Tennis Racket Challenge

Tiikat and Sisu used their imagination to create their own tennis rackets to play boat tennis.

You can follow these instructions to copy their design, or just use them as a guide and use your imagination to find your preferred racket shape!

You could also try using other materials instead of cardboard, such as plastic or wood, if you find something suitable in the recycling! You just need to make sure you have a space to weave your string.

Difficulty Level:

3 magnifying glass ++

What you need:

Equipment:

 
  • Bamboo sticks
  • Cardboard (can be cut from a box – you need 2 pieces at least the size of your racket)
  • Pencil
  • Ruler
  • Scissors
  • String
  • Tape

Method:

  1. Draw your chosen racket frame shape on one piece of cardboard using a ruler and pencil.
  2. Cut out this shape.
  3. Draw around your shape on the second piece of cardboard.
  4. You should now have 2 identical racket frames.
  1. Draw the space for your net to go on one of your frame pieces.
  2. Cut this net space out.
  3. Trace this net space onto the second frame.
  4. You should now have 2 identical racket frames with the net space cut out.
  1. On the inside of one of your frames stick bamboo sticks around the frame using tape, to help strengthen it.
  2. On the inside of your second frame create a border using bamboo sticks. Make sure you only stick it at the edges, giving yourself plenty of space to weave the string in the centre.
  3. Take your string and start threading it from side to side, across the hole and around the bamboo sticks on two sides.
  4. Keep weaving your string side to side until you have done this across all of the frame hole.
  1. Tie a knot in the end and cut off the excess string.
  2. Take the string and now thread it in the other direction, up and down instead of sideways, weaving it in and out of the sideways string.

    Tip: Go under one string, over the next, under the next and so on…
  3. Keep weaving your string up and down through your sideways string, until you have crossed the hole. Tie the end of your string and cut off the excess.

    Hint: Don’t worry if your string goes a bit slack. You can tighten it later by moving the bamboo sticks.
  4. Pull your bamboo sticks outwards to make sure your string is tight. Then tape it down as securely as possible.


    Tip: Ask someone to help you hold the sticks tight while you tape it on!

  1. Now it is time to put both halves of your racket together! Put the sides with bamboo together and tape around the racket tightly.
  2. Get playing! Try with light balls at first and gradually see how much weight your racket can take.

Further Suggestions...

Try using different techniques or materials to make the net stronger or see if different shape and size frames make a difference.

Why not decorate your racket too?!

We would love to see pictures of what you come up with or a video of your racket in action!