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Encyclopedia > Racquet
Squash racquet and ball
Squash racquet and ball
Racquetball racquet and ball
Racquetball racquet and ball

A racquet (or racket) is a sports implement consisting of a handled frame with an open hoop across which a network of cord is stretched. It is used for striking a ball in such games as squash, tennis, racquetball, and badminton. Collectively, these games are known as racquet sports. Typical squash racquet and ball used in the USA. Photo taken March 2004. ... Typical squash racquet and ball used in the USA. Photo taken March 2004. ... Typical racquetball racquet and ball used in the USA. Photo taken March 2004. ... Typical racquetball racquet and ball used in the USA. Photo taken March 2004. ... Squash racquet and ball Players in a glass-backed squash court International Squash Singles Court, as specified by the World Squash Federation Squash is an indoor racquet sport that was formerly called Squash racquets, a reference to the squashable soft ball used in the game (compared with the harder ball... For other uses, see Tennis (disambiguation). ... Racquetball racquet and ball Racquetball is a sport played with racquets and a hollow rubber ball on an indoor or outdoor court. ... This article is about the sport. ... Wikipedia does not yet have an article with this exact name. ...


The frame of raquets for all sports was traditionally made of laminated wood and the strings of animal intestine known as gut. The traditional raquet size was limited by the strength and weight of the wooden frame which had to be strong enough to hold the strings and stiff enough to hit the ball or shuttle. Manufacturers started adding non-wood laminates to wood racquets to improve stiffness. Non-wood racquets were made first of steel, then of aluminium, and then carbon fiber composites. Wood is still used for real tennis, racquets, and xare. Most racquets are now made of composite materials including carbon fibre, glassfibre, metals such as titanium alloys or ceramics. Engineered wood, also called composite wood, includes a range of derivative wood products which are manufactured by binding together the strands, particles, fibers, or veneers of wood, together with adhesives, to form composite materials. ... For the Physics term GUT, please refer to Grand unification theory The gastrointestinal or digestive tract, also referred to as the GI tract or the alimentary canal or the gut, is the system of organs within multicellular animals which takes in food, digests it to extract energy and nutrients, and... Jeu de paume in the 17th century. ... R. P. Keigwin (right) with AEJ Collins the Colleges racquets team at Clifton College circa 1902 Rackets (British English) or Racquets (American English), is an indoor racquet sport played in the United Kingdom, United States, and Canada. ... Xare is racquet sport, a form of Basque pelota. ... Carbon fiber composite is a strong, light and very expensive material. ... Bundle of fiberglass Fiberglass or glassfibre is material made from extremely fine fibers of glass. ... General Name, symbol, number titanium, Ti, 22 Chemical series transition metals Group, period, block 4, 4, d Appearance silvery metallic Standard atomic weight 47. ... This article is about ceramic materials. ...


Gut has partially been replaced by synthetic materials including nylon, polyamide, and other polymers. Racquets are restrung when necessary, which may be after every match for a professional or never for a social player. For other uses of this word, see nylon (disambiguation). ... A polyamide is a polymer containing monomers joined by peptide bonds. ...

Contents

Badminton

Badminton racquets
Badminton racquets

Badminton racquets are light, with top quality racquets weighing between about 70 and 100 grams (with strings). Modern racquets are composed of carbon fibre composite (graphite reinforced plastic), which may be augmented by a variety of materials. Carbon fibre has an excellent strength to weight ratio, is stiff, and gives excellent kinetic energy transfer. Before the adoption of carbon fibre composite, racquets were made of light metals such as aluminium. Earlier still, racquets were made of wood. Cheap racquets are still often made of metal, but wooden racquets are no longer manufactured for the ordinary market, due to their excessive weight and cost. Image File history File links Download high resolution version (800x601, 105 KB) Two heads of badminton raquets File links The following pages link to this file: Badminton ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (800x601, 105 KB) Two heads of badminton raquets File links The following pages link to this file: Badminton ... This article is about the sport. ... The cars of a roller coaster reach their maximum kinetic energy when at the bottom of their path. ... Aluminum redirects here. ...


There is a wide variety of racquet designs, although the racquet size and shape are limited by the Laws. Different racquets have playing characteristics that appeal to different players. The traditional oval head shape is still available, but an isometric head shape is increasingly common in new racquets.


Rackets

This predecessor to the modern game of squash, rackets, is played with 30½ inch (775 mm) wooden racquets. While squash equipment has evolved in the intervening century, rackets has changed little.


