How to Make a Tennis Racket

Make Your Own Oversized Racket

Mar 19, 2009 Belinda Mooney

These quick and easy homemade tennis rackets will provide hours of outdoor play for the entire family.

These fun homemade tennis rackets are made from PVC pipe you can purchase at any hardware type store. They are sturdy and will provide many hours of entertainment for the whole family. They can even be broken down for traveling and simply put back together when you get where you are going.

Gather Tennis Racket-Making Supplies

You will need the following things for each racket you plan on making:

PVC pipe - 5 foot in length and 1/2 inch in diameter
1/2 inch fittings - you want slip in openings not the threaded kind you screw on. You need: 4 elbow joints, 1 T joint, 1 cap
tacky glue
30 large rubber bands
ball (Styrofoam play ball, tennis ball, Whiffle ball)

Cutting the Pipe

You will need the 5 foot PVC pipe cut into the following lengths. If you can't do this yourself many hardware stores will cut it for you.

1 – 9 inch piece (top piece)
2 – 10 inch pieces (sides)
2 – 4 inch pieces (bottom)
1 – 16 inch piece (handle)

Making the Racket

You want to put together the top of the racket first. Join the following to make the head. Place an elbow joint on either end of the 9 inch piece of PVC pipe. This is your top. Now add a 10 inch piece of pipe to either side. Place an elbow joint on the end of each of these.
Add a 4 inch piece of PVC pipe to each elbow joint. Place the T joint in the middle of the 4 inch pieces and join together to create your bottom edge.
Next add your handle. Place some of the tacky glue on the inside of the bottom of the T joint. Insert the 16 inch piece of PVC pipe. This is your handle. Add the pipe cap to the bottom of the handle.

Stringing Your Racket

Now you are ready to string your racket. This is what you use the rubber bands for – you want them large enough to fit across and thick enough to be sturdy. 3-4 inch long rubber bands work nicely.

Place 16 rubber bands horizontally across the racket. Make sure you space them evenly.
You will need 14 rubber bands for this part. String them vertically on your racket placing 7 rubber bands on each side of the racket.

Now you are ready for some backyard fun! You can make as many of these as you need for your friends and family to play. Make up your own game of tennis or other fun game. You might even want to hold a neighborhood competition.

The copyright of the article How to Make a Tennis Racket in Kids Crafts is owned by Belinda Mooney. Permission to republish How to Make a Tennis Racket in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.