Editing Tennis (section)

== Equipment ==
{{Main|Tennis technology}}
Part of the appeal of tennis stems from the simplicity of equipment required for play. Beginners need only a [[racket (sports equipment)|racket]] and balls.<ref name=":3" />

=== Rackets ===
{{main|Racket (sports equipment)#Tennis}}
[[File:Teniszütő.JPG|thumb|Wooden racket – c. 1920s]]
The components of a tennis racket include a handle, known as the grip, connected to a neck which joins a roughly elliptical frame that holds a matrix of tightly pulled strings. For the first 100 years of the modern game, rackets were made of wood and of standard size, and strings were of [[catgut|animal gut]]. Laminated wood construction yielded more strength in rackets used through most of the 20th century until first metal and then composites of carbon graphite, ceramics, and lighter metals such as titanium were introduced. These stronger materials enabled the production of oversized rackets that yielded yet more power. Meanwhile, technology led to the use of synthetic strings that match the feel of gut yet with added durability.

Under modern rules of tennis, the rackets must adhere to the following guidelines;<ref>{{cite web|title=ITF Tennis&nbsp;– Technical&nbsp;– Appendix II|url=http://www.itftennis.com/technical/rules/equipment/appendixii.asp|publisher=ITF|access-date=4 May 2012|archive-date=13 April 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120413021059/http://www.itftennis.com/technical/rules/equipment/appendixii.asp|url-status=dead}}</ref>

* The hitting area, composed of the strings, must be flat and generally uniform.
* The frame of the hitting area may not be more than {{convert|29|in|cm}} in length and {{convert|12.5|in|cm}} in width.
* The entire racket must be of a fixed shape, size, weight, and weight distribution. There may not be any energy source built into the rackets.
* The rackets must not provide any kind of communication, instruction or advice to the player during the match.

The rules regarding rackets have changed over time, as material and engineering advances have been made. For example, the maximum length of the frame had been {{convert|32|in|cm}} until 1997, when it was shortened to {{convert|29|in|cm}}.<ref>{{cite web|title=ITF Tennis&nbsp;– Technical&nbsp;– The Racket|url=http://www.itftennis.com/technical/rules/history/racket.asp|publisher=ITF|access-date=4 May 2012|archive-date=26 June 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120626213840/http://www.itftennis.com/technical/rules/history/racket.asp|url-status=dead}}</ref>

Many companies manufacture and distribute tennis rackets. Wilson, Head and Babolat are three of the most commonly used brands; however, many more companies exist.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.tennisdepartment.com/tennis-racquet-brands/ | title=What are the most popular tennis racket brands | access-date=17 January 2021}}</ref> The same companies sponsor players to use these rackets in the hopes that the company name will become better known by the public.

=== Strings ===
{{Main|Strings (tennis)}}
There are multiple types of tennis strings, including natural gut and synthetic stings made from materials such as [[nylon]], [[kevlar]], or [[polyester]].<ref name=":0">{{cite web|title=Types of Tennis Strings {{!}} A Comprehensive Guide|url=https://tenniscompanion.org/types-of-tennis-string/|access-date=23 November 2021|website=tenniscompanion.org|date=15 January 2020 }}</ref>[[File:Tennis strings 12 & 200 m.JPG|thumb|Two different tennis strings of lengths 12m (left), and 200 m (right)|left]]

==== Natural gut ====
The first type of tennis strings available were natural gut strings, introduced by Babolat. They were the only type used until synthetic strings were introduced in the 1950s. Natural gut strings are still used frequently by players such as Roger Federer. They are made from [[Cattle|cow]] intestines, and provide increased power, and are easier on the arm than most strings.<ref>{{cite web|title=Natural Gut Strings – The Best Tennis Strings Available?|url=https://www.perfect-tennis.com/natural-gut-strings/|access-date=23 November 2021|website=Perfect Tennis|date=6 August 2019 }}</ref>

