Ask Mike: The evolution of the racket
Hey Guys,
Wimbledon is in full swing (pun unintended), and both the players and their rackets look more imposing than ever. It wasn’t so long ago that tennis pros used (gasp!) wooden rackets and strings made of cat gut (exactly what it sounds like). I set out to discover which tennis pro first made the switch over to a more modern instrument.
Unlike past journeys into the wilds of the untamed Internet, this search was relatively simple. According to several sources, including this article from ITF Tennis, the first widely used non-wooden racket was the Wilson T2000.
Tennis Express explains that metal rackets were available as far back as the 1800s, but they were never popular until Jimmy Connors started playing with the T2000. According to Tennis Express, Connors continued to use the T2000 “for most of the 1970′s and would use its power to win Grand Slam after Grand Slam.”
Although it was a giant leap forward for tennis players, not everybody dug the metal racket. ’80 Tennis writes that many found the “sweet spot” on the T2000 to be too small and unforgiving. Nevertheless, it marshaled in the beginning of a new era in tennis. Wooden rackets used by icons like Bjorn Borg would soon be extinct.
These days, most rackets are composite, made from glass fiber and carbon fiber. And, though rackets have gotten more technical, the sizes have been standardized. According to eHow, the maximum size is 29.5 inches.
So, that’s the story of the first metal racket. Anybody out there know why tennis is scored the way it is? Love, 15, 30, and 40 seem pretty random. If you have any ideas and links, please leave a comment below.
Thanks for reading,
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hi
Stop misspelling ‘racquet’. Lol.
Tennis started, as 0, 15, 30, 45, 60. This stood for the minute increments in an hour. Almost immediately the 60 was dropped, and the 45 changed to 40 because “forty” was faster to say. There’s some debate over the origin of “love”. Some say it’s French, “l’oeuf”, meaning “egg”, which looks like a zero. Other people say that it is an English term, meaning that you are playing for love, because if you haven’t scored you are playing the game still out of love rather than skill.
I’m sorry, but you failed to answer your own question. You “set out to discover which tennis pro first made the switch over to a more modern instrument.” Your words. Yeah, yeah we all know Connors popularized the T2000, but that wasn’t the question you posed to yourself. The T2000 was first introduced in 1967, but even I failed to find out who was the first pro to use one. But even before that, it was Rene Lacoste who came out with the steel racquet which was to become the prototype for the T2000 back in 1965. Given the emergence of the steel racquet long before Connors adopted the T2000 (and I remember that he was reluctant to do so given the problems with the size of the sweet spot on that frame), it is quite likely that some other pro, probably to remain unidentified forever, was the REAL first player to adopt a metal frame.
lol now i know more about tennis history xD
Your comment on cat gut is misleading. To the layman it would appear to be made from cat and that’s not true. It’s believed that catgut is shortened from cattlegut. More often than not it’s made from sheep or goat, but sometimes made from hog, horse, mule, pig, or donkey. Yes it is made from intestines, but not from cat.
Check out http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cat_gut
The T2000 was the first racquet I bought after learning to play with a wooden one. One day while playing, I broke a string and took it in to have it restrung. That actually took almost 6 weeks because nobody was familiar with anything but gut. I think I still have that T2000 somewhere in the attic.
you mispelled ‘racquet’
failed
lol. u poor guy everyone is getting onto the mistakes in your article. I would just like to say thank you. Well, for whatever you got right. ;p
thank! for the imformation even not clear so much
Since the game of tennis started as the French “Jeu de Paume” (“game of the palm”), it is not too far fetched to understand that the French word “L’oeuf” (pronounced “Luff” or “Loof”), meaning, “the egg”, became the “zero” part of modern tennis’ scoring, just as English-speakers refer to a zero score as a “goose egg” (you may ignore any other explanations you may hear concerning the word “love” as undocumented, unproven, old wives’ tales!).
As for the 15, 30, and 40, it was noted in very early British squash and, subsequently, tennis, that points tended to take 15 seconds each (it’s hard to serve over 50 mph with wood racquets strung loosely with cow intestines (i.e., “cat gut”), so there were scant few one- or two-shot points! BTW, the point of the original games was to play with not overpower your opponent, as it wouldn’t be “criquet” not to give the other player a chance to hit the ball! Can you imagine such a thing?!?!). So, why don’t we say, “45″ instead of “40″? The three-syllable, 45th second, as it were, was changed to “40″, in keeping with the other, two-syllable numbers! Amazingly simple, yes?
“All” (i.e., when a game is tied, such as “30-30″ which would be announced as “30-All”), simply means that “all” players have the same score! Somebody stop me!!!
Similarly, “deuce” (pronounced “doose”; rhymes with “goose”), is called when the score reaches 40-40 (as opposed to announcing it as “40-All”). At that juncture in the game, each side would need to win the game by winning two points in a row, which was referred to as being “a deux” or, literally, “to both”. Naturally, English speakers mispronounced “deux” (roughly: “do”) as “dooks”, which later became – - surprise, surprise – - “deuce”!
“Sports” by J. M. D.