Racquetball

According to the current USA Racquetball rules there are no limitations on shape or weight of a racquetball racquet. Racquetball racquet and ball Racquetball is a sport played with racquets and a hollow rubber ball on an indoor or outdoor court. ...

Rule 2.4 RACQUET SPECIFICATIONS (a) The racquet, including bumper guard and all solid parts of the handle, may not exceed 22 inches in length. (b) The racquet frame may be any material judged safe. (c) The racquet frame must include a cord that must be securely attached to the player's wrist. (d) The string of the racquet must be gut, monofilament, nylon, graphite, plastic, metal, or a combination thereof, and must not mark or deface the ball. (e) Using an illegal racquet will result in forfeiture of the game in progress or, if discovered between games, forfeiture of the preceding game.

Racquetball racquets, unlike many other types, generally have little or no neck; the grip connecting directly to the head. They also tend to have head shapes that are notably wider at the tip, some even verging on triangular.


Real Tennis

Real tennis racquets and balls
Real tennis racquets and balls

The 27 inch (690 mm) long racquets are made of wood and use very tight strings to cope with the heavy ball of Real Tennis. The racquet head is bent slightly to make it easier to strike balls close to the floor or in corners. Real tennis racquets and balls. ... Real tennis racquets and balls. ... Jeu de paume in the 17th century. ...


Squash

'Standard' squash racquets are governed by the rules of the game. Traditionally they were made of laminated timber (typically Ash), with a small strung area using natural 'gut' strings. After a rule change in the mid-1980s, they are now almost always made of composite materials or metals (graphite, Kevlar, titanium, and/or boron) with synthetic strings. Modern racquets are 70 cm long, with a maximum strung area of 500 square centimetres (approximately 75 square inches) and a weight between 110 and 200 grams (4-7 ounces). Squash racquet and ball Players in a glass-backed squash court International Squash Singles Court, as specified by the World Squash Federation Squash is an indoor racquet sport that was formerly called Squash racquets, a reference to the squashable soft ball used in the game (compared with the harder ball... Species See text European Ash in flower Narrow-leafed Ash (Fraxinus angustifolia) shoot with leaves Closeup of European Ash seeds 19th century illustration of Manna Ash (Fraxinus ornus) An ash can be any of four different tree genera from four very distinct families (see end of page for disambiguation), but... For other uses, see Graphite (disambiguation). ... Kevlars molecular structure; BOLD: monomer unit; DASHED: hydrogen bonds. ... General Name, symbol, number titanium, Ti, 22 Chemical series transition metals Group, period, block 4, 4, d Appearance silvery metallic Standard atomic weight 47. ... For other uses, see Boron (disambiguation). ...


Tennis

A modern tennis racquet, made of graphite and carbon.
A modern tennis racquet, made of graphite and carbon.

Modern tennis racquets vary in length, weight, and head size. 21" to 26" is normally a junior's length, while 27" or 27.5" are for stronger and taller adult players. Weights of a racquet also vary between 9 ounces unstrung and 12.5 ounces unstrung. Head size also plays a role in a racquet's qualities. A larger head size generally means more power, and a larger "sweet spot" that is more forgiving on off-center hits. A smaller head size offers more precise control. Head sizes of recent racquets vary between 85 sq. inches and 137 sq. inches. Image File history File links Metadata Size of this preview: 800 × 600 pixelsFull resolution (3072 × 2304 pixel, file size: 3. ... Image File history File links Metadata Size of this preview: 800 × 600 pixelsFull resolution (3072 × 2304 pixel, file size: 3. ... For other uses, see Graphite (disambiguation). ... For other uses, see Carbon (disambiguation). ... For other uses, see Tennis (disambiguation). ... A sweet spot is a place, often numerical as opposed to physical, where a combination of factors suggest a particularly suitable solution. ...


Throughout most of tennis' history, racquets heads were around 65 square inches and racquets were made of laminated wood. In the late 1960s, Wilson produced theT2000 steel racquet with wire wound around the frame to make string loops. It was popularized by American top player Jimmy Connors. In 1975, aluminum construction allowed for the introduction of the first "oversized" racquet which was manufactured by Weed. Prince popularized the oversize racquet had a head size of approximately 110 square-inches and opened the door for the introduction of racquets having other non-standard head sizes such as midsize 90 square-inches and mid-plus size 95 square-inches. In the early 1980s, "graphite" (carbon fibre) composites were introduced, and other materials were added to the composite, including ceramics, glassfibre, boron, and titanium. The Dunlop Max200G used by John McEnroe from 1983 was an early graphite racquet, along with the very popular Prince "Original" Graphite. Composite racquets are the contemporary standard. James Scott (Jimmy) Connors (born September 2, 1952 in East St. ... Carbon fiber composite is a strong, light and very expensive material. ... John Patrick McEnroe, Jr. ...


