Effects of Different String Tension Patterns and Racket Motion on Tennis Racket-Ball Impact

Much study has been done to examine the various aspects of tennis racket performance including racket materials, shape, balance, and flexibility, but recently the string in the frame has come to interest scientists. The purpose of this investigation was to determine the effects of varying string tension patterns on the mechanical behavior of racket, string, and ball during and immediately after impact. Two separate experiments were conducted; one examined 12 rackets strung differently with a string lock system by filming the impacts at 3,500 frames per second, and the other quantitatively evaluated the forehand drive results of a skilled player who experimented with the rackets. Differences were found in the various impacts examined, and these differences were attributed to the various characteristics of the string, racket, and ball. In addition, larger coefficients of restitution than those found in previous literature were also calculated.