Three of a Kind: A trio of tennis accessories that will give your game an edge

Master Athletics +/- Grip Size Replacement Grip
Price: $11
Website: master-athletics.com

Master Athletics earned its stripes making platform tennis paddles, but it also makes products for other racquet sports. And you can file its replacement grip under, "Why didn’t anyone think of this before?"

Depending on which of the four thicknesses is applied to the handle, it can increase a grip up to two sizes (+1, +2), or decrease it by one (-1). There’s no need to use a plastic sleeve and heat gun to bulk up, or replace the pallet—if that’s even an option—to go smaller. Best of all, compared to a sleeve which can add up to 20g to the frame, the +1 only adds 2g. This means it will have little impact on the balance and playability of your racquet. Of course, if you’re content with the current size of your grip and just need to freshen it up, the (0) model keeps the status quo.

Plus? The replacement grip isn’t the only inventive piece of equipment in the brand’s lineup; its T100 tennis racquets incorporate built-in channels and a tuning kit that make them almost completely customizable.

Functional Tennis Limited Edition Paris Saber
Price: $225
Website: functionaltennis.com

The Saber has the same length (27 in.) and weight (300 grams) as a high-performance frame. However, its 37 square-inch head is nearly a third the size of many standard-sized models, encouraging players to hone their footwork and timing in order to make clean contact and produce effective shots. Use it as part of your warm-up before practicing or playing and it will turn the size of the sweet spot on your regular racquet into a beach ball. Pro players such as Novak Djokovic, Taylor Fritz and Stan Wawrinka have been spotted using the Saber during their training sessions.

This limited edition model bears a Roland Garros-inspired colorway, with a run of only 50 individually numbered frames. Those who subscribe to the Functional Tennis waitlist will get a 24-hour head start for purchase starting May 10. For all others, it’s available on May 11.

Exo Protex Metallic Shield
Price: $23
Website: exoprotex.com

Smacking your racquet on the court—by accident or otherwise—damages its integrity and shortens its lifespan. And the frame’s bumper guard is often no match for constant scraping on a hard court. The Metallic Shield upends this problem. Made of lightweight, durable aluminum alloy, it attaches to the topside of racquets (and pickleball paddles) to stop wear and tear in high impact areas. Each shield weighs about as much as a paperclip (1g), bends to accommodate the shape of the frame and secures easily via a long-lasting adhesive. A small tool that helps slide the shield in between the frame and bumper guard is included. Just like adding lead tape to the top of the racquet, the shields will also increase the frame’s swingweight, which gives the added benefits of increased power and stability.