T H E  B E G I N N I N G   O F  T E N N I S

A N D  I T S  V A R I A N T S

THE FIRST RACKETS

The first tennis rackets were built according to the traditional methods of the time. A long piece of wood, heated with steam, was bent around a mold, holding the two ends together with a band, which became the handle of the racket. Holes were made in the headstock for the strings, which were passed horizontally and vertically or even, in some cases, diagonally. Reinforcement with laminated strips was already proposed in 1879, but it was not until the 1920-30s when lamination was used systematically to strengthen rackets. Next, a concave or convex wedge, made of solid hardwood, usually walnut or chestnut, was inserted where the frame leaves an opening triangular before becoming the handle. The entire set was glued and then reinforced by inserting a metal piece that stabilized the two parts of the handle with the central wedge. 

Often a thin piece of wood, either part of the wedge or separately, was inserted between the two parts of the handle to give it more width. Two wide strips of wood, usually cedar, were also added around the handle to give it the right volume. The construction ended with a small leather plug that wrapped around the base of the handle. Varnish was then applied to protect the wood and make it more visually appealing. The stringing was done with braided filaments of sheep guts. 

A good friend and expert in the construction of rackets, Amalio Sanchez Diaz, has reproduced the creation of a wooden racket and has given us some magnificent images. 

THE BEGINNINGS OF TENNIS

We know tennis, with the current rules, since Major Wingfield patented it in 1874 under the name of Sphairistiké. Based on rules that the French Pierre Barcellón had already published in 1800, with the title “Règles et principes de Paume”, since in France a country tennis called “Jeu de Paume” was played. On the other hand, in England it was played indoors (like paddle tennis), and they called it “Real tennis” (the game of kings). 

Synonyms are: “Court tennis” (American name) and “Royal Tennis” (Australian name). 

SPHAIRISTIKÉ, the first regulation 

On March 7, 1874, the “Sphairistiké or lawn tennis” patent note appeared in the “London Court Journal” (journal of English legal circles), where it said: “The game is in a box not much bigger than a double case for guns, and contains, besides bats and balls, a portable court, which may be erected on ordinary grass, and is ornamental as well as useful” (the set is in a box, no larger than a double weapon box, and contains, in addition to rackets and balls, a transportable track that can be placed on any grass field, and is ornamental as well as useful). 

The author was Major Walter Clopton Wingfield, personal attendant to the Prince of Wales, later King Edward VII. 

REAL TENNIS

In the 17th century, an “indoor” tennis with side walls called Real Tennis was played in England. The reason for the name is the love which English royalty has for this game. Henry VIII was a great fan, building several venues for his practice, the most emblematic: Hampton Court. 

The rackets that were used for this game were with the asymmetrical racket oval. 

Between 1888 and 1914 at the Queen’s Club in London, the practice of this game resumed. 

RACKETS (THE GAME)

Queen’s has been a Mecca for the game of RACKETS as Wimbledon has been for “Lawn Tennis”. 

The RACKETS game has a curious history. It was devised in English prisons, in the 18th century, when convict “gentlemen” improvised a variant of tennis that could be played against the high walls of the prison. 

Later, at the beginning of the 19th century, this game was adopted by various clubs and public schools. The first club where a championship was held was at the Prince’s Club, but in 1886, with the construction of 2 tracks, the Quenn’s Club in London became the great English venue for this game. 

The RACKETS game can be considered the precursor of the current SQUASH. 

BATTLEDORE & SHUTTLECOCK

Long before the advent of Real Tennis, children in China, Japan, India and Thailand had been playing a similar hobby. 

It consisted of hitting a cork that headed a bouquet of feathers (Shuttlecock) with a small racket that had a parchment stretched in the frame (Battledore). 

This 2,000-year-old game has become the current Badminton, a name that comes from when in 1873, the officers of the English army, returning from India, visited the Duke of Beaufort at his residence in Badminton, where They put this game into practice, with the variant of using light rackets with strings.