Optimized thermoplastic racquet

A sports racquet extending along a longitudinal axis and configured for use with a quantity of racquet string about a string plane, the racquet comprising:

• a frame formed of a thermoplastic material, the frame including first and second halves, the first and second halves including first and second spaced apart hoop regions, first and second handle regions, first and second mating surfaces and first and second outer surfaces, respectively, at least one of the first and second halves including a set of projections extending from at least one of the first and second mating surfaces and across the string plane, at least one of the first and second halves defining a set of bores, the set of projections being configured to matably engage the set of bores, at least two of the projections extending from at least one of the first and second hoop regions being stepped projections having a proximal section and a distal section, the transverse cross-sectional area of the proximal section measured with respect to the string plane being greater than the transverse cross-sectional area of the distal section measured with respect to the string plane, at least two of the set of bores of at least one of the first and second hoop portions being configured to receive the corresponding distal sections, but not the proximal sections, of the at least two stepped projections.