Optimized thermoplastic racquet

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

• a frame formed of a thermoplastic material including a thermoplastic resin and a plurality of fiber segments, the frame including first and second halves, the first and second halves including first and second spaced apart hoop regions, and first and second handle regions, respectively, at least one of the first and second hoop regions including a set of projections extending from at least one of the first and second hoop regions in a direction orthogonal to the string plane, at least one of the first and second hoop regions defining a set of bores, the set of projections being configured to matably engage the set of bores, the set of projections extending through the string plane and defining curved bearing surfaces configured for engaging and supporting the racquet string, at least two of the set of projections defining at least two separate cross-sectional areas when measured with respect to the string plane that is selected from the group consisting of semi-circular, elliptical, semi-elliptical, D-shaped, U-shaped, C-shaped, other non-circular curved shapes and combinations thereof.