==== Synthetic ====
Most synthetic strings are made from monofilament or multifiliament nylon strings. Monofilament strings are cheap to buy, and are used widely by many recreational level players for their all round performance, while multifilament strings are created to mimic natural gut more closely by weaving together fibres, but are generally more expensive than their monofilament counterparts.<ref name=":0" /> Polyester strings allow for more spin on the ball than any other string, due to their firm strings, while keeping control of the ball, and this is why many players use them, especially higher player ones.<ref>{{cite web|title=Pros and cons of polyester tennis strings|url=https://www.tennis-warehouse.com/Learning_Center/Gear_Guides/Tennis_String/Pros_and_cons_of_polyester_tennis_string.html|access-date=23 November 2021|website=www.tennis-warehouse.com}}</ref> Kevlar tennis strings are highly durable, and are mostly used by players that frequently break strings, because they maintain tension well, but these strings can be stiff on the arm.<ref>{{cite web|title=Ultimate Guide to Kevlar Strings|url=https://thetennisbros.com/tennis-tips/equipment-advice/ultimate-guide-to-kevlar-strings/|access-date=23 November 2021|website=The Tennis Bros}}</ref>

==== Hybrid strings ====
Hybrid stringing is when a tennis racket is strung with two different strings for the mains (the vertical strings) and the crosses (the horizontal strings). This is most commonly done with two different strings that are made of different materials, but can also be done with two different types of the same string. A notable example of a player using hybrid strings is Roger Federer, using natural gut strings in his mains and polyester strings in his crosses.<ref>{{cite web|title=Hybrid Stringing – Roger Federer's Stringing Method of Choice|url=https://www.perfect-tennis.com/hybrid-stringing/|website=Perfect Tennis|date=17 August 2019 }}</ref>

=== Balls ===
{{main|Tennis ball}}
[[File:Tennis Racket and Balls.jpg|thumb|A tennis racket and balls.]]

Tennis balls were originally made of cloth strips stitched together with thread and stuffed with feathers.<ref>{{cite book|last=Grimsley|first=Will|title=Tennis: Its History, People and Events: Styles of the Greats|year=1971|publisher=Prentice-Hall|location=Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey|isbn=0-13-903377-7|page=[https://archive.org/details/tennisitshistory00grim/page/14 14]|url=https://archive.org/details/tennisitshistory00grim/page/14}}</ref> Modern tennis balls are made of hollow [[vulcanized rubber]] with a [[felt]] coating. Traditionally white, the predominant colour was gradually changed to optic yellow in the latter part of the 20th century to allow for improved visibility. Tennis balls must conform to certain criteria for size, weight, [[Deformation (engineering)|deformation]], and bounce to be approved for regulation play. The International Tennis Federation (ITF) defines the official diameter as {{convert|65.41|–|68.58|mm|in|abbr=on}}. Balls must weigh between {{convert|56.0|and|59.4|g|oz|abbr=on}}.<ref name=ball>{{cite web|title=History of Rule 3 – The Ball|url=http://www.itftennis.com/technical/rules/history/index.asp#2006|publisher=ITF|access-date=1 May 2012|archive-date=6 November 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151106083446/http://www.itftennis.com/technical/rules/history/index.asp#2006|url-status=dead}}</ref> Tennis balls were traditionally manufactured in the United States and Europe. Although the process of producing the balls has remained virtually unchanged for the past 100 years, the majority of manufacturing now takes place in the [[Far East]]. The relocation is due to cheaper [[labour costs]] and materials in the region.<ref>{{cite web|title=Balls- Manufacture|url=http://www.itftennis.com/technical/balls/other/manufacture.aspx|publisher=ITF|access-date=19 June 2014|archive-date=15 October 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211015211603/https://www.itftennis.com/technical/balls/other/manufacture.aspx|url-status=dead}}</ref> Tournaments that are played under the ITF Rules of Tennis must use balls that are approved by the International Tennis Federation (ITF) and be named on the official ITF list of approved tennis balls.<ref name="ITF Rules">{{cite web|url=https://www.itftennis.com/media/7221/2022-rules-of-tennis-english.pdf|title=ITF Rules of Tennis|publisher=International Tennis Federation|access-date=7 November 2022}}</ref>