Occasionally a racquet style will come up for sale which perplexes both buyer and seller. These racquets are the same length as a standard racquet, much the same width but have a narrower frame and lighter weight. They’re not squash racquets either because the shaft is not as slim.
The answer is these racquets belong to another form of tennis usually played in Asia, called SOFT TENNIS.
It was introduced by a western missionary in Japan in the late 1800′s and given the history, Soft Tennis has become the choice version of tennis for about 40% of tennis players in Japan. It is also becoming increasingly popular in other areas of the world. A slowed down and more strategic version of the standard tennis game, Soft Tennis emphasizes longer rallies and a more exciting performance that is accessible to every age and ability level right from the very first serve.
The key to Soft Tennis is the use of an inflatable soft, rubber ball. Unlike the standard felt-covered version, the pressure can be adjusted. Players can speed up or slow down the game to suit their ability and training objectives. Its composition also makes it more difficult to generate as much force when hitting the ball. This keeps the ball on the court. The result is longer rallies and a focus on cardiovascular fitness, hand-eye coordination, ball placement and footwork.
The racquets are made by many Asian based makers and we have not seen any examples produced by local companies.
This is the YONEX TS 7000 and the thinner frame is evident. Weight is about 10oz.
A google search will find additional information.
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