Tennis Racquet Dimensions

First played in the 19th century, tennis a very exciting sport made popular by outstanding international players like Roger Federer of Switzerland, Li Na of China and Serena Williams of the United States. The game is usually played using a number of equipment like tennis balls and racquets. In order to understand the game better, it is good to know the other significant aspects of the sport including the different tennis racquet dimensions.

The Dimensions of a Tennis Racquet

Tennis racquets come in varying sizes, particularly in terms of head size, weight and length. For junior’s competitions, the common length of racquets used is around 21 to 26 inches. For taller and stronger adult players, it is better to use racquets that are 27 to 27.5 inches long. The usual weight of unstrung racquets ranges from 8 to 12.5 ounces. Another important factor to consider when choosing a racquet is the head size, which ranges from 88 square inches to 137 square inches.

Before, the head of tennis racquets were made from laminated wood, which measured close to 65 square inches. After that, Prince manufactured and introduced the oversize racquet, which measured close to 110 square inches. This move eventually led to the development of other non-standard head sizes like the mid-plus size of 95 square inches as well as the midsize 90 square inches.

Additional Facts and Other Interesting Details

In the closing parts of the 1960s, Wilson launched the T2000, which was a very nice racquet made out of steel. It featured a frame with wire wound for the string loops. Former World No.1 tennis player Jimmy Connors of the U.S. made its use highly popular during those times. Weed manufactured and launched the very first oversized racquet in 1975, which was made from heavy-duty aluminum. However, Prince was credited for popularizing its use worldwide.

The use of carbon fiber or graphite composites to create racquets was introduced in the early parts of the 1980s. Aside from these materials, this period also marked the use of titanium, boron, glass fiber and ceramics. Former World No.1 tennis player John McEnroe of the U.S. made use of the Dunlop Max200G in 1983, which was made from graphite.

In an effort to give tennis players extra reach, Dunlop released longer racquets. This particular product worked well for shorter players, which enabled them to perform shots like the volley and serve more easily. Today, professional players use mid-plus or midsize racquets as the general standard. Aside from the head, it is also very important to take special notice on the stringing, which contributes a lot to the efficiency of tennis racquets.