Several types of racquet sports, including badminton, tennis, squash, racquetball and table tennis, are popular throughout the world, each using a different type of racquet. All of these racquets consist of a handle, neck and wide hitting surface used to serve or return a ball or other device. While all racquets are relatively similar, each type of racquet is specifically designed for the sport in which it is used.
Badminton
Badminton racquets are among the lightest in sports. Rather than a ball, badminton racquets are used to hit a light-weight crown of real or plastic feathers with a rubber tip, called a shuttlecock or a birdie, over a relatively high net. The badminton racquet is also light weight and made of aluminum, fiberglass or composite material. The racquet consists of a handle with a long, thin rod that extends to an equally thin, oval racquet head. The total length of a badminton racquet is limited to just under 27 inches with a total width of no more than 9 inches.
Tennis
Tennis is the most popular of racquet sports. Originally made of wood, tennis racquets are now available in fiberglass, carbon fiber and composite materials. Of all racquet sports, the tennis racquet is the most substantial due to the amount of force required to serve or return a tennis ball. A large handle provides a solid grip, which leads to a neck that flares to meet an oval racquet head. As of 2009, International Tennis Federation rules require tennis racquet frames to be no more than 29 inches long and 12.5 inches wide with a hitting surface of no more than 15.5 inches long and 11.5 inches wide.
Squash
The game of squash is played on an indoor four-walled court. Squash racquets are similar to tennis racquets, but smaller and more lightweight. They are used to hit a hollow rubber ball, smaller than a tennis ball. Originally made of laminated wood, squash racquets are now made of composite materials similar to those used for tennis racquets. The strung area of the squash racquet should be no more than 8.5 inches wide and the maximum length of the racquet must not exceed 27 inches. Many squash racquets have a narrow hitting surface at the neck of the racquet that flares out to a squared end.
Racquetball
Another indoor sport, racquetball is also played on a four-walled court. The racquet resembles a modern squash racquet, but is shorter and more stout, similar to a tennis racquet. Racquetball racquets have a bumper guard around the edge of the hitting area to protect the racquet and court walls from damage. A cord on the handle attaches the racquet to the player's wrist. The total length of a racquetball racquet must be 22 inches or less.
Table Tennis
Table tennis is a scaled-down version of regular tennis, played on a table surface with a low net across the center. The racquet is a type of paddle and is used to serve or return a small, light-weight celluloid ball. It consists of a wooden handle and a round, flat, laminated wood hitting surface, called the blade, covered with flat foam or a sheet of rubber with tiny knobs on the surface. While official table tennis rules do not restrict racquet size, most are between 10 and 12 inches long with a 6- to 6.5-inch blade.
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