What Came First, the Tennis Ball or the Tennis Racket? Tracing the Roots of Tennis Through Centuries

Jul 31, 2023 | Sports and Recreation

The tennis ball actually came before the tennis racket! Tennis as a sport has been played for centuries, tracing back to ancient civilizations. However, the initial form of the game was played with bare hands, and players would hit a ball made of leather filled with hair or wool, often referred to as a “handball.” It wasn’t until the 16th century that the early form of the tennis racket evolved. These early rackets were wooden frames with a network of cords or animal guts stretched across them. The modern tennis ball, as we know it today, was developed much later, in the 19th century, using a combination of materials like rubber and felt. So, while the concept of hitting an object in a game predates the introduction of the tennis racket, the modern tennis ball came after the invention of the racket itself.

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