Evolution of Tennis Racquets

Beginning of Tennis

Jan 1, 1000

French monks In the 11th or 12th century, French monks used human flesh (like handball) and hit against the wall, and eventually over the net. Eventually the French monks thought it was uncomfortable, so they started using gloves, webbing between fingers on gloves, or a solid wooden paddle.

Wooden Racquets

Jan 1, 1300

[Wooden Frame](wooden frame) In the 14th century, people started to string strings made of gut in a wooden frame. Italians are given credits to the invention of wooden racquets.

Tennis Racquet Popularity

Jan 1, 1500

[Tennis racquets](Tennis racquets) Tennis racquets became popular in the 1500s. Tennis racquets were very much like squash racquets, except it was played over a net instead of a wall.

Major Walter C. Wingfield

Jan 1, 1874

[Major Walter C. Wingfield](Major Walter C. Wingfield) Major Walter C. Wingfield asked his patent for the equipments and rules of the first version of outdoor tennis. Wingfield's equipments became popular and was sold to Russia, India, Canada, and China. Racquets were developing majorly for a 100 years after 1874. Thin layers of wood were glued together. Racquets weighed 13-14 ounces. The racquets' head sizes were around 65 square inches.

Metal Head Racquets

Jan 1, 1889

Metal Racquets The first metal head racquets were first used in 1889, but wasn't as popular as wooden racquets. In 1967, Wilson Sporting Goods made the first ever popular metal racquet, the T2000. The T2000 was lighter and stronger than wooden racquets. Jimmy Conners, a former top tennis player in the men's professional tennis, was famous for using the T2000.

Oversized Racquets

Jan 1, 1976

Oversized Racquets Howard Head, working at the Prince brand, introduced the very first popular oversized racquet, called the Prince Classic. In 1975, Weed USA introduced an oversized racquet, but the Prince Classic was more popular. The new oversized racquets were helpful to beginners, but not so much to experts. Advanced players wanted a stiffer frame for their racquets, so they have the frame made with either graphite or composite (expensive). Cheap frames are made of aluminum.

Regular Tennis Racquets

May 16, 1987

Today
Racquets Today
Since 1987 to now, most racquets are made of graphite material to provide the stiff feeling of the racquets. Carbon fiber is mixed with the graphite material in some racquets, because it increases stiffness and power. Racquets weigh from 7 ounces to 12.5 ounces today. The average head size of tennis racquets is 100 sq. inches and the length of the head is 27-27.5 inches.

Electronic Tennis Racquet

Dec 18, 2013

Babolat PLAY Babolat, one of the top tennis companies, invented the first electronic racquet, called the Babolat PLAY, and is the only company selling them. The Babolat PLAY can track what kind of shots you hit and where you hit the shot in percentage, track your speed of the shots you hit and the amount of different shots you hit in numbers, and put you in a ranking with people all over the world. The Babolat PLAY can interact with electronics using bluetooth or a USB. Y

Bibliography

May 18, 2015

Cooper, Jeff. "The History of Tennis Racquets - Part I." An Evolutionary History of Tennis Racquets. Jeff Cooper. Web. 16 May 2015. Arbenche, Tony. "Hand." The Meaning of the Dream in Which You Saw. Tony Arbenche. Web. 16 May 2015. "Antique Wood Tennis Rackets for Sale." Antique Wood Tennis Rackets for Sale. Web. 16 May 2015. "Vintage Wooden Tennis Racket & Press." Polyvore. Web. 16 May 2015. "Tennis." University of South Carolina Libraries. Web. 16 May 2015.

Bibliography 2

May 18, 2015

"Early Racquet Design, Unusual Handles & Metal Frames." Tennishistorycomau RSS. ADMIN, 27 Jan. 2010. Web. 16 May 2015. "Prince Classic (aluminum Racquet), 1977 - 80s-tennis.com" Prince Classic (aluminum Racquet), 1977 - 80s-tennis.com. Web. 16 May 2015. "Wilson Blade 98 (18×20) Racquet." Wilson Blade 98 (18×20) Racquet. Tennis Warehouse. Web. 16 May 2015. "Babolat PLAY Pure Drive Racquets." Babolat PLAY Pure Drive Racquets. Tennis Warehouse, 18 Dec. 2013. Web. 16 December 2015.

Bibliography 3

May 18, 2015

"How to Use Babolat PLAY." Youtube. Youtube, 18 Dec. 2013. Web. 16 May 2015.