Sports are fun and exciting. Professional athletes are hard working and loyal. Players compete in a variety of contests of strength, strategy, and stamina. Coaches choose their teams carefully and design plays. Coaches teach their players how to play zone defense and how to play man to man defense. Zone defense is important to protect critical areas of the field. Man to man defense assigns man to man coverage whatever position the players have on the field. Teams play to win. There are a variety of health tests and medical examinations that players undergo in order to stay in shape. These tests are designed to measure each players health and stamina. Players must avoid illegal substances at all times in order to stay healthy. Physical exams also show whether or not players have been using or abusing illegal substances. Players who are found using illegal substances such as steroids are suspended or banned from competition. Champions are made when great players overcome adversity and win with style and charisma.
Basketball is a fun and exciting sport. Each team has five players who alternate playing offense and defense. Each team tries to score points by making baskets on the other side of the court while defending the basket on their own side of the court from the other team. The painted area beneath the rim is a special area on the court. Only players who have possession of the ball may stay in the painted area. Any other player without the ball who stays in the painted area beneath the rim for a length of time greater than five seconds is penalized. This penalty is called goal tending. Goal tending in basketball is a different term than the term used in soccer. In soccer, a goal-keeper protects the net from the other team. In soccer, only the goal-keeper is allowed to used his hands to touch the ball unless the ball rolls out of bounds and another player is selected to throw it back into play. In basketball, however, goal tending is like loitering and is illegal for players who do not have possession of the ball. Basketball players are skilled athletes who control the ball with their hands. Referees watch the game, keep score, and call penalties. Players must keep the ball bouncing or they will be called for a traveling violation. Players who stop bouncing the ball must stand in place. Players who stop bouncing the ball cannot restart. They must pass the ball or shoot the ball. Fouls are called when one player hits another player. Players are allowed to grab the basketball when they get a chance to take it but they are not allowed to touch each other. Players are not allowed to snatch a ball that is not moving or bouncing. In other words, a player is not allowed to grab a ball out of the hands of another player who is simply holding it but not bouncing it. The team with the most points at the end of the game wins the game.
Soccer is a fun and exciting sport. Soccer is played on a large field with nine players on each team. Each team has a center forward, two half backs, and two wings who play offense. Each team also has three defensive backs and a goal-keeper who play defense. Only the goal-keeper is allowed to touch the ball with his hands unless the ball rolls out of bounds and another player is selected to throw it back into play. Each team defends a goal from the opposing team and tries to score points by kicking the soccer ball into the net of the opposing team. Soccer players use their feet. Any balls that roll out of bounds on the same horizontal plane as either of the goals are specially treated. Field goal kicks result when one team kicks the ball out of bounds on the other team’s side of the field. Field goal kicks are given to the defense. This term is different than the term used in American football, whereby “field goals” are used to score three points by kicking the ball through the field goal. In soccer, a field goal kick clears the ball from one end of the field and gives the defense time to regroup. Corner kicks result when a team kicks the ball out of bounds on their own side of the field. Corner kicks are given to the offense. Referees watch the game and keep track of time, score, and penalties. There are referees on each sideline and a referee who stays on the field. The team with the most points at the end of the game wins the game.
American football is another fun and exciting sport. Each team has eleven players on the field. The offense has linemen, a quarterback, receivers, and running backs. The defense has linemen, safeties, and defensive backs. The offense calls plays and tries to move the ball ten yards for a first down. The object of football is to score points by running the ball into the end zone or to catch the ball in the end zone on the other side of the field. This is a touch down. A touch down is worth six points. An extra point opportunity follows each touch down. The offense may kick the ball through the field goal for one point or may elect to call a play that will run the ball into the end zone again or allow a receiver to catch the ball in the end zone. A two point conversion is worth two points. The offense has four downs in order to move the ball ten yards. If the offense fails to move the ball ten yards in four down then the ball is forfeited to the opposing team. Most teams elect to punt the ball away on fourth down rather than give the other team valuable field position. The defense follows the plays and tackles anybody carrying the ball. Linemen contend with each other for field position. However, the defense is not allowed to touch a receiver who does not have possession of the ball. Only receivers who have possession of a football can be tackled by the defense. Otherwise pass interference is called. Pass interference is a penalty against the offending team that results in loss of field position. Field goals are optional scoring methods by which teams can elect to kick the ball through the field goal from a long distance away. A successful field goal scores three points. Referees watch the game closely. The team with the most points at the end of the game wins the game.
Athletes do sit ups, push-ups, run laps, stretch, and lift weights. Athletes need the right equipment. Competitors must protect themselves at all times. Having the proper cleat or running shoe is essential. Football players need shoulder pads, knee pads, elbow pads, helmets, mouth pieces, uniforms, shin guards, and sometime even gloves. Soccer players need good uniforms as well. Soccer players also wear knee pads, shin guards, and elbow pads. The goal-keeper often wears gloves. Basketball players often wear head bands, wrist bands, and knee pads. Basketball players need the appropriate uniforms as well. Each team has a special uniform. Uniforms consist of a jersey, pants, jock straps, underwear, socks, and shoes. Additional equipment depends upon the sport. Referees have a special black and white uniform that is recognized in many sports. Referees wear black or white pants, black or white shoes, a mixed black and white shirt, a black and white cap, and any other appropriate article such as black or white wrist bands that help them perform their duties.