Longer racquets were introduced by Dunlop[1] in order to give additional reach for shots such as the serve and volley where shorter players may be at a disadvantage. Midsize or mid-plus racquets are the general standard for professional players. Dunlop Sport is a a tennis, squash, clothing and travel equipment brand, that specializes in sporting goods . ...


Stringing (material, pattern, tension) is an important factor in the performance of a tennis racquet. A few elite players use natural gut, but the vast majority of strings are a nylon or polyester synthetic. Some (American champion Pete Sampras a prominent example) consider the natural string to be more responsive, providing a better "feel", but synthetic is favored for its much superior durability, consistency, as well as much lower cost. String pattern (the vertical/horizontal grid) is a function of the racquet head size and design. A tighter pattern is considered to deliver more precise control; a more "open" pattern to offer greater potential for power and spin. Modern racquets are marked with a recommended string tension range. The basic rule is that a lower tension creates more power (from a "trampoline" effect) and a higher string tension creates more control (the ball stays on the strings longer, for more "feel" and shot direction.)


Double strung tennis racquets were introduced in 1977[2] and then banned because they permitted excessive spin [3]. A modern version of a legal double strung racquet has been introduced [4].


See also Strings (tennis). Strings are the part of a tennis racquet which make contact with the ball. ...


Choosing a Tennis Racquet

Choosing the right racquet will often boost a player's game. Racquet manufacturers such as Head, Wilson, Prince, Yonex, and Babolat, just to name a few, constantly introduce new lines of racquets each year. Depending on your budget, there are plenty of racquets to choose from, however; choosing the right one for your game is the key. There are several guidelines such as grip size, head size, length, flex, string patterns, weight, and balance to take into considerations before making the investment. The best thing to do is to demo different type of racquets to feel the difference before you decide on which one to buy. Most tennis shops provides demo program for their customers. Head logo Head is a sports equipment and clothing company, known for their tennis racquets which are used by many top players such as Andre Agassi, Juan Carlos Ferrero, Marat Safin, and many more. ... Wilson Sporting Goods (or simply Wilson) is a sporting goods company that is based in Chicago, Illinois. ... Prince Sports, Inc. ... Yonex Co. ... Babolat is a French-based tennis, badminton, and squash equipment company, best known for its racquets which are used by many top players such as Andy Roddick, Kim Clijsters, Rafael Nadal, Carlos Moya, Fernando Gonzalez, Igor Andreev, and Robby Ginepri. ...


Grip Size

Choosing the right size of grip is essential. The grip size is measured as the length of the perimeter of the octagonal cross-section of the handle. Grip sizes 3⅞ and 4 are for juniors where 4¼, 4⅜, 4½, and 4⅝ are for adults. The average size for female is 4¼, while the average size for male is 4⅜. To determine the right grip size, hold the racquet where your palm is on the same bevel as the string face. You should be able to comfortably fit your index finger in the space created between your ring finger and your palm that is holding the racquet. If there is not enough space for your index finger, then the grip is too small. If there is too much space then the grip is too big. If you are in between two grip sizes, pick the smaller one. You can always make the grip bigger by adding an overgrip which will increase the size by 1/16 or half a grip size.


Head Size

Head size is the measure of the hitting area. A midsize racquet has a hitting area of 85-95 square inches, mid-plus 95-105 square inches, and oversize greater than 105 square inches. Bigger head size racquet offer more power and spin, however; they lack maneuverability and stability. Smaller head size racquet offer more control and less power. In general, more accomplished players tend to use mid-size and mid-plus racquet because they can generate more power on their own and need a racquet that they can control their power with. Larger racquets usually appeal more to beginner and intermediate players who are looking for more power and larger sweet spot.


Racquet Length

The standard length of a tennis racquet is 27 inches. However, in recent years, manufacturers introduced extra long or stretch racquets which ranges from 27.5 to 29 inches long. These racquets, called extended length racquets, can give players more power and slightly extra reach. Usually, the extra long racquet is lighter in weight compared to its standard length counterpart to keep it maneuverable.


