Tennis and Padel Racket Glossary
By Tennis Rackets UK Editorial Team · Updated
Tennis rackets
- Balance: where a racket balances along its length, given in points head-light or head-heavy. 1 point = 1/8 in. Calculator.
- Beam: the thickness of the frame viewed side-on, in mm.
- Bumper guard: the plastic strip protecting the top of the head.
- Cross strings: the horizontal strings.
- Dwell time: how long the ball stays on the string bed. It is longer with softer frames and lower tension.
- Gauge: string thickness (15L, 16, 17…). A higher number means a thinner string.
- Graphite: carbon fibre composite, the standard frame material. Materials guide.
- Grip size: handle circumference, L0–L5 in the UK/EU. Calculator.
- Grommets: plastic tubes that protect strings where they pass through the frame.
- Head size: area of the string bed in square inches (sq in).
- Hybrid: two string types in one racket, usually polyester mains with softer crosses.
- Isometric: Yonex’s squarer head shape, which enlarges the sweet spot.
- Main strings: the vertical strings.
- Overgrip: a thin replaceable wrap over the base grip.
- Polyester (poly): a stiff, durable, spin-friendly string.
- RA: a stiffness rating. Higher means stiffer.
- Sweet spot: the area of the string bed that gives the best response.
- Swingweight: how heavy a racket feels when swung. It depends on weight and where the mass is.
- Tension: how tightly strings are pulled, in kg or lbs. Converter.
Padel
- 3K / 12K / 18K: carbon weave designations for padel faces (thousands of filaments per tow).
- Balance (low / medium / high): padel’s way of describing head-light to head-heavy.
- Diamond: a high-balance, power-oriented racket shape. Shapes.
- EVA: ethylene-vinyl acetate, the rubber-like core material. EVA vs foam.
- Golden point: at 40–40, one deciding point; the receivers choose the side. Rules.
- Remate: the padel smash.
- Round: a low-balance, control-oriented shape.
- Star point: an FIP scoring option with a single deciding point after the third deuce.
- Strap (cord): the mandatory non-elastic wrist strap, max 35 cm.
- Teardrop: a medium-balance, all-round shape.