Performance Improvements and Limitations due to the Lightweighting of Tennis Rackets

(Verification of Rebound Characteristics and Ball Speed in Newly Designed Models to Overcome These Limitations)

Abstract

The enlargement of racket faces and the reduction in racket weight have made topspin techniques more common, drawing increased attention to racket types and their performance. However, this trend has also revealed the limitations of further weight reduction. To address these challenges, new rackets featuring innovative designs aimed at overcoming the constraints of lightness were introduced to the market. While many of these rackets emphasized high performance, they have since disappeared from shelves. This study examined racket performance by analyzing the experimentally identified physical properties of various racket models and conducting collision simulations. The findings indicate that racket weight and weight distribution are the most critical design factors.