The Lingo

The head of a tennis racket is where the strings are placed, which create the primary hitting surface. The bigger the head, the more power the racket has. Inversely a smaller head, will give less power to the racket, but the control is increased. Head sizes can vary a lot, DAHCOR offers a size range on its FRAME DNA between 97” and 102”, which are the most suitable for all type of players, giving exclusive access from 90” to 115” molds to the biggest tennis nerds through our FROM SCRATCH TO MATCH service.

The beam of a racket is the thickness of the racket head, which differs from racket to racket. Usually power rackets have a larger beam, which allows strings to move looser and generate additional power. Control rackets have the beam thinner allowing for less movement of the string bed which adds more control. 

Definitely the strings are a core component of a racket, which when strung provides the flat trampoline, the hitting surface, to strike a ball. Tennis strings come in a variety of gauge and materials. The strings and the tension you string a racket have a direct impact on the power, control, spin and vibration you feel while playing.

At the top of rackets head covering the beam, there is a bumper guard protecting the impact zone of a tennis racket, which is often scraped across the ground when hitting groundstrokes. Bumper guards are made from durable plastic and over time will require replacement to avoid scraping the frame of the racket, which may lead to a cracked frame if not addressed.

Tennis racket grommets are plastic inserts that extend through the string holes around the entire head of a tennis racket. Grommets help protect the strings from the typically harsh surface and edges within string holes. Grommets are sized to a specific width per tennis racket to allow or constrict movement of the strings.

The shaft of a tennis racket extends from the bottom of the racket head, down to the butt of the racket. At the top of the shaft you’ll find the throat of the racket and below it, the racket handle.

The throat of a tennis racket starts at the top of the handle and splits into two sections, which extend outward on both sides of the racket to begin the formation of the racket head. The center of the throat is hollow to keep the weight of the racket down and is where much of the flexibility in a racket comes from. A “stiff” racket will often provide less flex at the throat of the racket to help generate additional power when hitting.

The handle of a tennis racket is the bottom part of the racket shaft and is the portion of the racket that is held when playing tennis. It’s important to select the correct size handle to ensure comfort and limit the possibility of an arm injury.

The grip of a tennis racket is simply the outer covering of the racket handle. It helps give your hand a firm grip on the racket and provides a cushion surface to protect your hand from the harsh surface of the handle.

The butt of a tennis racket is the bottom most portion of the racket handle. It’s slightly wider than the handle, which helps ensure the racket doesn’t slip out of your hand when you swing.

The butt cap of a tennis racket simply seals off the bottom part of the racket handle and it’s where DAHCOR places the NFC chip containing all the specifications of each player´s racket.