Hall of Frames: Smash Hit digital exhibit a revealing look at racquets

You simply cannot fancy yourself a tennis historian without diving deep into the International Tennis Hall of Fame’s new digital exhibit, Smash Hit: The Evolution of the Tennis Racquet.

If you want to see microscopic pieces of red-clay staining Roger Federer’s Wilson Pro overgrip from his 2009 French Open triumph, or the absurdity of Mike Fishbach’s “spaghetti-string”—which can only be truly appreciated in person—pay a visit to the venerable Newport museum. But this online exhibit—a museum all its own—has racquet history covered better than anywhere else. It's an incredibly in-depth exploration of all frames, and how they've changed the game.

The original Prince Graphite changed the game with its massive, 109-square inch head size (International Tennis Hall of Fame)

The sprawling exhibit traces every detail of the tennis racquet, dating back to the game’s inception in 12th century Europe, all the way to the present day. Modern-day tennis and the equipment used are almost unrecognizable from its beginning stages. Smash Hit connects all the dots—47 of them, to be exact.

Perhaps the most fascinating feature is the pairing of technological advances with the players who pioneered them. From Arthur Ashe to Gustavo Kuerten, game-changing weapons are pinned to the pros who wielded them. Most people think Jimmy Connors' Wilson T-2000 was the first metal frame, when in fact it was invented around the 1890s, and was used by former champion Bill Larned nearly 60 years before Jimbo.

Bill Larned was the first pro to win with a metal frame (International Tennis Hall of Fame)

In today’s professional game, players basically use identical racquets. They range from 93 square inches to (maybe) 105 square inches, and are primarily composed of the same materials. That was not always the case. The equipment evolved first, and it was up to the players to adapt—or else. Bjorn Borg once attempted a return to tour with wooden racquets when everyone else had adapted to bigger, lighter graphite frames. The San Diego Union-Tribune described it as “like showing up in Iraq with a musket.”

While the game has passed most of the racquets in Smash Hit by, it's still remarkable to see them through a contemporary lens. Not only can you quickly scroll through the entirety of tennis' equipment revolution, you can also examine the artifacts from many dimensions, from head and grip size, to material composition and historical significance. This exhibit raises the bar for detail and passion. Bud Collins, a Hall of Famer himself, would be proud.