Tennis is one of the most popular sports around the world and having a comprehensive tennis equipment list showing what you need to play the sport is vital.
If you are a tennis fan, then you definitely understand the thrill of seeing Roger Federer serving ace after ace, Rafael Nadal’s imposing forehand, Novak Djokovic’s incredible speed, and Serena’s passion for the game.
Therefore, as tennis lovers, we want to feel the adrenaline rush even more by playing tennis ourselves. It’s an exciting sport to play and very good for your health as well. Getting your hands on a complete tennis equipment list, along with the best product recommendations, definitely helps in that regard.
In this article I am going to share the ultimate tennis equipment list with you. In this list you will find every single piece of equipment that might be required to play tennis.
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I will try my best to even cover the minor details so that you can find this list handy even if you are thinking of opening a tennis club and want to purchase all the necessary equipment. On the other hand, for young players who are hoping to pursue a career in tennis, this list will be the most helpful tennis equipment list they’ll ever find.
Tennis Equipment Recommendations
I give you specific recommendations of the best tennis equipment items to use for each category. Knowing the type of equipment to use without knowing what specific items are best is like a dietician saying that you need to eat food to lose weight without recommending what foods to eat.
Not every single piece of tennis equipment that you’ll find on my list is absolutely mandatory for playing tennis. It depends on what you need and what you have access to. For example, if you play tennis in your school, I would not tell you to buy nets because your school tennis court already has them.
There is no reason to think that it is not possible for you to enjoy the game if you don’t purchase all the equipment I’ll mention.
As mentioned, I’ll recommend good products for each category. Finding good products online can be tricky and it takes a lot of time to research all the reviews and finally decide to make a purchase.
I have done the hard work for you and included the products that have very good reviews and are from reputable tennis equipment manufacturers. We hope you love the products we recommend! As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases, at no extra cost to you. Thank you if you use our links, we really appreciate your support!
So, here’s the list! The details will follow.
Tennis Rackets
I think you’ll agree that tennis rackets are the most important pieces of equipment for the game of tennis and needs to be at the top of any tennis equipment list. Whether you call it a tennis racket or tennis racquet, it doesn’t change the fact that you can’t play tennis without it.
After all, it is the racket that will help you win or lose the point after a long rally. There is nothing more frustrating than the moment when your racket lets you down and you lose a crucial point. Though it is true that tennis is a game of skill and stamina, and a good racket won’t make someone a great tennis player, you can’t perform at a top level without a good quality racket.
Even though almost all the tennis rackets look the same, they are definitively not. Different players use different types of rackets, depending on their playing style and comfort. Rafael Nadal is a player who relies a lot on power, and uses a racket that suits a powerful playing style, while Novak Djokovic uses a lighter racket which supports his speed and quick movements very well.
What to consider when choosing a tennis racket
While choosing a tennis racket, you should consider the head size, grip size, material, weight, and the area of the sweet spot. If you are a beginner tennis player, I’d recommend you to start with cheaper rackets to get an understanding of your preferred playing style first. Once you are sure of your tennis playing style, then you can go for more expensive options.
These are some very good rackets you can choose from:
If you are looking for the best tennis rackets on the market with detailed reviews, check out our picks of the best tennis rackets of 2020.
We have also written an article on the best tennis rackets under 100 dollars so if you are a beginner to intermediate tennis player looking to choose a new racket, then take a look and let us know if it’s helped.
Best Tennis Balls
Tennis balls have many differnt uses. Many people use tennis balls to play fetch with Fido but obviously we’ll be talking about the primary use of tennis balls…to play tennis. Anyway, the point is, you will not be able to play tennis without tennis balls, so they have to be near the top of your tennis equipment list. Without the ball, what are you going to send to your opponent’s court with your racket?
If you are playing in your school or a tournament, your club or the tournament organizers will provide the balls. However, to train by yourself, you will definitely need to purchase a few tennis balls.
Professional players have access to training facilities with great infrastructure, yet they also have a few tennis balls at home so that they can feel the ball with their racket every now and then.
Best Tennis Balls Recommendations
You might think that every tennis ball is the same, but that’s not true. Though the size and shape of all the tennis balls are basically the same, there are differences. Not every tennis ball has the same weight and bounce. One of the reasons why Roger Federer has won so many Wimbledon titles, but not many French Open titles? Of course, the main reason is the type of court, clay vs grass, but the type of tennis ball played it’s part too. These two grand slams use different types of tennis balls, and it is not easy to adapt to both of them.
Before taking part in a tournament, try to find out what ball is going to be used in the matches. This way you will be able to purchase a few of the same balls, and practice beforehand. It will increase your chances of doing better in that tournament. Professional players always do that.
Here are some of our recommendations of the best tennis balls to use.
