History

• In the13th century, monks in monasteries across Europe used their hands and leather gloves as rackets when first playing the game of tennis. In the 14th and 15th century, the first tennis rackets with handles, frames and strings were designed.
  
  

Composition

• Early rackets were mainly constructed of wood. Today's modern rackets are made using various materials, such as fiberglass, steel, aluminum, ceramic, high-modulus graphite and titanium to name a few.
  
  

Size

• Tennis rackets come in several size heads and lengths and grips. The head size can range from 85 square inches to 135 square inches. Most rackets are 27 inches in length, but the rules permit a racket to be along as 29 inches. Grip sizes range from 4 to 4 5/8 inches.
  
  

Weight

• To accommodate for differences in strength, ability and playing styles, tennis rackets varying in weight. The weight of a racket ranges from less than 9 ounces to just under 12 ounces when strung.
  
  

Flexibility

• Rackets are made to have very little flex while others are very flexible. Stiff or firm rackets are powerful rackets and will do more of the work for a player, but they will have less control. Flexible rackets require players to supply the power behind their shots and have more control.