Tennis: Metallic Step Farther

With new scoring systems, new synthetic playing surfaces and competition between amateurs and pros, tennis seems to have entered a long-overdue era of change. Last year even the tennis racket itself took on a new look with the T2000 steel racket, designed by France's René ("the Crocodile") Lacoste and marketed in the U.S. by the Wilson Sporting Goods Co. Now A. G.

Like the steel racket, "the Smasher," as Spalding calls it, is open-throated to cut wind resistance, increase the speed and power of a player's swing. Unlike the T2000, which has its strings attached to a crown inside the frame, the aluminum racket is strung conventionally, through nylon-lined holes in the racket's head. This increases the size of the "sweet spot," the area of the racket face on which the ball can be hit with good effect, and makes the racket less likely to spin or twist on shots hit near the rim.

Because aluminum alloy is also stiffer than steel, top players who have used the new racket claim to get better control on volleys, lobs and drop shots. "The ball doesn't fly off the surface as it does with steel," says the U.S.'s Dennis Ralston who, along with South Africa's Cliff Drysdale, plans to use the aluminum racket on this year's pro tour.