Equipment
Tennis racquet
A strung frame with a handle used to hit the ball in tennis.
Equipment
Overview
A tennis racquet is made up of a head with a strung hitting surface, a throat, a shaft and a grip. The strings form the surface that makes contact with the ball, while the grip and frame give the player control over power and direction.
Racquets vary in head size, weight and balance to suit different playing styles, but they all share the same basic job: transferring the player’s swing into the ball cleanly and consistently.
Good to know
- Strings can be restrung when they lose tension or break.
- Grip size and overgrips let players fine-tune how the handle feels.
- Head size affects the trade-off between control and a larger hitting area.
Where it’s used
Sports that use tennis racquet:
Explore across the knowledge base
Follow the threads that connect Tennis racquet to the rest of SocialSportHub.
Techniques
- Topspin ForehandA forehand groundstroke hit with a low-to-high swing that puts forward spin on the ball so it dips and kicks up on landing.
- One-Handed BackhandA backhand groundstroke struck with a single hand on the grip, driving through the ball with a full extension of the hitting arm.
- Tennis ServeThe overhead stroke that starts every point, hit from behind the baseline into the diagonally opposite service box.
- VolleyA shot played near the net by blocking the ball out of the air before it bounces, using a short, firm punch rather than a full swing.
- HeaderA technique for controlling or striking the ball with the forehead in football, used to pass, shoot or clear the ball in the air.
Learning paths
Beginner guides
- Your First Tennis Session: What to ExpectA friendly, honest look at what actually happens at your first tennis session — how it is usually run, what tends to surprise beginners, and how to turn up relaxed and ready to enjoy it.
- Your first basketball sessionA first basketball session is a friendly, fast-moving introduction to handling the ball, moving your feet and sharing simple play with others — no experience or prior skill needed.
Knowledge Atlas
Rules
- LetA call that stops a point and has it replayed without penalty, used across several racket sports.
- Foot faultA serving fault called when the server's foot touches the baseline or court before striking the ball.
- TravelingA basketball violation for moving illegally with the ball without dribbling it.
- Double dribbleA basketball violation for dribbling with two hands at once, or for dribbling again after picking up the ball.
- GoaltendingA basketball violation for interfering with a shot while the ball is on its downward path to the basket or above the rim.