Tennis Equipment - The Evolution of Tennis Racquets

Along with every other area of our modern lives tennisGraphite frames were the next step as a much
equipment has changed significantly. Balls are producedstronger metal was needed, while retaining the light
for aerodynamic properties, clothing doesn't bear a lotweight feel.
of resemblance to what was worn thirty years agoToday racquets have become even lighter with the
and then there are the tennis racquets.adoption of material such as ceramics, Kevlar and
For the first one hundred years of their moderntitanium. These frames allow shorter strokes and more
existence there wasn't much change. From 1874 whenflick shots. And the size does mean the sweet spot
the racquet as we know it was promoted by Majorarea is much larger than was ever possible with a
Wingfield in London not a lot changed.wooden frame.
Metal racquets had been around since the turn of theWhile these racquet changes have revolutionized the
century - they just weren't very common. It was notway tennis is played there has been a growing
until the late sixties until Jimmy Connors adopted it onmovement popularising a return to wooden racquets.
the pro circuit did their popularity sky rocket.Many attribute the increase in tennis elbow and other
Technology started to speed up from here on. Therepetitive strain injuries on the light metal racquets and
next big change was the size of the head. In thethe style of tennis they produce.
mid-seventies the head size of a metal racquet wasThere are a number of wooden tennis events being
double that of a traditional wooden framed racquet.promoted and John McEnroe is one of their big
Players' power shots began to increase and the gamesupporters. He believes a return to wood would
became easier for many amateurs with this sort ofimprove the techniques of tennis.
tennis equipment.