The frame of racquets for all sports was traditionally made of laminated wood and the strings of animal intestine known as catgut. The traditional racquet 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, fiberglass, metals such as titanium alloys or ceramics.
Gut has partially been replaced by synthetic materials including nylon, polyamide, and other polymers.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.
Badminton racquets (also called rackets) are light, with top quality racquets weighing between about 80 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 wood to their excessive weight and cost.
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.
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 top, with some older racquets looking almost triangular or teardrop shaped.
The 27-inch (686-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.
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 is 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 less 'trampoline effect' the more predictable the power and angle of the departure from the string bed.)
Double strung tennis racquets were introduced in 1977 and then banned because they permitted excessive spin. A modern version of a legal double strung racquet has been introduced.
Category:Racquet sports Category:Sports equipment Category:Tennis equipment Category:Badminton equipment Category:Arabic words and phrases
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