Racquetball
balls
goggles
racquets |
The USRA (United States Racquetball Association)
has precise standards for racquetball racquets:
the racquet may not exceed 22 inches in length,
the frame must include a cord that must be
securely attached to the player's wrist,
and the string of the racquet must be gut,
monofilament, nylon, graphite, plastic, metal,
or a combination thereof, and must not mark
or deface the ball. Racquetball acquets are
made by several manufacturers, including
Wilson, Ektelon, E-Force, and Head.
As with racquets for other sports,
there
seem to be about as many racquet
designs
as there are professional players.
But this
is for good reason: attributes
that seem
to be an advantage can detract
from other
attributes, which makes racquet
design both
player specific and a matter
of personal
preference. Here are some characteristics
to consider when buying a racquet:
- grip - the most basic design element of a
racquet is the grip; do not expect good performance
if you are unable to properly grip the handle.
Test feel a variety of grips to find the
grip size best for your hand.
- weight - weight takes more energy and reduces
nimbleness, but lightness is not always better.
Basic physics teaches that force is equal
to mass times acceleration. If you reduce
the racquet weight, you also reduce its mass,
which makes it harder to reverse the direction
of the ball. The best racquets move the weight
from the head to the handle, which provides
the advantages of weight while retaining
the nimbleness of lightness.
- head size - a larger hitting surface can
help a player, particularly when you miss
the sweet spot. But like everthing else,
there is a trade off: usually in weight and
nimbleness.
- strength - even though a tennis ball is light,
it is moving at a high speed and can hold
a tremendous amount of force. Consequently,
a racquet needs to be strong to endure that
punishment over time as well as not to deform
during each hit. However, if the racquet
is too rigid, it does not dampen the vibrations
from the hit.
|
|
|
