Just checking the NI government site ; it states that for the UK

http://www.nidirect.gov.uk/dangerous...board-a-flight

racquets are not permitted in hand luggage

It is a Northern Ireland site, but the page does seem to indicate that it relates to UK and not just NI

Even if passed through security, BA's rules explictly prohibit them too

http://www.britishairways.com/en-gb/...d-restrictions