Flex

The flex or stiffness of a tennis racquet is the racquet’s resistance to bending or deforming upon impact with the ball. A stiffer racquet bends less, thus depleting less energy from the ball and offers more power. A flexible racquet bends more, resulting in more energy loss and less power. Players with short swing would want to have stiffer racquets since it will give the most power. A much less stiffer racquet give less power and would suit players with longer swing who can generate their own power. Stiff racquets also offer solid feel while less stiff racquets have a softer feel. One thing to keep in mind is the highly stiff racquets tend to give players tennis elbow. Tennis elbow is a condition where the outer part of the elbow becomes painful and tender, usually as a result of a specific strain or overuse. ...


String Pattern

String pattern is measured by how many strings go up and down (called mains) and how many strings go side to side (crosses) when your racquet is fully strung. An “open” string pattern is one where there is a lot of empty space in the string bed because there are less strings. A 16 x 18 is a common "open" string pattern where 18 x 20 is an example of a “closed” string pattern.


Open string patterns are popularly thought to allow for more spin potential, as the ball can embed itself into the strings more, due to their wider spacing. However, recent scientific studies have found that stringbed properties do not directly affect spin potential of a racket. A more open string pattern does make for higher deflection angles, which results in higher arch in ball's trajectory - this difference in deflection angle may give an impression of more spin.[5]


One drawback of open string pattern is it reduces the string’s durability. Open string patterns place more impact stress on individual strings and also allow the strings to move more freely, increasing abrasion which causes string breakage.


Weight

Technology has played a large role in racquet weights. Until the 1990s, tennis racquets weighed an average of 12-13 ounces. When Hammer technology was introduced by Wilson, it reduced the weight to 10-11 ounces. Nowadays, most manufacturers offer sub 10 ounces racquets. Heavier racquets are less maneuverable but more powerful and more stable than the lighter counter part. Lighter racquets generally are best suited for beginner and intermediate players because of their maneuverability. More accomplished players tend to prefer heavier racquets. When examining the weight of the racquet, it is also important to understand its the weight balance.


Balance

Racquets with the same weight could have different balance. A racquet with more weight distributed on the head rather than the handle is called a head heavy racquet, and the opposite is called a head light racquet. Head heavy racquets will give players more power but lacks in maneuverability because of its weight distribution. On the other hand, head light racquets provide more control and maneuverability. Most accomplished players tend to choose head light racquets.


Table tennis

Table
Table

Tennis racquet with 3 different sizes of the celluloid ball. Image File history File linksMetadata Size of this preview: 800 × 600 pixelsFull resolution (3648 × 2736 pixel, file size: 2. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Size of this preview: 800 × 600 pixelsFull resolution (3648 × 2736 pixel, file size: 2. ...

Xare

In the form of Basque pelota known as xare, the racquet (called an Argentine racquet) is made of a hoop in hazel or chestnut wood, and is somewhat loosely strung. The ball is not exactly struck, nor is it quite caught—the effect is somewhere in between : you have to catch the ball in the net then you send it back with a quick fist stroke. Pelota Vasca or Pelota Valenciana (in Spanish; pilota in Basque, Valenciano and Catalan; pelote in French, from Latin pila) is a name for a variety of court sports played with a ball using ones hand, a racket, a wooden bat (pala), or a basket propulsor, against a wall (front... Xare is racquet sport, a form of Basque pelota. ... This article is about the tree; for other meanings of hazel, see Hazel (disambiguation). ... Species Castanea alnifolia - Bush Chinkapin* Castanea crenata - Japanese Chestnut Castanea dentata - American Chestnut Castanea henryi - Henrys Chestnut Castanea mollissima - Chinese Chestnut Castanea ozarkensis - Ozark Chinkapin Castanea pumila - Allegheny Chinkapin Castanea sativa - Sweet Chestnut Castanea seguinii - Seguins Chestnut * treated as a synonym of by many authors Chestnut is a...


References

External links


  Results from FactBites:
 
Racquet Facts - Tennis (855 words)
Racquet lengths have increased over the last several years, varying from 27 inches to 28.5 inches, and seem to have recently standardized on about 27.5 inches.
The lighter the racquet, the easier it is to maneuver, and the heaver the racquet, the more stable it is. The weight of today's tennis racquets range from about 8.5 ounces up to 13 ounces, with a trend going lighter.
Some racquets are a consistent width from top to bottom, and other racquets vary in width from the top of the head to the bottom.
  More results at FactBites »


 

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