Abstract: A racket for playing tennis or similar ball games has a frame or head portion mounting the web of strings and of generally oval or elliptical configuration and a straight handle co-axial with the major axis of the frame. The frame includes at the lengthwise sides of the frame, that is, adjacent to the minor axis of the frame, spaces within the frame material or in containers attached to said frame sides a plurality of granules such as pellets which are freely movable within said spaces if and when the racket is swung to hit a ball, thereby damping vibrations as are generated when the ball impacts upon the web mounted on the frame. Similar spaces can also be provided in the yoke of the racket and partly filled with pellets also causing damping the vibrations generated by the impact of the ball.