Tennis Ball Pressurizer
There are few things more frustrating for tennis players than getting on the tennis court for your regular tennis game and in the warm up you realize that the tennis balls aren’t bouncing as high as they should. The reason why tennis balls lose their bounce is because air starts seeping out of the pores of the balls the moment you take them out of the pressurized container that you bought them in. The solution to this problem is a tennis ball pressurizer, also known as a tennis ball saver.
This is a very simple device that allows you to store your tennis balls at a pressure of about 14psi which is the same pressure that new tennis balls are stored at in the container before it’s opened for the 1st time. It basically means that tennis balls that have been stored in the tennis ball pressurizer will bounce the same as the last time you used them, no matter how long it’s been since you’ve played with them.
This is a great way to not only extend the life of your tennis balls, but enjoy good bounce from them over time too. This is a great, inexpensive piece of tennis equipment that should be a part of every tennis player’s tennis equipment list.
Tennis Shoes
Without good tennis shoes, you can forget about performing well. This is why tennis shoes is a must have entry on the tennis equipment list. You need tennis shoes that give you utmost comfort and mobility. If you face difficulties running from one edge of your court to the other, then you will lose miserably. A good pair of tennis shoes will be your best companion in receiving strong backhands and forehands at the edge of the court.
The sole of your tennis shoe must have good grip, so that you don’t slip. Especially, if you are playing on a clay court, the grip is more important because the ground surface does not provide the grip itself. On the other hand, the grip should not be so firm that it risks tripping you over & risking a sprained ankle. There needs to be a perfect balance for you to move freely, as well as move fast.
Size matters
You should also choose tennis shoes that are the right size, because if your shoes are too loose, you will not move freely, and if they are too tight, your feet will hurt after running for a while. The shoes need to be soft, as well as durable.
While there are unisex tennis shoes, men & women players mostly wear shoes that are specifically designed for their gender. Here are some best tennis shoes recommendations for men and women tennis players.
Womens Tennis Shoes
Mens Tennis Shoes
Tennis Racket Strings
You might find it a bit weird to see this in the tennis equipment list. Shouldn’t tennis racket strings come with the rackets by default? As much as we would love that to happen, it is not the case every single time. There are rackets for which you’ll have to purchase the strings separately.
Also, even if your racket comes with strings, you’ll need spare strings anyway. Which part of your tennis racket is most likely to wear and tear sooner than the others? The strings. That means you’ll need replacement strings at some point.
Choosing good quality tennis racket strings is important
It is always a good idea to have tennis strings which you know are a great replacement for your current tennis racket strings should they break while you’re playing. Having your tennis racket restrung with strings which you know are good quality is a much better option than relying on the person who is stringing your racket to choose.
In professional tennis, the strings are as crucial as the rackets themselves. Depending on the type of strings a racket has, its performance can fluctuate. String material, orientation, and tennis racket string tension determines how powerful your shot would be, and how easily you can receive strong serves from your opponent.
Here are some of the best tennis racket strings which we recommend for you!
Tennis Grips
Good tennis rackets and strings are very handy to win more matches, but you won’t be able to win too many matches if you can’t grip your racket firmly. Imagine that you are about to smash a very weak return from your opponent, and your racket slips out of your hand. You might even feel like breaking your racket at a time like this, right? Tennis racket grips can help you avoid such situations.
Like rackets and strings, different tennis grips also come in different sizes, and materials. You might just want to stick to the grip that comes with the tennis racquet itself, but it is better to understand which type of grip suits your hands best. For example, if your hands are sweaty, then using a fiber grip is a very good idea. On the other hand, if you are looking for a long lasting grip, then choosing a leather grip would be wise.
Grip size
You also need to consider the grip size for the racket you are using. The grip that works great with a head-heavy racket might suck with a handle-heavy racket. That’s why you need to put comfort first before anything else. Don’t just copy your tennis player friends and get a grip that they use, rather buy one that feels the best in your hand.
Here are some very good quality tennis racket grips for you to choose from.
Tennis String Savers
While powerful rackets are great for giving your opponent a hard time, at the end of the day it is the tennis strings that will do most of the hard work. You will smash using the strings, and also receive powerful serves with the same strings. During a match, the strings take most of the impact. If you are not meeting the ball with your racket strings, then sorry to say, you are not a good player. Jokes aside, it is important to protect the strings, so that they remain in their best condition during the match. This is where string savers come in.
Why use tennis string savers
Sure, there are players who don’t like to use tennis string savers, but it is highly recommended that you don’t participate in an intense tournament without having string savers on your tennis racquet strings. String savers will not only make sure that you play a whole game with the same racket without switching, but also might make them more powerful in some cases. Switching rackets during a game is not a good sign, as you get used to the feel of a particular tennis racket during a match, and switching that racket means you need to start all over again. This way you might lose your momentum and even the match.
Here are some affordable and high quality string savers for you!
