Manner of play the tennis
tennis Equipment
Part of the appeal of
tennis stems from the simplicity of equipment required for play. Beginners need
only a racquet and balls.
Racquets
A tennis racquet.
The components of a tennis
racquet include a handle, known as the grip, connected to a neck which joins a
roughly elliptical frame that holds a matrix of tightly pulled strings. For the
first 100 years of the modern game, racquets were of wood and of standard size,
and strings were of animal gut. Laminated wood construction yielded more
strength in racquets used through most of the 20th century until first metal
and then composites of carbon graphite, ceramics, and lighter metals such as
titanium were introduced. These stronger materials enabled the production of
oversized rackets that yielded yet more power. Meanwhile technology led to the
use of synthetic strings that match the feel of gut yet with added durability.
Under modern rules of
tennis, the racquet must adhere to the following guidelines;
- The hitting area, composed of the strings, must be flat and generally uniform.
- The frame of the hitting area may not be more than 29 inches in length and 12.5 inches in width.
- The entire racquet must be of a fixed shape, size, weight, and weight distribution. There may not be any energy source built into the racquet.
- The racquet must not provide any kind of communication, instruction or advice to the player during the match.
The rules regarding
racquets have changed over time, as material and engineering advances have been
made. For example, the maximum length of the frame had been 32 inches
until 1997, when it was shortened to 29 inches.
Balls
A Penn tennis ball.
Tennis balls are of hollow
rubber with a felt coating. Traditionally white, the predominant color was gradually
changed to Optic Yellow in the latter part of the 20th century to allow for
improved visibility. Tennis balls must conform to certain criteria for size,
weight, deformation, and bounce criteria to be approved for regulation play.
The International Tennis Federation (ITF) defines the official diameter as
65.41-68.58 mm (2.575-2.700 inches). Balls must weigh between 56.0 g
and 59.4 g (1.975-2.095 ounces).
Miscellaneous
Advanced players improve
their performance through a number of accoutrements. Vibration dampers may be
interlaced in the proximal part of the string array for improved feel. Racket
handles may be customized with absorbent or rubber-like materials to improve
the players' grip. Players often use sweat bands on their wrists to keep their
hands dry as well. Finally, although the game can be played in a variety of
shoes, specialized tennis shoes have wide, flat soles for stability and a
built-up front structure to avoid excess wear.
