The Changes That Tennis Rackets Have Undergone




by Tom Doerr


Practically everything that has been created has been improved at some point in time, including tennis rackets. These have certainly been around for quite some time, and the history and changing technology of tennis rackets will be described below to enable the individual consumer to better understand them and make the best choice when it comes to purchasing them.

A good place to start would be to learn about the game itself and how it was played back in the 12th century in France and in England. Firstly, it was played indoors using only the palm of the hand that would strike the ball against the wall. The first rackets came into play somewhere in the 16th century.

The original models were made of laminate wood. From the 16th century until the 1960s, they remained pretty much the same, until steel was brought into the design by the Wilson company. The 1970s brought the introduction of aluminum and over-sized faces and rims, which totaled 110 square inches from the original 65.

Graphite was later introduced in the 80s, which opened doors to other materials as well, like titanium, ceramics, boron, and glass-fiber that were added to the composite. From there, other changes occurred in the lengths of the handles, which gave shorter players a better advantage with a longer reach.

A modern tennis racket, through all its changes and improvements, now provides the player with many more opportunities and personal preferences to improve individual's game. For instance, lightweight technology combined with larger faces and better strings enables the player to swing faster and have a bigger sweet spot for optimum play.

There are many considerations that need to be carefully thought out besides the ones mentioned above. For example, the grip size certainly provides comfort, but also avoids any injury to the player. The balance, the brand and head size also play a big role in what separates a good model from other competing models.




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