Tennis : General > Equipments > Best Players


Equipments

Racquet

Racquets were originally made of wood but now a days are mostly made of much stronger, lighter man-made materials such as aluminium or graphite. The size is the only restrictions for racquet. It must not longer than 29 inches including the handle, or 12.5 inches in width. The hitting surface must be a flat surface of criss-crossed strings. It should be no more than 15.5 inches long or 11.5 inches wide. Most racquets are strung with synthetic materials such as nylon or even titanium. But the top players prefer to use 'gut' strings. Gut is made from the dried stomach lining of animals such as a cow or cat.

Tennis balls are made up of a hollow rubber core and a wool or nylon shell known as the nap. The rubber core is usually filled with pressurised air in order to make the ball bounce. The ball must be between 2.5 inches and 2.63 inches in diameter and must weigh at least 56 grammes, but no more than 59.4 grammes. In tournaments they must be white or yellow in colour.

Shoes and Socks

Tennis can be played in any kind of trainer but if you want the best out of your feet, it is best to get shoes specially made for tennis. Tennis shoes have special feature with a herring-bone style tread. This pattern wears slower and offers more traction than multi-purpose shoes. Reinforced toe-caps will make the shoe last longer especially if you drag your toe on the serve follow-through. Proper tennis shoes allow for side-to-side sliding. Added side-support is crucial to keep your foot stable even when playing shots on the run.

Cushioned socks should be choosed so that they give extra protection to the bits of your feet
that take all the impact - the ball and the heel. This will also absorbs sweat, taking it away from your skin making blisters and conditions such as athlete's foot less likely.