A review of tennis racket performance parameters

Abstract

The application of advanced engineering to tennis racket design has influenced the nature of the sport. As a result, the International Tennis Federation has established rules to limit performance, with the aim of protecting the nature of the game. This paper illustrates how changes to the racket affect the racket-player system. The review integrates engineering and biomechanical issues related to tennis racket performance, covering the biomechanical characteristics of tennis strokes, tennis racket performance, the effect of racket parameters on ball rebound and biomechanical interactions. Racket properties influence the rebound of the ball. Ball rebound speed increases with frame stiffness and as string tension decreases. Reducing inter-string contacting forces increases rebound topspin. Historical trends and predictive modelling indicate swingweights of around 0.030 to 0.0350 kg/m 2 are best for high ball speed and accuracy. To fully understand the effect of their design changes, engineers should use impact conditions in their experiments, or models, which reflect those of actual tennis strokes. Sports engineers therefore benefit from working closely with biomechanists to ensure realistic impact conditions.

Recommendations for estimating the moments of inertia of a tennis racket

“…Tennis equipment plays a critical role in player performance [1]. Tennis has evolved drastically from its origins in the 1870s, mainly due to developments of the racket.…”

“…Increasing I y , or "twist-weight", provides greater resistance to rotation for impacts away from the longitudinal axis [3]. Increasing I x can increase ball speed off the racket, or 'racket power', assuming racket swing speed remains unchanged [1,4,5]. The parallel axis theorem can be applied to calculate MOI about different locations, as MOI is often measured about, or moved to, an axis passing through the handle to be more representative of the axis about which the player swings the racket [2].…”

Recommendations for Measuring Tennis Racket Parameters

“…Engineers, designers and biomechanists undertake research to further our understanding of racket performance [7], with attention paid to issues such as the factors affecting frame vibrations [8] and swing speed [5,6]. Haake et al [2] represents the most comprehensive work on how rackets have developed to date, having characterised 150 from the 1870s to 2007, including measurements of overall length, head length/width, grip length, mass, centre of mass (COM), "swing-weight", "twist-weight" and vibration frequency.…”

Resources for sports engineering education

“…Elsewhere, Widenhorn [63] describes the physics of the unusual scenario where a football bounces off both goalposts during a penalty shot. There are some noteworthy reviews of the mechanics of tennis rackets [64][65][66]. Meanwhile, Spurr et al [67] highlight experiments for measuring the moment of inertia of a tennis racket, which could lend themselves well to laboratory classes.…”