Tennis Racquet ergonomics
RESEARCH TOPIC: What Makes an Ergonomically Sound Tennis Racquet? First and foremost, what makes a good racquet can be highly subjective. There is no denying the vast improvements from the wooden racquets of the 1960 to the fibre reinforced racquets of today; but like any other sport technology, there is a level of comfort that greatly differs from one individual to another. This report simply outlines the evolution of the product and how new technologies have attempted to ergonomically improve the sport. Based on the research, some possible design solutions will be discussed and examined for their ergonomic value. There are 5 main racquet components that have been developed in the history of the sport, and they consist of 1) Balance/weight distribution, 2) Length/reach, 3) Handle/grip, 4) Shock absorption, and 5) String systems.Appendix A illustrates the different components of a tennis racquet. Both the weight distribution and the reach component of a racquet contribute to the overall stability. Stability is a measure of how well a frame resists twisting in your hand after hitting a ball outside of the sweet spot (the ideal hitting area in the centre of your racquet). In gener
Having a larger sweet spot means that the player is less prone to hitting off-center shots, creating unwanted shock and torque. " This quote by tennis technical advisor Tracy A. If the index finger fits well within the gap, then the grip size is appropriate. For someone to use a racquet that is too heavy, the player will struggle swinging hard enough, often hitting the ball too late. A second fundamental is to consider the circular cross-section of the handle. Length and Reach In the 1970's, the tennis world was introduced to their first major innovation - the oversized racquet. A grip measuring template is included in the appendix B section of the report, but there are other methods of finding an ideal grip size. The time to adjust for a near body shot (a volley) will consequentlyincrease, which is not good considering how this type of shot relies heavily on reflexes and quick, short arm movements (figure 3). Another problem is, although the racquets increase extended reach, it can be more difficult to hit shots near the body. A lighter racquet, however, lacks resistance against the ball, resulting in a loss of stability and twisting (www. With the advent of increasingly stiffer, more powerful racquets, shock has become a major design issue for tennis racquets. The way most racquets are shaped, the hand tapers at the butt end of the handle to help prevent the racquet from slipping out of your hands, and the eight-sided cross-section of the handle adds grip and stability against torque. Some of the new long body racquets are as long as 32 inches. There are also certain string configurations that, such as the Mad Raq "three-directional" stringing pattern, which claims to reduce shock and vibration (figure 5). If anything, a person will more likely purchase a racquet that is too light, due to the fact that it generally feels better when swinging it in store.
Common topics in this essay:
Handle Grip,
Length Reach,
Volkswagen Beetle,
Weight Distribution,
O'CLOCK Weight,
Tracy Leonard,
Shock Absorption,
Tennis Racquet,
Hammer Similar,
Mad Raq,
sweet spot,
shock absorption,
hitting ball,
tennis racquet,
weight distribution,
swing weight,
weighting systems,
index finger,
o'clock weight,
off-centre hits,
lowering string tension,
fundamentals handle design,
pressure hot spots,
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Acceptance Essays
