving
on off-center hits. A smaller head size offers more precise control. Current racket head
sizes vary between 85 sq. inches and 137 sq. inches, with most players adopting one from
95-105 sq. inches.
Throughout most of tennis' history, rackets were made of laminated wood, with heads of
around 65 square inches. In the late 1960s, Wilson produced the T2000 steel racket with
wire wound around the frame to make string loops. It was popularized by the top American
player Jimmy Connors. In 1975, aluminum construction allowed for the introduction of the first
"oversized" racket, which was manufactured by Weed. Prince popularized the oversize racket,
which had a head size of approximately 110 square-inches and opened the door for the
introduction of rackets having other non-standard head sizes such as mid-size and mid-plus size.
In the early 1980s, "graphite" composites were introduced, and other materials were
added to the composite, including ceramics, glass-fibre, boron, and titanium. The Dunlop
Max200G used by John McEnroe from 1983 was an early graphite racket, along with the very
popular Prince original graphite. Composite rackets are the contemporary standard.
Longer rackets were introduced by Dunlop to give additional reach for shots such as the
serve and volley where shorter players may be at a disadvantage. Mid-size or mid-plus
rackets are the general standard for professional players.
Stringing is an important factor in the performance of a tennis racket. A few elite players use
natural gut, but the vast majority of strings are a nylon or polyester synthetic. Some consider
the natural string to be more responsive, providing a better "feel", but synthetic is
favored for its much superior durability, consistency, as well as much lower cost. String
pattern is a function of the racket head size and design. A tighter pattern is considered
to deliver more precise control; a more "open" pattern to offer greater potential for power
and spin. Modern rackets are marked with a recommended string tension range. The basic
rule is that a lower tension creates more power and a higher string tension creates
more control References
External links
Tennis racket design by Howard Head; Smithsonian Institution Libraries
The History of Tennis Racquets — Evolution of the Modern Racquet
How Products are Made - Tennis Racket Gelberg, J. Nadine, "The Big Technological
Tennis Upset", Invention & Technology magazine, 1997