Tennis Racket Vibration Dampeners
Well, installing tennis racquet vibration dampeners in your tennis racket strings is not a must-do thing, but you should definitely consider it. The function of these vibration dampeners for tennis racquets is to give your racket more control over the shots and the returns. When the ball meets the strings, they vibrate. Some players feel uncomfortable when the vibration is a bit too overwhelming or results in lack of control of their shots. The vibration might result in you not being able to send the ball where you intend it to.
Tennis racket vibration dampeners reduce the vibration caused by the impact of the ball with the strings, and this results in you having more control over your shots. It is true that at times you might overhit the ball and it goes out of the court. If you think your playing style gets hampered because of the vibration, then you should consider getting vibration dampeners. My suggestion is to try using your racket with and without tennis racket vibration dampeners, and compare the two experiences. Go with the one that seems better for you.
Here are some tennis racket vibration dampener recommendations!
Tennis Shirts
As we are done with rackets and balls, now it’s time to have a look at the tennis clothes. This tennis equipment list would not be complete if I don’t give you tennis shirt recommendations. As I mentioned earlier, tennis is a game of stamina. You need an tennis clothes that does not become uncomfortable and hamper your performance.
Regardless of your gender, you need to choose tennis shirts that allow you to move as freely as possible. That does not mean you should go for something which is so loose that it gets in the way. The best choice for this is to go for cotton blend shirts. Cotton is not itchy, and very comfortable to wear. Wearing cotton shirts will also make sure that you don’t change your shirt during a game too often.
Anyways, some tournaments come with strange rules that do not allow sleeveless shirts, so go through the tournament rules before you decide to choose your outfit that you’ll be participating in. It won’t be very pleasant if you are not allowed to wear the shirt you brought with you because of a tournament rule.
Here are some mens & womens tennis shirt suggestions to help you pick the best shirt for you
Mens Tennis Shirts
Womens Tennis Shirts
Tennis Skorts, Skirts, Dresses & Shorts
Tennis shirts are mostly paired with shorts and skirts. Just like shirts, it is preferred to choose shorts and skirts made of cotton. It’d be wrong to choose any regular sports shorts or skirts for the game of tennis, because tennis apparel is specifically designed for the sport itself. Tennis shorts and skirts need to provide ease of movement, and wick away perspiration.
Some women tennis players prefer wearing a tennis dress and nowadays most tennis skirts have been replaced with tennis skorts which are tennis skirts with built in shorts. The name skort was obviously derived from a combination of skirt & shorts. These have been incredibly popular in recent times.
In some cases, women tennis players wear one-piece tennis dresses that do not require additional skirts, as the dress itself has a bottom that looks like short skirts. For men tennis players on the other hand, shorts are a must wear item of tennis apparel. Even if you live in an area where the climate is cool, tennis shorts and skirts, skorts or dresses are a recommended form of apparel you need to wear. You will have to do a lot of running, so your body will get warm in no time during a tennis match. That’s why a good pair of shorts, or a comfortable skirt, skort or dress should be your go to choice.
Here are some great recommendations.
Tennis Shorts – Mens
Tennis Skirts, Skorts, Dress & Womens Tennis Shorts
Tennis Socks
Tennis socks are as important as shoes when it comes to tennis. Due to extended periods of running on the court, your feet are certain to get sweaty. A good pair of socks will absorb the sweat very well and make sure that your feet do not feel uncomfortable inside your tennis shoes. Well, there are no specific tennis socks for playing tennis, but the norm is to wear short cushioned crew socks. You should not go to play tennis with very long socks like soccer players, as they are just not convenient for tennis.
Try to purchase your socks from reputable brands, so that you can be assured of the quality. Remember, comfort for your feet inside the shoes is very important, so don’t hesitate to pay a little extra for that. It’ll be totally worth it when prevents foot pain & discomfort during & after your tennis match!
Here are some great tennis socks!
Tennis Headbands and Caps
Especially for female players, tennis headbands can come in really handy when it comes to playing tennis. With longer hair, your head and forehead might also sweat, and a tennis headband can prevent the sweat from making it really uncomfortable for you on the court. Moreover, at times tennis headbands help with keeping your hair under control, so that they do not get in your way while having a swing at the ball. Apart from controlling your long hair, sports headbands are great for absorbing the sweat which runs down your forehead and can sometimes run into your eyes and distract you while playing.
Playing on outdoor tennis courts means you will be exposed to the sun. This means, your vision might get affected because of the sun, and protecting your eyes from sunlight can be the difference between a win and a loss. As it is not ideal to play tennis with sunglasses so a tennis cap should be your preferred way of keeping the sun out of your eyes. Remember Andy Roddick? He didn’t wear caps while playing in grand slams just for fashion’s sake, did he? Some players also like to wear visors too, especially female players. Here are some great headband & cap recommendations:
Tennis Headbands
