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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 . The frame was traditionally made of Wood and the strings of animal intestine known as Gut . Wood is still used for Real Tennis , Racquets , and Xare . Otherwise most racquets are now made of synthetic materials such as Carbon Fibre , Titanium , Ceramic s or Alloy s. Gut has partially been replaced by synthetic materials such as Nylon . Once in a while, the racket needs to be re-strung. BADMINTON Badminton racquets are light, with top quality racquets weighing between about 75 and 100 grams (with strings). They 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. 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 rackets, 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 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. SQUASH 'Standard' Squash rackets 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 rackets 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). TENNIS 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. Throughout most of tennis' history, racquets were much smaller than an 85 square inch midsize racquet and were made of wood. In the mid 1970s, aluminum construction allowed for the introduction of the first "oversized" racquet which was manufactured by Prince. This 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. Various materials have been used in producing tennis racquets, including steel (as in the Wilson T2000 popularized by American top player Jimmy Connors) and ceramic. But the early 1980s marked the introduction of the composite material racquets, largely "graphite" (carbon fibre) based, that are the contemporary standard. "Stretch" Models (27.5") are slightly longer than their standard size (27") counterparts 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. 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 string 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.) See also Strings (tennis) . 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. EXTERNAL LINKS
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