Racquet configured with increased lateral flexibility with respect to a longitudinal axis

A tennis racquet extending along a 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 head portion including a distal region, first and second side regions, and a proximal region, the proximal region of the head portion includes a yoke, the throat portion including a pair of throat elements extending from the handle portion and diverging away from the longitudinal axis toward the head portion, 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, each of the throat elements merging with the head portion at the proximal region of head portion to form first and second transition regions, each of the first and second transition regions include blend fillet, at the string bed plane, the blend fillet forming a constant radius of less than or equal to 4 mm over an arc of at least 90 degrees,
• wherein the racquet is capable of being tested under a racquet lateral bending test, the racquet lateral bending test including a first test fixture having a handle portion contact surface, a first clamp, a deflection indicator, and a second clamp, wherein the racquet lateral bending test includes securely mounting the racquet in a first orientation to the first test fixture at a first longitudinal location, attaching the second clamp to the racquet at a second location, operably engaging the deflection indicator to the second clamp, applying a first predetermined weight of 3 Kg to the racquet at a third location, and removing the first predetermined weight to obtain a lateral deflection measurement of the racquet with respect to the longitudinal axis, wherein, when the racquet is in the first longitudinal location on the first test fixture, the proximal end of the handle portion contacts the handle portion contact surface of the first test fixture and the first clamp of the first test fixture securely mounts the handle portion to the first test fixture including up to a first length that is six inches from the proximal end of the handle portion along the longitudinal axis of the racquet, wherein, when the racquet is tested under the racquet lateral bending test, the racquet has a lateral deflection of at least 6.5 mm when measured in a first direction that is parallel to the string bed plane and perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, 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 location is at a distal end region of the head portion at a 12 o'clock position of the hoop, wherein the third 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, and wherein the racquet is capable of being tested under a racquet forward/rearward bending test, wherein the racquet forward/rearward bending test includes securely mounting the racquet in a second orientation to the first test fixture at the first longitudinal location, applying a second predetermined weight of 2.8 Kg to the racquet at a fourth location, operably engaging the deflection indicator to the racquet at a fifth location, and removing the second predetermined weight to obtain a forward/rearward deflection measurement with respect to the longitudinal axis wherein the racquet is rotated 90 degrees about the longitudinal axis from the first orientation to the second orientation, wherein the racquet forward/rearward bending test includes securely mounting the racquet in a second orientation to the first test fixture at the first longitudinal location, applying a second predetermined weight of 2.8 Kg to the racquet at a fourth location, operably engaging the deflection indicator to the racquet at a fifth location, and removing the second predetermined weight to obtain a forward/rearward deflection measurement with respect to the longitudinal axis, wherein the racquet is rotated 90 degrees about the longitudinal axis from the first orientation to the second orientation, wherein the fourth and fifth locations are at a distal end region of the head portion at a 12 o'clock position of the hoop, wherein, when the racquet is tested under the racquet forward/rearward bending test, the racquet has a forward/rearward deflection with respect to the longitudinal axis of less than 7.3 mm when measured in a second direction that is perpendicular to the string bed plane and perpendicular to the longitudinal axis.