Technology Which Changed Tennis Game

As you go through a tennis racquet selection guide, you are likely to come across products that come with the fanciest technologies and the latest developments. The goal of these technologies is to improve your game. Some examples include the development of durable and lighter tennis rackets and strings to enable players to play better, save money, and reduce their risk of injury. The following is an overview of some of the most commonly used pieces of tennis equipment made as the result of technological developments:

Graphite rackets – Consult any tennis racquet selection guide and you will find that the most highly recommended rackets are those that are made of graphite and Kevlar. These materials changed the tennis game, as they helped players swing faster with lightweight frames. However, it enabled players to develop stronger bodies and higher technique requirements, too. Performance tennis rackets are manufactured with combined fibers that change their feel, response, and flexibility for every player.

Polyester strings – Polyester is another major game changer in tennis. It was introduced in the mid to late 1990s as synthetic strings, which helped develop aggressive and offensive tennis players. The strings are durable and capable of keeping up with the demands of professional and trained players, as they help generate more spin and speed.

Telemetry sensors – These are devices that help players keep tabs on their game and serve as an aid in improving their technique by providing real-time data analysis. The information is generated from the racket, so the data is more accurate. A tennis racquet selection guide can recommend specialized rackets with telemetry sensors.

Hawk eye – Introducing computer systems to the court has helped tournaments in accurate scoring. The Hawk Eye is a computer system designed to track a ball’s trajectory. Though it was initially used for replay purposes on TV and broadcast systems, it enabled players to understand the trajectory of the ball, too.

Things You Didn’t Know About Tennis Racquets

The tennis Racquet is like your trusty partner on the court, but do you know it well? Here are 20 things you may be surprised to learn about tennis Racquets:

• Tennis Racquets used to be made of wood from the 15th century to 1965, and they had strings made from cow intestines, which have been twisted and stretched to create an elastic surface with a high tension on the Racquet’s head.

• Before the 15th century, Tennis-like games used to be played literally by hand and people wore custom-made gloves or wrapped rope around their hands.

• Rene Lacoste created the first Racquet with a steel frame, and it revolutionized the manufacture of tennis Racquets when it enabled the increase string tension and the size of the head.

• The first professional player to use steel tennis Racquets was Jimmy Connors.

• The first modification made to traditional gut string Racquets was accomplished with nylon strings.

• For years, a lot of professional players believed that wooden Racquets provided greater ball control and accuracy, so they refused to use steel frame Racquets. However, the wooden Racquets were no match to the steel framed Racquet’s power.

• Wooden Racquets typically weighed around 350 grams, and some weighed half a kilogram. Modern Racquets weigh an average of around 250 grams, with lighter versions available.

• Tennis Racquets that are supposedly made of graphite are not made using the mineral that bears the same name. Instead, ‘graphite’ pertains to the reinforced thermoplastic visco-elastic polymer, which is durable and lightweight.

• Graphite tennis Racquets were popularized by John McEnroe.

• Many of the tennis Racquets we know today are manufactured in Asia, particularly in Japan.

• Some modern Racquets have heads with tiny chambers, which contain ball bearings to absorb impact and to minimize tennis elbow.

• High-quality Racquets are sold without their strings, so experienced players have more freedom to pick the strings and tension according to their preference.

• In the 1980s, ITF banned ‘spaghetti string’ Racquets to prevent low-ranked players from consistently defeating skilled players.

• Low tension strings offer more power, and high tensions provide more control over the ball’s behavior.

• The spacing of the tennis Racquet’s strings can affect the ball’s angle of deflection. Hence, rules restrict the distance to 1.3cm.

• A modern tennis Racquet has a head with a surface area that can be as big as 137 square inches, which is almost double the maximum size of the head of wooden Racquets.

• If you choose a lightweight Racquet, you get a smaller sweet spot, more vibration, and reduced power.

• The size of the tennis Racquet’s grip is more crucial than other factors when choosing a tennis Racquet. Choose the wrong size and you risk injury and becoming easily fatigued.

• There are no laws regulating tennis Racquet length.

• The tennis Racquet evolved with reducing vibrations upon impact with tennis balls as the main goal.

