Equipping Yourself to Play

Obvious essential equipment for playing tennis is a tennis racquet and balls. If you want to practice but aren’t near a court, a wall adjacent to a concrete surface is a reliable partner that never fails to send another ball back to you. Whether you are hitting with a wall or another live person, here are some tips on how to equip yourself to play.

Racquets for Adults Most racquets are 27-28 inches long from the tip to the end of the handle. Racquet weight (unstrung) varies from about 9 to 11 ounces which doesn’t seem like much but the weight can make a difference. Be careful not to use something too light or too heavy for your arm.

The best way to find your perfect racquet is trial and error. Most tennis retailers allow you to “demo” a racquet at a nominal charge. Even online retailers allow that, knowing that investing in a racquet can be a big decision.

An important thing to think about in choosing a racquet is the size of the grip or handle. An easy way to find the correct size is to hold the racquet with the dominant hand and slide the index finger of the other hand between the tips of the fingers and the base of the palm. If the grip is too small, the index finger won’t fit. If the grip is too large, the index finger will have extra wiggle room. Choose a grip size that’s comfortable, but keep in mind that too large or too small a group can affect how tightly you squeeze the racquet; over squeezing can tire your arm.

Strings If you buy a racquet at a general retailer, it will likely come pre-strung. This is an entry-level product that is perfect for beginners. Higher quality racquets will come unstrung so that you can customize your strings.

Knowing how tightly to string your racquet and what type of string to use can take time and experimentation. A professional stringer can help you find the best fit for you. As you play more and if you play competitively at all, you will find that it is a good practice to have a second, spare racquet in case you break a string.

There is something oddly satisfying about feeling the pop of your strings breaking when you hit the ball; but, to get the best performance you should restring your racquet regularly based, generally, on how often you play. As a rule of thumb, consider how many times you play tennis each week; that same number is a good estimate of how often you should restring your racquet annually. If you play an average of 2 times a week, you should restring your racquet twice a year.

It is best to not leave your racquet in the car or in a place where it will endure temperature swings which can affect your strings. Balls When you’re on the lookout for new tennis balls, the type of court you play on matters. If you frequent clay courts or indoor courts, you’ll want regular duty tennis balls; if you play on hard courts, go for extra duty. Regular duty tennis balls have thinner felt that lessens the amount of clay absorbed on impact, while extra duty felt will hold up better on the more demanding hard courts and grass surfaces.

See below under Equipment for Children for information about lower compression training or transition balls. Don’t feel embarrassed about using transitional balls for adult play. Because they come across the net more slowly, they are a great tool for refining your swing shape. These balls won’t come at you as quickly and don’t bounce as high or hard, so stay on your toes so you can run down short balls.

Shoes Athletic shoes, termed court shoes, that provide good support are essential for the quick movements necessary for tennis. Running shoes are not recommended due to a higher heel height that can lead to turned ankles. Avoid black soles, as these can permanently mark the court. Be aware that most indoor courts won’t allow any shoes that are not non-marking.

Outdoor courts can be up to 10 degrees warmer than the air temperature; so, make sure the sole of your shoes are supportive and thick so you don’t feel the heat radiate on your feet.

Weather Preparedness Sunscreen and a hat or visor are essential if playing outdoors.

If you are playing inside or out, make sure you wear comfortable, loose clothing, have plenty of water, and a towel so you can towel off between points.

Don’t let a drop in temperature keep you off the courts. Wear layers that you can take off as your body warms up. Be careful, however, when playing on courts after a rain storm. Wet courts – particularly the lines – can become very slippery and dangerous for play.

Equipment for Children There are many different things to consider when buying a child’s tennis racquet, beginning with size. If your child picks up a heavier full-sized racquet to play, he/she is going to find it harder to hit the ball and increase risk of injury.

Having an appropriately sized racquet for children aids their development and boosts self-confidence. The good news is that children’s racquets are significantly cheaper than adult versions, so upsizing racquets as children grow does not have extreme costs.

17-inch, 19-inch, and 21-inch racquets are very lightweight and made with young muscles in mind. They come pre-strung and are recommended based on age and height rather than skill level. 17-inch racquets are best for really young kids, aged 2-3, while the slightly longer 19-inch racquet can be used for kids up to 4 years old. 21-inches is the next size up and is ideal for kids aged 5-6 years; 23-inch racquets are intended for kids aged 7-8 years old.

Remember to take your under-8 child’s height into account when choosing a racquet for them. Kids who are tall for their age may want to go up a size, and kids who are shorter will need a shorter racquet.

When choosing a racquet for a 9- or 10-yearold, you will want to take skill level and on-court experience into account. 25-inch racquets range from recreational and beginner racquets to performance level youth racquets which are slightly heavier and meant for a more competitive junior player. If your child is still relatively new to tennis or doesn’t play competitively, then they should be fine with a lighter recreational racquet. Skill level and experience also play a factor when selecting a racquet for a slightly older child. 26-inch racquets are slightly longer and slightly heavier than smaller frames and to help young players transition slowly and safely toward an eventual adult frame when their height warrants that move. There are a variety of beginner tennis balls that are specially designed for development and are great for teaching and training. There are four stages of tennis balls illustrated in the diagram below.

If your child gets the tennis bug and show interest in competing, check out the information that follows on how to get started with USTA junior tournaments.