History of the Tennis Racket

The modern tennis racket is nothing like the initial prototypes made decades ago. Advancements in technology and good old brand marketing has made today’s rackets far superior compared to the original designs, which were essentially just planks of wood. Tip tennis racket brands such as Wilson, Dunlop, and Head have certainly changed the history of the tennis racket with their tremendous ingenuity.

The game of tennis is said to have been created by French monks in the 11th Century who did not have rackets—they used their hands instead. The first racket was invented only in 1874 by Major Walter Wingfield in London. It was made of solid wood.By theyear 1947. advancements in laminating technology gave way to the first game-changing tennis rackets that were made using laminated wood. Heads back them measured around 65 in sq.

Wilson released the T2000 steel tennis racket in the late 1960’s and it was popularized by Jimmy Connors. This model became the guide for most all other tennis rackets produced during this time. It was only in 1975 when another huge improvement was made—the

introduction of aluminum, which was much lighter than steel. Aluminum allowed the design and construction oftennis rackets with oversized heads (100+ in sq), allowing players to hit with more spin.Prince capitalized on the oversized racket trend and released a model that designed by Howard Head in 1976, which was designed to give players larger sweet spots. It was a top seller.

By the 1980’s, the world saw the emergence of the first graphite tennis rackets. This material is even lighter and stiffer than aluminum, allowing players to hit the ball harder.

These days, more tennis rackets sold in the market are also made from graphite—although the grade used is much different grade than graphite in the 1980’s. Modern tennis rackets feature graphite mixed with tungsten, titanium, and other such materials.

Breathing - the First Step TowardsImproving Your Tennis Skills

Do you tend to hold your breath before hitting the ball? Does your breathing become shallow while you are playing tennis? If you do (like most players) then you could be taking power and control away from your swing. There is a way to breathe properly while playing tennis if you want to improve your performance. Here are some tips.

1. Exhale as exhale as you swing.

Make it a habit to exhale during your forward swing. Keep your exhale long for serves and groundstrokes and shorter for overheads and volleys. To practice, try exhaling immediately as you begin your forward swing. Fight the urge to breathe all your air out as you hit the ball. You should ideally be in the middle of your exhale when you hit it. In simplest terms, half your exhale should happen before contact and half of it after contact.

2. Breathe during a rally.

The key is to maintain a steady breathing rhythm between strokes. This might be a lot more challenging than it seems especially when all your attention is on the ball and on the movements of your opponent. You might instinctively hold your breath. But don’t give up—you can change your habits. Practice in easy playing conditions first. Rally with your partner down the middle until you can establish a breathing rhythm, then ask your partner to start moving you around the tennis court. Try to maintain the same steadiness in your breathing pattern.

3. Recover after each point.

Get some oxygen by taking a few deep breaths. This will resupply your lungs with air and give you the energy you can use for future points. Breathe deeply as you walk around the court and aim to get back to your normal breathing. There are only a few seconds in between points in a real match—20 seconds to be exact—so you need to train your lungs to recover quickly.

10 Things you Didn't Know About Tennis Racquets

Whether you're a beginner or dreaming of a championship trophy, you are probably fascinated about tennis racquets and might even actively search for historical facts and trivia about them. Let us make that quest easier! Here are 10 things you didn’t know—but you should know—about tennis racquets.

1. Before the 15th century, there were no racquets. Playersused either their bare hands, rope wrapped around their hands, or custom-made gloves to strike the tennis ball!

2. Early tennis racquets made between the 15th century and the year 1965, used wood. The strings were stretched and twisted cow intestines.Nylon strings eventually replacedgut strings, although natural gut still exists today, but due to their price aren’t very popular.

3. The first steel-frame tennis racquet was built by Rene Lacoste, a French tennis player. His invention revolutionized the industry and allowed manufacturers to redesign the head size and string tension.

4. Professional players did not embrace steel frame racquets right away because they believe that wooden racquets provided better ball control and accuracy. Over the years, though, steel framed racquets proved to be much more powerful. The first pro player to switch to steel-frame tennis rackets was Jimmy Connors.

5. ‘Graphite’ tennis racquets are not really made of graphite minerals. The word refers to the thermoplastic viscoelastic polymersthat are used to create lightweight tennis racket frames.

6. Japan is the world leader when it comes to international tennis racquet production. Most tennis racquets are also manufactured in Asia.

7. Experienced tennis players prefer to buy racquets without strings. They want full control over the tension and what strings to use.

8. Look closely at the head of your tennis racquet. You might notice that it’s dotted with small chambers that contain ball bearings (some models). These are believed to prevent tennis elbow, as theyabsorb some of the impact when the ball makes contact with the racquet.

9. When you choose a lighter racquet, you get less power and more vibration. The so-called sweet spot also becomes smaller.

