why are midsized racquets called "mid"?

[spacediver]

why are 80-93 square inch racquets called mid sized if they're the smallest ones made these days?

is it with reference to the old woodies which were even smaller?

What are larger or smaller racquets called? small-sized and large-sized?

 

[VGP]

is it with reference to the old woodies which were even smaller?

Yes.

Wooden rackets and early non-wooden frames were considered "Standard" in size. Around 65-70 square inch head size.

The Midsize term came about along when Oversize frames were introduced. Oversize or Largehead frames were frames considered 110 square inches or larger (now greater than 107). So......Midsize or Mid frames were inbetween. Then.......Midplus was a frame with a head size in between a Midsize and an Oversize (now usually a 95-100).

 

[fuzz nation]

I'm pretty sure that when they came out with the 85 sq. inch graphite frames a couple of decades back, they actually called that hoop size a mid plus for a while until the bigger ones came along. Prince had the oversized frames early on in the post-wood movement of racquet development, too. I guess that there was enough of a difference among all those metal and graphite models that they had to come up with three different general terms. I wasn't in the room when the powers that be made that decision, but that's the way I remember the terminology progressing.

As I understand it, the mids are anything from 93" on down, a mid-plus is usually in the 95"-100" range, and bigger heads are called oversized. I suppose there will be some debate if anyone produces a 94" frame, right? Just to throw a wrench into things, Prince had their O3 Tour models and referred to the smallest of the three versions as the mid, but it was a 95" head.

Oh - I was writing while VGP nailed it. Thanks dude.

 

[spacediver]

ic - kind of confusing these days as 85 square inches is considered quite small these days yet is referred to as midsized.

 

[VGP]

I suppose it would sound confusing, but since I remember the days of wood, today's rackets all look large and feel light.

Personally, I hope that the terminology doesn't change. It would remain a reminder that harkens back to past eras of the game as far as equipment goes.

I suppose an allegory would be the light-medium-heavy string gauges of guitar strings. Today's typical electric guitar player uses "light" or "ultra-light" strings, but actual heavy gauge strings seem like fence wire by comparison. It was back when acoustic guitar players were fighting to be heard where thicker wire was needed.....