Racquet having cantilevered hoop portions

A sports racquet configured to support a string bed formed of a plurality of cross string segments and a plurality of main string segments and for impacting a game ball, the racquet comprising:

• a frame including a head portion coupled to a handle portion, the head portion including a distal region, first and second side regions, and a proximal region, the head portion defining a single hoop having a continuous closed curved shape that defines a string bed area;
• and
• at least one cantilevered member having first and second sections, the first section being coupled to the at least one of the regions of the head portion such that at least one point on the first section remains substantially fixed in relation to the region to which the first section is coupled, the member having a second section that is unconnected to, and movable relative to, the region to which the first section is coupled, at least one of the string segments being operably engaged with the second section of the at least one member, such that when the ball impacts the at least one string segment, the second section of the member moves inward toward the string bed.

A sports racquet configured to support a string bed formed of a plurality of cross string segments and a plurality of main string segments and for impacting a game ball, the racquet comprising:

• a frame including a head portion coupled to a handle portion, the head portion including a distal region, first and second side regions, and a proximal region;
• at least one cantilevered member having first and second sections, the first section being coupled to the at least one of the regions of the head portion such that at least one point on the first section remains substantially fixed in relation to the region to which the first section is coupled, the member having a second section that is unconnected to, and movable relative to, the region to which the first section is coupled, at least one of the string segments being operably engaged with the second section of the at least one member, such that when the ball impacts the at least one string segment, the second section of the member moves inward toward the string bed;
• and a filling element positioned between a portion of the cantilevered member and the head portion.

A sports racquet configured to support a string bed formed of a plurality of cross string segments and a plurality of main string segments and for impacting a game ball, the racquet comprising:

• a frame including a head portion coupled to a handle portion, the head portion including a distal region, first and second side regions, and a proximal region;
• at least one cantilevered member having first and second sections, the first section being coupled to the at least one of the regions of the head portion such that at least one point on the first section remains substantially fixed in relation to the region to which the first section is coupled, the member having a second section that is unconnected to, and movable relative to, the region to which the first section is coupled, at least one of the string segments being operably engaged with the second section of the at least one member, such that when the ball impacts the at least one string segment, the second section of the member moves inward toward the string bed;
• and the head portion and the at least one cantilevered member define at least one opening, and the at least one opening being at least partially filled with a filling element.