How to Buy a Tennis Racket – 3 Secrets to Save You Time and Money

Want to learn how to buy a tennis racket? There is a lot to know! In fact, our algorithm searched over 4,500 data points to the top 300 rackets on the market. Figure doing that by hand might take…oooohh two weeks or so. Here is what you need to do:

1. Test the Racket First

When you first read blogs on how to buy a tennis racket, you will mostly likely read a long article but nothing about demo’ing the racket. Always test the racket! Before proceeding to buy a tennis racket, it is vital that you test it out. Whether this be by playing a match or two with it, or simply feeling the racket in your hands and attempting a few air swings, both can be very telling. With this latter approach, you will probably be able to feel if the racket is suited to you, and the former will leave no uncertainties. Although buying online can be an easy and quick option, it simply isn’t worth the risk. There is no worse feeling than hitting your first ball with a new racket, only to realize that it isn’t right for you.

2. Size Matters
Many people adopt a “one size fits all” rationale when it comes to tennis rackets, but following this mindset will cost you dearly. In fact, there are many sizes to consider with tennis rackets, such as the head size, grip size and racket length.

The head size of your racket depends upon your ability. If you are a beginner, then a racket with a large head size is appropriate (above 105 inches), as this larger frame will provide more power and obviously will make it easier to hit the ball. In contrast, advanced players require rackets with small head sizes (below 95 inches) for more control. Intermediates benefit from head sizes between 95-105 inches which offer a nice blend of control and power.

Your grip size is based upon the size of your hand. To calculate your grip size, vertically measure the distance from your ring finger to the intersection between your thumb and index finger in the middle of your palm with a ruler in inches. It is important to be as accurate as possible with your measurement, as the slightest fraction can make a big difference.

As with the other two sizes, racket lengths are also easy to work out. Nearly all adult rackets are 27 inches in length, and a child’s age and height determines what length their racket will be.

Weight is also a topic that could fall under this section. Essentially, you must ensure that you are comfortable with the weight of your racket, as one that is too heavy or too light will negatively affect your game.

3. Don’t be Fooled

Even if their racket looks the same as the millions that are being sold in sports shops around the world, the specifications will not match, and they will be entirely different. Do not choose a racket simply because your favorite player uses it or one of the top pros promote it; choose a racket which genuinely improves your game.

Lastly, do not fool yourself. If you are a beginner, do not opt for the most expensive and extravagant racket out there that is made for advanced players. Buy a beginners racket which will help you progress most, and will save you money to begin with. Then before you know it, you’ll be a high-level player with an advanced tennis racket, and hopefully your path to this point will have been mistake-free thanks to this article.

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Tips for Choosing the Best Racquet to Benefit Your Playstyle

There are literally thousands of different tennis rackets to choose from, and yet it’s extremely rare for two rackets to play exactly the same. A slightly thicker beam or even an extra gram of weight can massively affect your performance on the court.

Weight and Balance

Tennis rackets weigh anywhere from 245 grams (super lightweight) to 340 grams (super heavy). Choosing something too light or too heavy for you can negatively affect your game. Worse, it might cause arm injuries.

Professional racquet stringers in sports shops usually have machines that can determine the weight, balance, and swing weight of a racket. These machines are equipped with gauges and sensors that provide accurate measurements of a racket's balance. Tennis rackets with balance points above 330mm are head-heavy. Those in the 315 to 330mm range are balanced, and those under 315mm are head light.

So which one should you choose? Head-heavy racquets are recommended for baseline players as well as beginners. Advanced players typically prefer a more balanced or head-light racquet that is more maneuverable, in general. Head-light rackets are also easier to use for net play and volleying. Head-heavy rackets, on the other hand, provide more power. They also help you hit top spin. A balanced tennis racket can provide a bit of both, and are usually preferred by base-liners at the back of the court.

The Takeaway

If you’re a beginner player and want something basic, buy a balanced racquet preferably with an oversized head. A 27-inch lightweight racquet with a head that’s at least 106 square inches is ideal. Make sure you’re the grip size suits you, too. Are you a power hitter? You might play better with a smaller-head racquet that helps to prevent you from swinging too heavy. The lighter head gives you more control.