Gear 101: A beginner’s guide to the essential equipment needed to play tennis

Tennis is often referred to as the sport for a lifetime. Not only can you play it into old age, but the health and mental benefits have actually be shown to expand your lifespan. If tennis isn’t one of your current extracurriculars, or you’ve never played it before, you’re clearly missing out. And with May being National Tennis Month, it’s the perfect time to correct that problem.

If you’re going to join the fun, you’ll need these necessities.

Racquet

You may have a decent hand-me-down tennis racquet from a family member that’s been retired to the basement. Perhaps it’s even in good enough shape to dust off and make a triumphant return to the court. However, if it’s not from this century, chances are it won’t offer the best playing experience.

If a new racquet is needed, you can find one at a local pro shop, online retailer or sporting goods store. Since you’re new to the game, there’s no reason to break the bank. You can find a perfectly good model to learn on that comes strung for less than $100. Try to use a racquet that has some heft when you swing it, but doesn’t feel heavy. A standard length for a racquet is 27 inches, which works well for most adults. Junior frames for younger kids are shorter, which makes them lighter and easier to swing.

👉 Quick Tip: When selecting a racquet, make sure it has the proper grip size. When you hold a racquet comfortably—not too tight, not too loose—your thumb should ideally be able to touch the knuckle just below the tip of your middle finger. A little wiggle room in either direction is fine. But if there’s a big gap, or you can touch the knuckle in the middle of the finger, that’s not an appropriate grip size.

Balls

Another requirement to play tennis is the ball. The standard yellow ball generally comes three to a can. You can also find them at tennis pro shops, big box stores and online retailers, or even at local hardware and pharmacy chains. They come in two major categories that correlate to the thickness of the felt covering of the ball. Regular Duty is meant for clay and softer playing surfaces; and Extra Duty has a thicker covering that’s better for use on hard courts.

When it comes to tennis balls, age is the most important factor. Balls that are dead or bald make playing much less enjoyable and learning more difficult. Regardless of which brand it is, try to use fresh balls as often as possible. Because there’s nothing better than the sound and smell of cracking open a new can of balls.

👉 Quick Tip: Young kids often benefit from using training balls. See this guide, from the USTA, on which is best for your players' age. They’re softer, travel slower and have a lower bounce than the standard ball, making it easier for juniors to pick up the game.

Shoes

Tennis entails lots of running, but you’d be wise not to try it in your running shoes. Those models are designed for continuous, straight-ahead movement. Tennis is filled with starts and stops, and cuts in every direction. The lack of lateral support in a running shoe can make chasing the ball a scary proposition.

When starting out, you might be able to get away with a cross-training shoe. Those typically have more sturdiness and support than a running shoe. But if your National Tennis Month is going to expand into a year-round activity, your feet will appreciate a dedicated tennis shoe. Again, no need to make a huge investment—many brands make cushioned, comfortable and supportive shoes for casual players that run less than $100.

👉 Quick Tip: The outsole of a tennis shoe is specifically designed to encourage stable footwork on a court. Most shoes come with an all-surface tread pattern which works well on just about any court. If you do happen to play most of your tennis on a clay court, there are shoes with outsoles meant for that surface. They have a tight herringbone pattern that promotes more secure footing when moving on clay.

Apparel

Tennis has its own section of the athletic clothing space, but it’s not required to wear in order to play. Aside from some subtle tweaks, much of it is quite similar to gym garb. Whichever attire you like to put on for a workout will be suitable on a tennis court. There are some private clubs that enforce dress codes—such as collared shirts or alll-white clothing—but in public and recreational facilities you’re more likely to encounter yoga pants than a tennis dress.

👉 Quick Tip: Shorts, or any leggings, with pockets are beneficial in tennis. They serve as easy storage for the balls not in use. This keeps them close at hand, yet in no danger of being stepped on during play.