Along with every other area of our modern lives tennis equipment has changed significantly. Balls are produced for aerodynamic properties, clothing doesn't bear a lot of resemblance to what was worn thirty years ago and then there are the tennis racquets.
For the first one hundred years of their modern existence there wasn't much change. From 1874 when the racquet as we know it was promoted by Major Wingfield in London not a lot changed.
Metal racquets had been around since the turn of the century - they just weren't very common. It was not until the late sixties until Jimmy Connors adopted it on the pro circuit did their popularity sky rocket.
Technology started to speed up from here on. The next big change was the size of the head. In the mid-seventies the head size of a metal racquet was double that of a traditional wooden framed racquet. Players' power shots began to increase and the game became easier for many amateurs with this sort of tennis equipment.
Graphite frames were the next step as a much stronger metal was needed, while retaining the light weight feel.
Today racquets have become even lighter with the adoption of material such as ceramics, Kevlar and titanium. These frames allow shorter strokes and more flick shots. And the size does mean the sweet spot area is much larger than was ever possible with a wooden frame.
While these racquet changes have revolutionized the way tennis is played there has been a growing movement popularising a return to wooden racquets. Many attribute the increase in tennis elbow and other repetitive strain injuries on the light metal racquets and the style of tennis they produce.
There are a number of wooden tennis events being promoted and John McEnroe is one of their big supporters. He believes a return to wood would improve the techniques of tennis.
