Evolution of material for tennis racket frame manufacture

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Tennis coach, Doctor of Physical Education and Sports V. Koronas1
Lecturer, Doctor of Physical Education and Sports D.I. Tohănean2
1Apostolos Pavlos Private College, Thessaloniki, Greece
2Transilvania University of Brasov, Romania

This paper presents the materials used and the changes that have occurred over time, in terms of making tennis rackets. Scientific advances in the field have also marked the evolution of the game of tennis, the type and characteristics of materials used in this direction, determining adaptations and improvements of the general style of play, specific possibilities for technical sports procedures and last but not least an increase in sports performance. The quality of the composite materials used at the current stage in relation to those used in the past (wood and metal) is highlighted. It also reveals the remarkable progress of the last 40 years of composites. The special properties of these materials have made tennis rackets more and more light, but with a higher impact resistance and a reduction of the vibrations felt by the practitioner. This has led to greater comfort and increased lightness in their use in sports. The current technology involves the use of carbon fiber in combination with various types of resins, the resistance being given by the optimization of the angles at which these fibers are arranged.

Keywords: evolution, tennis rackets, materials, composite.

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