Tennis is a very old sport that happens to boast a very rich history of technological advances as far as equipment is concerned. Tennis rackets, in particular, have undergone a massive transformation since the first steel racket was launched by Wilson back in 1968. As players become stronger and faster, manufacturers are hard at work embracing technologies that will enable rackets to bring even more power and spin to the game. Apart from constantly experimenting with new materials to see how they can improve various aspects of the game, rackets are also sporting different overall designs than they did a decade or two ago. Let’s have a look at some of the latest innovations taking the racket industry by storm.
The days of wooden frames are long gone
Whereas the first tennis rackets sported wooden frames, the latest offerings from industry giants such as Wilson, Babolat, Head, and Prince feature frames made from far more interesting materials. Although not new to the world of frames, titanium is still being used in a range of new rackets due to its weight and strength properties. TMS Titanium (www.tmstitanium.com) confirms that titanium is not only surprisingly lightweight, but extremely strong as well. When it comes to high-end rackets, however, titanium is seldom used on its own. Instead, a blend of titanium and graphite fibers is used to provide players with the best of both worlds. Other materials that are frequently used in frame construction include graphite composites that incorporate materials such as kevlar and fiberglass.
Footwear material reduces vibrations
During the course of 2019, Dunlop made headlines when it introduced a cutting-edge material to the world of tennis racket manufacturing. The racket brand partnered with BASF to use Infinergy, a very elastic rebound expanded thermoplastic polyurethane that can outperform traditional foam in just about every regard. This material has been tied and tested extensively by Adidas, who use it in their footwear under the name ‘Boost’. When placed in the two and ten o’clock regions of the racket frame and coupled with new-age frame geometry, the Infinergy reduces vibrations and impact shock, and increases the sweet spot by as much as 30%. The new technology has been incorporated into the CX line, as well as the all-new SX line.
Shock absorbers aren’t just for cars
Dunlop wasn’t the only manufacturer that was concerned with the shock absorbency of its rackets. German-based manufacturer Volkl, has focused most of its design efforts on effectively reducing the amount of arm fatigue players experience. The manufacturers achieved the desired outcome by enhancing the EVA foam in the racket handle by adding a small amount of resin to it. This made the foam significantly denser, which increased shock absorption by as much as 25%. Volkl’s VCell technologies are bringing cutting-edge carbon fiber innovation to rackets to make them increasingly robust, while reducing frequencies substantially. The VCell line that was released in March 2020 saw carbon fiber being used more extensively and in different applications than what was offered by 2018’s VFeel line.
Tennis rackets have evolved considerably in recent years. Judging by the headway that has been made in racket design in the last decade, the future of tennis equipment looks very bright indeed.
