Racquet configured with increased flexibility in multiple directions with respect to a longitudinal axis

A tennis racquet extending along a longitudinal axis and capable of being tested under a racquet lateral bending test including a first test fixture, a deflection indicator and a clamp, and a racquet torsional stability test, wherein the racquet lateral bending test includes mounting the racquet in a first orientation to the first test fixture at a first longitudinal location, attaching the clamp to the racquet at a second longitudinal location, operably engaging the deflection indicator to the clamp, applying a first predetermined weight of 3 Kg to the racquet at a third longitudinal location, and removing the first predetermined weight to obtain a lateral deflection measurement of the racquet with respect to the longitudinal axis, the racquet comprising;

• a frame including a head portion, a handle portion including a proximal end, and a throat portion positioned between the head portion and the handle portion, the head portion forming a hoop that defines a string bed plane, the throat portion including a pair of throat elements, at least the head portion and the throat portion of the frame of the racquet being formed at least in part of a fiber composite material, wherein, when the racquet is tested under the racquet lateral bending test, the racquet has a lateral deflection of at least 6.0 mm when measured in a direction that is parallel to the string bed plane and perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, wherein the first test fixture includes a racquet contact surface, wherein the first longitudinal location of the racquet is adjacent to the proximal end of the handle portion with the proximal end of the handle portion contacting of the racquet contact surface of the first test fixture, wherein the second longitudinal location is at a distal end region of the head portion at a 12 o'clock position of the hoop, wherein the third longitudinal location is positioned at a side region of the head portion at the 3 o'clock position of the hoop at a distance that is 20 inches from the proximal end of the racquet along the longitudinal axis;
• wherein the racquet torsional stability test includes mounting the racquet to a test frame having second and third test fixtures at fourth and fifth longitudinal locations of the racquet, respectively, placing a second predetermined weight of 6.9 Kg at a sixth location on an arm extending from the second test fixture that is 40 cm from the longitudinal axis to place a torsional load on to the racquet, removing the second predetermined weight to obtain an angular deflection about the longitudinal axis, and wherein, when the racquet is tested under the racquet torsional stability test, the racquet has an angular deflection of less than 5.5 degrees about the longitudinal axis, wherein the second test fixture is fixed secured to the handle portion of the frame of the racquet and is pivotally mounted to the test frame to allow for rotational movement of the handle portion about the longitudinal axis, and wherein the third test fixture fixedly secures the head portion of the test frame;
• wherein the head portion includes a forward hoop surface and a rearward hoop surface, wherein the distance between the forward and rearward hoop surfaces is a beam height distance, and wherein the head portion has a maximum beam height distance of at least 20 mm.