Fischer / Adidas Spaghetti strung racquet

Fischer / Adidas Spaghetti strung racquet. Aluminium frame. Plastic throat. Invented in 1971 but banned by the International Tennis Federation in 1978 because players of relatively low standing were able to beat top players due to the extra spin imparted on the ball. This racquet design generated extra ball spin with 18 main strings and only 5 cross strings that are not woven with the main strings but tied together near the cross strings with five thin strings looped around each main string. There are two sets of main strings, one on each side of the racquet, the cross strings being located between the two sets of mains. So there are three separate layers of strings. At points where the main strings intersect the cross strings, short sections of plastic spaghetti tubing are threaded onto the main strings to reduce friction and wear between the mains and crosses. There are also small, sharp blobs of glue attached to the strings that increase grip on the ball.