Sport and Games Atlas

How The Game Is Played
Sign In
Text size
100%
Theme

Racket Sports

Athletes who competed in badminton, squash, table tennis or tennis, the net sports played with a handheld racket or paddle. Belongs here: players of any of these four sports. Does not belong here: court sports played with the hand or body alone, grouped under Court and Net Team Sports.

Facts
Comparison
Era of Origin
1860 1
Defining Characteristic
Racket sports (or racquet sports) are games in which players use a racket or paddle to hit a ball or a shuttlecock. 2
Browse By
Sources
1. Wikipedia: Tennis
WikipediaTennis, Origins of the modern game section
Quote, Tennis, Origins of the modern game section
Between 1859 and 1865, Harry Gem, a solicitor, and his friend Augurio Perera developed a game that combined elements of racquets and the Basque ball game pelota.
View the Source
2. Wikipedia: Racket sport
WikipediaRacket sport, lead section
Quote, Racket sport, lead section
Racket sports (or racquet sports) are games in which players use a racket or paddle to hit a ball or a shuttlecock.
View the Source
Comments (0)
No comments yet. Be the first to share a thought.
Reader Challenges (0)
No disputes yet. Spotted an error or a better source? Open the first one.
Frequently Asked Questions

Which athletes belong under Racket Sports rather than Court and Net Team Sports?

Players of badminton, squash, table tennis or tennis, who use a handheld racket or paddle.

This subcategory groups athletes who competed in badminton, squash, table tennis or tennis, the net sports played with a handheld racket or paddle. Court sports played with the hand or body alone, such as basketball, handball and volleyball, are grouped instead under Court and Net Team Sports.