Tennis Racket History
The next major step in tennis racket history is the change from wood to metal that started in the 1960’s and consisted of steel and aluminum. Wilson introduced the T2000, the first stainless steel racket. This racket was the same shape as the wooden rackets, but it was lighter. In 1976, Prince came out with a racket designed by Howard Head. It was called the Prince Classic (figure 2). It had a 50% larger head and created a bigger “sweet spot.” The “sweet spot” is a term commonly used by players and manufacturers when the ball is hit in a perfect spot. It’s the ideal place for the ball to hit the racket for the most power and best bounce (figure 3 & 4). The frame of the Prince Classic was made out of aluminum. This lighter weight
helped players have more powerful shots when hit correctly. However, some players would experience a loss of control if they missed the “sweet spot.” So the ball may not go exactly where planned.
The change to composite materials in the 1980’s is the biggest improvement in tennis racket history. A company named Dunlop came out with the Dunlop Max 200G (figure 5) made out of graphite and carbon fiber. This racket gave players the stiffness of a wood racket and the lightweight feel of an aluminum racket. This was a major game changer in the history of rackets and for the game of tennis.
helped players have more powerful shots when hit correctly. However, some players would experience a loss of control if they missed the “sweet spot.” So the ball may not go exactly where planned.
The change to composite materials in the 1980’s is the biggest improvement in tennis racket history. A company named Dunlop came out with the Dunlop Max 200G (figure 5) made out of graphite and carbon fiber. This racket gave players the stiffness of a wood racket and the lightweight feel of an aluminum racket. This was a major game changer in the history of rackets and for the game of tennis.