10. The grip size on a tennis racquet is one of the most important factors to consider when buying a racquet. You need to choose the right grip size (out of the 6 sizes available) to play at your optimum.

10 Things you Didn't Know About Tennis Racquets

Whether you're a beginner or dreaming of a championship trophy, you are probably fascinated about tennis racquets and might even actively search for historical facts and trivia about them. Let us make that quest easier! Here are 10 things you didn’t know—but you should know—about tennis racquets.

1. Before the 15th century, there were no racquets. Playersused either their bare hands, rope wrapped around their hands, or custom-made gloves to strike the tennis ball!

2. Early tennis racquets made between the 15th century and the year 1965, used wood. The strings were stretched and twisted cow intestines.Nylon strings eventually replacedgut strings, although natural gut still exists today, but due to their price aren’t very popular.

3. The first steel-frame tennis racquet was built by Rene Lacoste, a French tennis player. His invention revolutionized the industry and allowed manufacturers to redesign the head size and string tension.

4. Professional players did not embrace steel frame racquets right away because they believe that wooden racquets provided better ball control and accuracy. Over the years, though, steel framed racquets proved to be much more powerful. The first pro player to switch to steel-frame tennis rackets was Jimmy Connors.

5. ‘Graphite’ tennis racquets are not really made of graphite minerals. The word refers to the thermoplastic viscoelastic polymersthat are used to create lightweight tennis racket frames.

6. Japan is the world leader when it comes to international tennis racquet production. Most tennis racquets are also manufactured in Asia.

7. Experienced tennis players prefer to buy racquets without strings. They want full control over the tension and what strings to use.

8. Look closely at the head of your tennis racquet. You might notice that it’s dotted with small chambers that contain ball bearings (some models). These are believed to prevent tennis elbow, as theyabsorb some of the impact when the ball makes contact with the racquet.

9. When you choose a lighter racquet, you get less power and more vibration. The so-called sweet spot also becomes smaller.

10. The grip size on a tennis racquet is one of the most important factors to consider when buying a racquet. You need to choose the right grip size (out of the 6 sizes available) to play at your optimum.

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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The Best All-Round Tennis Racket is…

We often get asked, what is the best all-round tennis racket. There are so many categories and so many styles of players, it would be extremely difficult to have one racket emerge as the best for everyone. But, let’s explore your question…

What is the best all-round tennis racket?

Tennis rackets are highly subjective pieces of equipment – what works for one player may not necessarily work for another, and we all have very different preferences. A racket which suits players of all ages, standards and styles, along with offering power, spin and maneuverability is, and always has been, a rare entity in the sport of tennis. However, the Babolat Pure Drive is exactly this. The manufacturers themselves are aware of its popularity and versatility, which explains why new models of this racket are constantly being produced year on year. The main advantage of this all-round racket is its ability to progress with a player; it will be as useful and appropriate for you as a beginner, as when you are an advanced and much-improved player, years later.

The weight of the racket could be comfortable for any player. The Pure Drive weighs in at 11.2oz when strung, which is neither too light nor too heavy. Somebody new to the game would undoubtedly be impressed by the mobility of the racket, particularly when at the net. Similarly, a player further along with their tennis development would recognize the Pure Drive’s speed, and the power it possesses which is actually more than one could expect. The head size of the racket is mid-plus at 100 square inches. This creates a nice blend of control and power, and much like the weight, this size is just right for everyone. It is large enough for those who require a bigger head to make clean contact with the ball, yet it is far from being oversized for those seeking maximum control of the ball – let us not forget that many pros on the ATP and WTA tour opt for 100 square inch heads.

It is common nowadays for rackets to focus upon one particular aspect of shot-making. For instance, some rackets aim to enhance power, others spin and so on. The beauty of the Pure Drive is that it appeals to all of our needs. The latest version of the Pure Drive has adopted FSI technology which has enlarged the sweet-spot on the racket and added greater feel upon the striking of the ball (which essentially allows the player to know whether or not they made good, solid contact). This upgrade has boosted the power and control of the racket. Its lightness gives players the freedom to fiercely whip their forehands with pace, and like most Babolat rackets, the string pattern ensures your game is not void of spin.

The Babolat Pure Drive is undoubtedly the best all-round tennis racket out there. This isn’t my view, it’s the opinion of thousands of players who’s love of this racket have led to its two decade existence. Young or old, professional or beginner, heavy-hitter or spin-master, the Pure Drive could be the racket for you, and will without question help all aspects of your game.

Note: This article is not supported or endorsed by Babolat, it is simply a recommendation.

Rackets Similar to the Babolat Pure Drive: Wilson Ultra 100, Yonex EZONE DR 98, Head Graphene XT Instinct MP.

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