Page "Racket (sports equipment)" Paragraph 3

The frame of rackets for all sports was traditionally made of laminated wood and the strings of animal intestine known as catgut.

The traditional racket size was limited by the strength and weight of the wooden frame which had to be strong enough to hold the strings and stiff enough to hit the ball or shuttle.

Manufacturers started adding non-wood laminates to wood rackets to improve stiffness.

Non-wood rackets were made first of steel, then of aluminium, and then carbon fiber composites.

Wood is still used for real tennis, rackets, and xare.

Most rackets are now made of composite materials including carbon fibre, fiberglass, metals such as titanium alloys or ceramics.