It is not just about hitting the ball; tennis is quite deep. Before starting the athletic tennis voyage, you should be aware of every detail about each piece of equipment, especially the tennis rackets. Do all rackets look or feel exactly the same? Of course not; they differ in sizes, weight, styles, length, and many other aspects. Different rackets have different specifications. But what makes them undifferentiated is the parts of a tennis racket. Choosing the best tennis racket is also a difficult task.

New to this game and buying your first racket? Awesome! Acknowledge the crucial parts of a tennis racket and enhance your performance by picking up the right companion.

Although a tennis racket seems quite simple to the non-users, it is not. Some complex terms often stumble the newbies while purchasing. In this article, we will be talking about the different parts of a tennis racket to upgrade your knowledge and boost performance.

WHAT ARE THE PARTS OF A TENNIS RACKET?

We have broken down the information into small segments that will help you understand better. Before that, have a glance at the parts of a tennis racquet diagram:

HEAD

Let’s get started with the face of the racket. The entire elliptical portion containing strings is referred to as the head of the racket. It serves as a hitting surface.

Various models are designed with several head sizes. The variation in head magnitudes typically ranges from 95 to 110 Square inches. This part of the racket has a significant impact on the overall power. Oversized heads can generate more power. In contrast, smaller ones deliver more control.

Beginner players need a larger hitting area and seek more power; therefore, they should go for 100 Square inches head size or above. On the flip side of the coin, professional players can deliver tremendous power from their skills. So small-sized heads are perfect for them to achieve the desired control.

BUMPER GUARD

There is a tough plastic protecting extension of the grommet strip at the head’s peak, called the bumper guard. It assists in preventing the racket from scraping during groundstrokes.

Despite the sturdy plastic construction, bumper guards need replacement every now to protect the frame from cracks or premature breakage.

BEAM

The side of the racket head is called its beam. The thickness of the beam varies in different models of tennis rackets.

Most of the players are unaware of the significance of this vital part, hence ignore it. But, the width of the beam can bring a massive difference in overall performance.

Rackets with smaller beams have flexible frames and limited string movement, which outcomes as added control. This makes the smaller beam rackets compatible with advanced players.

On the other side, wider beam tennis rackets have stiff frames which allow more string movements resulting in excess power. Therefore, power rackets are recommended for beginner players.

RIM

The next part of a racket in tennis is the rim. Consider the edge of a cup to recognize it better. Rim is specifically the outer edge of a racket’s headframe, just like the cups’.

STRINGS

The Hitting surface of the racket contains thin and flexible pieces of materials known as strings. Tennis strings are assembled throughout the racket’s head that creates an effect similar to that of a trampoline.

Most tennis rackets come pre-strung, but you can customize the string pattern yourself to get more power, spin, control, and durability.

Moreover, you will find two types of strings on a tennis racket.

MAIN STRINGS

Vertical running strings are the main strings.

CROSS STRINGS

These run horizontally within the head.

GROMMET STRIPS

Strings are secured from the sharp edges of drilled holes through the grommet strips. These are made of plastic and placed through the side of the frame around the racket’s head.

GROMMETS

Tunnels along the grommet strips are called grommets. These plastic bits are present at the mouth of each string hole.

The main function of these grommets is to protect the strings from rubbing against the frame. At the same time, it secures them from wear and tear.

Grommets for different rackets have a distinct width and design. Power rackets encompass wider grommets to promote free string movement. At the same time, narrower grommets are found in control rackets to achieve restricted movement.

DAMPENERS

Here comes another complicated term of the parts of a tennis racket; the dampeners. Let us make it simpler for you. Dampeners are small pieces of rubber or silicon that affect string vibration.

Furthermore, dampeners are located at the base of the string face. These alter the sound which is produced by the hitting of a tennis ball on the sweet spot.

SHAFT

The shaft is the entire portion that extends between the head and handles. In addition to this, it features open or closed throats.

THROAT

It is the triangular open part of the racket that exists right below the head. Throat’s design influences the racquet’s flex. Less flexible frames provide limited flex at the throat portion that results in powerful shots. Modern rackets are now constructed with open throats, which split and extend further towards the head formation.

HANDLE

Moving forward in our article on parts of a racquet, we have another fundamental part; the handle. It is the holding place of the racket.

Typically, an adult racket’s handle measures from 4 inches to 4 ⅝
Inches in length. The extended length of the handle can provide more power and leverage to the player.

Deciding on the correct handle size is essential to prevent injuries. Not only this, small handles or tight grips may lead to sweating or irritation during the game.

HANDLE BEVELS

A tennis racket’s handle is not cylindrical; it has eight sides or bevels to avoid rotating or twisting. At the same time, it facilitates a firm grip.

GRIP

For precise holding, the racket’s handle is covered with cushioned covering referred to as grip. All tennis rackets come with factory grip, but some players prefer to add extra wrapping called grip tape or overgrip.

Grip protects your delicate hands from the harsh racket handle. Besides this, it also assists in preventing slipping of the racket and reduces the chances of injuries.

RUBBER COLLAR

The collar is not a compulsory part of a tennis racket, but some players like it to get additional protection.

A rubber collar is a thick rubber band that fits on the top of a grip tape to secure it.

BUTT

Let’s discuss the base of the racket. The butt is the bottom-most part of your tennis stick that helps flare out the bottom of the racket. It ensures that the handle does not slip out of the player’s hand.

BUTT CAP

On every butt, there is a butt cap which is a plastic seal. These caps mostly contain the logo of the manufacturing brand.

Additionally, butt caps are removable to add up some extra weight to the handle. You can customize the racket’s weight to get the perfect balance and control through the detachable butt cap.

TO SUM UP

We hope that this informative article has provided enough information about the parts of a tennis racket. Now you are eligible to speak about each component to your friends, coaches, or teammates. Go ahead, and share these meaningful details with more tennis enthusiasts