A double pendulum model of tennis strokes

The physics of swinging a tennis racquet is examined by modeling the forearm and the racquet as a double pendulum. We consider differences between a forehand and a serve, and show how they differ from the swing of a bat and a golf club. It is also shown that the swing speed of a racquet, like that of a bat or a club, depends primarily on its moment of inertia rather than on its mass. (C) 2011 American Association of Physics Teachers. [DOI: 10.1119/1.3556712]