Parts of a Tennis Racket: From Top to Toe

A thorough understanding of parts of a tennis racket is very important when you are just starting out with this sport. When you understand each part of the racquet you will easily choose to buy yourself the most suitable racquet, which will affect your performance. In addition, knowing about tennis racquets will help you join your teammates, friends or coach in evaluating any racquet.

Here Are the Parts of a Tennis Racket

The Head

This is where you will take every shot of your opponent if you do not miss it. The average head or frame size ranges from about 95 to 110 sq inches. How does choosing the big or small head affect your play? Small head size rackets give you good control but weak-hitting power. While the large head size racket will make you difficult to control but gives you a lot more power to hit. 

The racquet head includes strings, beam, grommet and bumper guard.

Strings

The string part of the tennis racket may come with the racquet or you will have to purchase it separately. The string is crisscrossed on the surface of the racquet. String tension and material will affect your shot such as spin, strength and control. Therefore replacing strings is only done by experienced people, not amateurs.

Beam

Beam refers to the width of the racquet head. Like we mentioned above, the size of the racquet head affects the player’s performance. Now is the time to explain why it is with the beam. 

First, the wider the beam, the thicker the racquet increases, leading to an increase in the racquet’s weight. This means your shot will be stronger. However, it will be more difficult for you to control the racquet. 

With a small beam, on the contrary, the light head weight will give you better control over the racquet but the strength will be reduced.

Grommets

What part of the racquet holds the strings in place? It’s a grommet. Grommets are small plastic holes that extend over the overpass to thread the string, preventing the string from rubbing against the frame. The thickness of the grommets also has an impact on the racquet’s ability to control the racquet. Grommets also need to be replaced as they wear out.

Bumper Guard

Your racket will often collide with the ground, so the bumper guard is designed at the top of the racket to help protect the top of the racquet. Although the bumper guard is made of durable plastic, this part needs to be replaced periodically to avoid damaging the racquet. The frame may be cracked or broken without this bumper guard.

Shaft

The shaft is the part that connects the racquet head to the handle. The top of the shaft is the throat part, the end of the shaft is the handle.

Racket’s Throat

After the head is to the throat of the racquet. This section is triangular in shape and is just below the top of the racquet. Modern racquets often have an opened throat that allows air to circulate, which reduces the racquet’s drag when hit. The flex of the throat determines the rigidity of the entire racquet.

Handle

The handle is where you hold the racquet, where the hand touches and controls the racquet. Whether the grip is comfortable or not is due to the size of the handle. You need to choose a handle that fits your hand to avoid injury when holding the racquet for too long.

The handle is designed with 8 bevels to help you hold the racquet in a variety of ways. There are grips like Semi-Western or Continental. For beginners, you should learn to grip the racquet first.

Grip

The grip is the outer layer of the handle surface, giving the player comfortable holding. With a good grip, players will not be afraid of being twisted or thrown off the racquet. Furthermore, this grip also works to absorb sweat. If you are not satisfied with the grip of the new racquet, you can buy a replacement grip available in the market.

Butt & Butt Cap

We have reached the end of the racquet, the butt and the butt cap itself. The butt is at the end of the handle and extends out to prevent a player from being thrown off the racquet while swinging. The butt cap is used to seal the handle and is where manufacturers display their logo.

Final Words

In tennis, the racquet plays a paramount role. Each part of the racquet has its own role to determine the player’s performance. Hope you have more knowledge about tennis racket parts to choose the right one for you.