The tennis attic

The History of Tennis and Wooden Rackets

The history of tennis spans many centuries and is closely linked to the development of its equipment. From medieval ball games played in France during the Middle Ages to the emergence of lawn tennis in the late 19th century, the evolution of the game cannot be separated from the evolution of the tennis racket. For more than one hundred years, tennis was played almost exclusively with wooden rackets, which defined how the sport was played at every level.

Modern lawn tennis developed in the 1870s, at a time when wooden rackets were already the established standard. Early rackets were handmade, typically constructed from solid or laminated wood such as ash, maple or beech. They featured small heads, narrow frames and long, flexible shafts. These characteristics strongly influenced playing styles, favouring control, touch and precise shot placement over raw power.

From the early 20th century through the 1960s, wooden tennis rackets reached their technical peak. Improvements in lamination techniques, frame shaping and balance led to increasingly refined designs. During this period, virtually all major champions played with wooden rackets, and iconic models became closely associated with specific eras, manufacturers and players. The wooden racket era represents the longest and most formative chapter in tennis history.

By the late 1960s and 1970s, experimentation with steel, aluminium and composite materials gradually marked the end of wood as the dominant racket material. Nevertheless, wooden rackets remain historically essential, as they shaped the rules, techniques and traditions of the sport. Understanding the history of tennis therefore requires an understanding of wooden rackets and their role in the game’s development.

This website focuses on the historical development of tennis equipment, with particular attention to wooden tennis rackets from different periods, manufacturers and design philosophies. Through authentic examples and detailed examination, The Tennis Attic aims to preserve and document an important part of tennis history.

https://the-tennis-attic.jouwweb.nl/bags

https://the-tennis-attic.jouwweb.nl/boxes-cans-and-balls

https://the-tennis-attic.jouwweb.nl/covers

https://the-tennis-attic.jouwweb.nl/multiple-racket-presses

https://the-tennis-attic.jouwweb.nl/racket-presses

https://the-tennis-attic.jouwweb.nl/rackets-and-players 

https://the-tennis-attic.jouwweb.nl/pure-history