May 7, 2008

Tennis Equipment Q & A - What's the history of wooden tennis rackets?

Q. What is the history of wooden tennis rackets?

A: Early racquets date back to the 14th and 15th centuries and were used in games that resembled squash more than modern-day tennis. The heads of these racquets were more oval in shape and smaller than today's racquets, and the handles were very long. The game of tennis as we know it today and its equipment got started in the late 19th century in London, England. In 1874, Major Walter C. Wingfield patented the rules and equipment for a tennis game played outdoors on grass lawns. From 1874 to 1967, tennis rackets were made of wood and did not change very much in design, though their construction improved dramatically.

Rather than craft a tennis racket out of large pieces of wood, lamination allowed racket makers to glue layers of wood together. The wood tennis rackets of the period were heavy (many weighed in at an impressive 14 ounces), lacked maneuverability (thanks to their weight and balance) and were low in power (the head size was only 65 sq. inches).

Then came the T2000 from Wilson in 1967 and everything changed. Starting with aluminum and then switching over to today's composites of graphite, carbon fiber and titanium, rackets have never been the same. In 1976 Prince came out with the Prince Classic, distinguished for its light weight, oversized head, bigger sweet spot, higher power and general playability, especially for beginners and intermediates. This essentially marked the end of the age of wooden rackets, as aluminum and high-tech composites took over the industry as the materials of choice. But hold on to those old wooden tennis racquets you have lying around the attic, they may be worth some money as an antique.

Courtesy of Do It Tennis