A woodwind instrument of the Renaissance, having a double reed.

The racket (sometimes spelled rackett) made its appearance during the last quarter of the 16th century. It takes it name from the German word for rocket, "Raquete", because of its shape.

The racket contains a number of short parallel bores connected in series to make up a total windway of a metre or more, providing a deep tone in a compact case. Fingerholes are bored into each side of the cylinder so that they can be manipulated by two hands held level with each other. At the top, a metal tube carries a bassoon-like double reed partially enclosed by an ivory pirouette.

The racket came in four sizes, but, lacking the strength of tone of the shawm and dulcian, it fell into disuse in the 18th century.