Here
is a list of the basic equipment that the average tennis player must
purchase:
Shoes
Bag
Water Bottle
Racket (with proper strings and grip)
Balls
Sun Block
Towel
Head and Wrist Bands
Not all of these items are required, but the average player has all of them.
Let's discuss each of them and why they are important now shall we? We shall.
Shoes
You must wear appropriate shoes for the sport. They must be in great condition
and have good traction. This improves your ability to move around quickly
and not fall or trip. The shoe should fit you well, but not be too tight.
They should not be able to slide around, they must support your arch, and
they must have very good cushioning for your toes and heel as you will
be on your toes the whole game! Get it? Ha ha!
Bag
All tennis players, beginning or experienced, have a bag to carry around all
of their equipment and personal belongings in. Make sure that when you
buy the bag, it has separate pockets for all your little belongings. Make
sure that it has support for your racket so that it will not get bent and
damaged when being transported. Make sure that it has enough room for a
little something extra that you did not plan on transporting as you will
usually have to add to your equipment at one point or another. Make sure
that your bag is of high quality as you do not want it to rip now would
you? Nope!
Water Bottle
A water bottle is crucial to playing tennis, or any sport for that matter.
If you are dehydrated, you will not only be uncomfortable, but open to
possible illness and almost certain harm. Always bring a good, large water
bottle and try and have someway to keep it as cool as you can.
Racket (with
appropriate strings and grip)
One of, if not the most, obvious things that you will need to play tennis is
a good tennis racket. Let’s start with the grip!
The grip should be new, and not worn. It should not be slippery or uneven.
It should be tacky (meaning designed) and enable you to have a better grip.
If your grip is not up to par, then you do not have to replace the racket.
You can simply purchase a new grip and install it yourself. Believe me, it
is worth the few dollars you have to pay for it.
Now onto the string of the racket. The recommended tension for strings is between
45 to 70 pounds. If you look at the throat of the racket, it will usually have
a tension range printed on it. The less experience you have, the lower the
tension you want.
If your grip and strings are perfect, but you are still unhappy with the way
that your racket performs when you play, you can customize your racket, however,
that takes money and even more time, so it is recommended that you simply buy
a new one to better suit your needs.
Balls
It is very obvious that if you wish to play tennis, you will require tennis
balls. If you are not very serious about the game, any old tennis ball
will do. However, if you are very serious and wish to know which ball will
help your game the most, it is recommended that you buy Penn and Wilson
tennis balls.
Also, there is such a thing as dead balls. These are balls that have lost their
bounce, and by practicing with them, you will develop bad habits and throw
off your game.
Sun Block
Since you are playing outdoors, be sure to always have sun block on you. This
will prevent any skin damage. Even if it is cloudy outside or you are not
seemingly getting burned, the rays from the sun are still penetrating your
skin and can cause serious damage. Also, remember to apply the sun block
as frequently as the bottle says to.
Towel, Wrist
Band, and Sweat Band
If you sweat a lot, you will delicately be wanting to bring these supplies
with you. If your hands sweat, remember that you will need to be wiping them
off in order to prevent your racket from slipping. Also, the sweat from your
upper arm that runs down your arm can be caught before reaching your hands
by the wrist bands. If you will be on the court for a long time, be sure to
bring more then one sweat band. Wearing a wet one won’t help you in the
least and it can also be harmful.
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