Saturday, January 24, 2009

Tennis and its tools

By Kevin Gillett

Tennis has always looked to awe us. Ever since the beginning of open era, players like Rod Laver, Bjorg, Connors, McEnroe, Lendl, Sampras and presently Federer and Nadal have impressed us with their brilliance. We have literally passed out over their magic. The way they play those unbelievable shots from death, the muscular streak in few of them, the poise in others, the fluid backhand grace and drop shots that have marked few and the brute power that has defined others. Overall, tennis has been a very tempting sport.

This has often kept the instruments of the game at the backdrop. Even they have been very important in letting the game prosper as it has. Imagine what the stars would do without tennis racquets or balls or even tennis bags. You would never imagine if not being told, that a tennis racket holds a world in itself there are so many points to ponder. Professional racquets come with a thin beam width. This offers greater range and flexibility to a player even as it adds to the quality of drop shots. These give greater control over shots. These racquets are also ergonomic in nature.

The racquets can be head-heavy, head-light or equally balanced. The racquet length has 5 specifications length wise. Today, youngsters are looking to enter the sport at a very young age. This is why there are many junior racquets doing well in the market today. These have relatively feathery grips and come in smaller sizes. Used racquets are also an industry and are sold at affordable rate over many counters.

The strings of racquet are made of intestine of animals. The wooden frame is laminated. In fact, today the laminated wooden frame is being replaced by fiberglass or ceramic or even titanium for more sternness. Even gut is replaced by nylon today. The head of the racquet is slightly inclined to give it greater potency of hitting low shots or corner shots out of the court width.

A tennis ball is another important accessory which is usually 6.7 centimeters in diameter and its color is yellow. Today, the tennis balls used in professional international tennis has many chemicals mixed with rubber to attain the desired consistency. Naturally, Southeast Asia is the top exporter of these balls as rubber plantations are most abundant here. The felt of the ball is its most costly part. The felt is being steamed to provide it greater power to combat wind and also offers it a lot of reduction in bounce.

Tennis bags come in backpacks and the sizes can go up to 12. There are 3 racquet, 6 racquet, 8-12 racquet, wheeled tour bags and duffle gears. Many online and offline stores sell them at affordable rates. Top companies like Nike, Adidas, Wilson, Head and Dunlop make such bags. - 15255

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