Tennis Racket History

The next major step in tennis racket history is the change from wood to metal that started in the 1960’s and consisted of steel and aluminum. Wilson introduced the T2000, the first stainless steel racket. This racket was the same shape as the wooden rackets, but it was lighter. In 1976, Prince came out with a racket designed by Howard Head. It was called the Prince Classic (figure 2). It had a 50% larger head and created a bigger “sweet spot.” The “sweet spot” is a term commonly used by players and manufacturers when the ball is hit in a perfect spot. It’s the ideal place for the ball to hit the racket for the most power and best bounce (figure 3 & 4). The frame of the Prince Classic was made out of aluminum. This lighter weight