| Racquet technology is the parent of the modern | | | | amongst tour players. |
| game. Watch any old footage and you will see the | | | | You will notice that many of the players who use the |
| enormous differences in the game; play with an old | | | | traditional frame will have classic techniques. No |
| wooden racquet and you will appreciate why the | | | | extreme grips and they can move to the net |
| game was so much slower and played with such a | | | | effectively. If this style sounds like you a traditional |
| different style. | | | | frame may be the one for you. |
| Today's racquets are still improving - and are the result | | | | The traditional frame is really only suitable for players |
| of truly "space age" technology. You can purchase a | | | | who train and play several times each week. They are |
| lightweight, comfortable racquet that will deliver you | | | | very demanding racquets with small sweet spots and |
| power, spin and control that was unthinkable 20 years | | | | their weight can cause arm soreness. If you cannot |
| ago. Generally speaking there are three types of | | | | commit to a full training schedule, but like the feel of the |
| frame you can purchase - the key is selecting one to | | | | traditional frame, consider a racquet such as the Head |
| suit your game. | | | | Radical (Amelie Mauresmo). It has similar playing |
| Traditional Frame | | | | characteristics to the traditional frame but is a more |
| The traditional frame is characterized by:- | | | | comfortable, user friendly racquet. |
| -A thin beam | | | | Performance Enhancing Racquet |
| - A small head (around 90cm²) | | | | While the Traditional Frame has been the most popular |
| - Even balance | | | | type of racquet on the pro tour in the past - the |
| - A heavy feel (>300 grams) and | | | | performance enhancing racquet is used by a higher |
| - A tight string pattern with 18 main strings | | | | percentage of players in the modern game. |
| Its weight and head size make it unsuitable for most | | | | Compared to the traditional frame they:- |
| social players, but, the feeling of hitting the ball out of | | | | - A thicker beam |
| the sweet spot of these racquets is unmatched. | | | | - A larger head (around 95cm²) |
| The Wilson 6.1 is the most famous of this type of | | | | - A bigger sweet spot |
| racquet - made famous by Pete Sampras and Stefan | | | | - A lighter feel ( Power Racquets |
| Edberg, it is now the weapon of choice for Roger | | | | Power racquets are the least used of the pro circuit, |
| Federer in the modern game. The Head Prestige | | | | although Martina Hingis used the Yonex RQS 11 during |
| (Marat Safin) and Dunlop Aero Gel 200 (Thomas | | | | her comeback in 2006 - 07 in an attempt to match the |
| Berdych) are other similar racquets that are popular | | | | modern power players. |