What to Wear for Tennis Practice: A Simple Guide
Tennis is a sport that requires a fair amount of equipment and gear. You need a racquet, tennis racquet grip, strings, and balls. Whether you’re just getting into the game or you’re already at a high level, you want to make sure you have the proper equipment. The right gear and help you play your best as well as prevent injury. Besides racquets and balls, you’ll also want the right athletic clothing while playing tennis. Want to make sure that you have all the essentials you need to play your best? Check out this article to learn more about what you need for tennis play.
Tennis Shoes
Arguably the most important gear required apart from your racquet and balls in tennis is proper tennis shoes. Why are good tennis shoes so important? Can’t you just wear running shoes? Unfortunately not. Tennis shoes are essential because they provide unique support for the movements required on the court. The sole on a tennis shoe is specially designed for the tennis court. This is really important because tennis, like other sports, can unfortunately lead to injury if you are not playing with the proper gear.
Tennis shoes are also much more durable than your average sneakers. If you’re wearing your first pair of tennis shoes, you may be surprised they are not light and airy. Because of the short sudden movements and change of direction, your feet need proper support. Because of that, tennis shoes might feel heavier than what you’re used to. Don’t worry if your tennis shoes feel bulky and cumbersome when you first try them on. Playing in them will loosen them up. Also keep in mind the warning signs that it might be time for new tennis shoes. Worn out shoes will affect your performance and possibly lead to injury.
Different shoes for different surfaces
Another thing to keep in mind with tennis shoes is the court surface. Should you buy clay or hard-court shoes if you’re going to be playing on both surfaces? Well, if you’re a runner and you are going to be running on asphalt but also trail running, you probably will want different shoes. Different surfaces require different traction. Because of the different conditions, and for your own safety and comfort, having two different shoes is ideal, but not completely necessary. Mostly, it also depends on if you will be playing on multiple surfaces.
If you only play on clay, then do not worry about urgently getting hard court shoes and vice versa. Keep in mind that depending where you play, court managers might have rules as well. They will want to prevent court damage and decay. Above all, the most important thing with tennis shoes is that they are comfortable and you feel like you can move well.
Athletic Shirts
Compared to shoes, other aspects of tennis clothing and gear are not as essential. For tennis hurts you can technically wear anything to play. There are, however, variety of factors you should keep in mind. The venue, the temperature, your level of play, etc. For instance, if you’re playing at a country club, there is usually a dress code. Typically, this means that men have to wear athletic shirts or polos that have sleeves and shorts. For women, sometimes there will be standards about the length of shorts or skirts, and tops must be full-length tank tops or athletic tops, or just not “crop tops”. Usually, all tennis clubs do not allow tee-shirts.
If you’re just playing for fun in a venue where there’s no regulations, how should you choose what kind of shirt is best? Comfort is key. If you think you will play better in a tee shirt than a polo, definitely do that.
For women, a tennis shirt made out of athletic fabric, either a full-length tank or a short sleeve top is ideal. For men, similar athletic and breathable shirt or polo. Keep in mind that you will be moving in all sorts of directions and using your entire upper body in tennis, so fabrics that are made for movement and sweating are the priority.
Athletic Shorts
When looking for tennis shorts maintaining comfort is also important. Again, keep in mind dress code restrictions. At a tournament or a country club, this might look like tennis skirts only for women and athletic shorts that are slightly above the knee for men. If you’re purchasing tennis attire and eventually going to be practicing at a tennis club, it’s important to keep this in mind.
If there are no restrictions, what kind of lower body clothing should you buy for tennis? Avoid tight clothing! Especially for your lower body, you want something breathable and movable. Your lower body is going to be twisting and turning while playing, so this is a big reason why you want clothing that moves with your body. At the recreational and even up to the advanced level, there’s another factor you want to keep in mind with lower body clothing–pockets!
When you’re serving, you will definitely want to have two balls, just in case you double fault. So, it’s important that you have pockets big enough to store a tennis ball or two. For women and girls, many times, tennis skirts and dresses have shorts underneath that are tighter, so that you can tuck a tennis ball under the shorts without it falling out. If you’re still worried about a ball falling out, then the best thing to do is get a skirt or dress that has pockets. For men, most shorts should have big enough pockets if they are made for tennis.
Socks
Another important aspect of tennis gear is socks. Steer away from thin socks or non-athletic socks. There are so many different socks on the market for all athletic activities. You don’t need to get socks just because they read “tennis socks”–instead, make sure you focus on finding athletic socks that are durable, have some padding or cushion, and are long. At least longer/higher than your tennis shoes.
Many times, beginners will wear socks that are not long enough, and their tennis shoes will come up slightly higher and touch the skin around the ankle or above that area. After playing tennis, if your socks aren’t padded or high enough, you might see some nasty blisters forming. Sometimes, players’ instincts will be that this is the fault of the shoe. If you think your shoes are causing the problem, first look at your socks and make sure that you have plenty of cushion and padding.
Don’t feel, however, that you have to got out and buy all new socks! If you have high-performance and durable socks that work in your other sneakers, and they cover your foot inside in your tennis shoes, these will work.
Wristbands
You have probably seen many of the pros using wristbands. These wristbands are multi-use. Many pros suggest they prevent wrist injuries because they keep your wrists warm and offer some additional support. Wristbands are also really good if you find your hands, head, or arms getting sweaty while you play.
You may also lose your grip or feel on the racquet as your hands get sweaty. This can be super frustrating mid-match. You can look into grips that are geared towards sweatier players, but a solution is to get wristbands. You can wipe your sweat on these bands while you play from your hands, eyes, face, and more. These make a great substitute for a towel during point changes.
Hat and Eye Wear
You definitely don’t want to go up to hit an overhead or a serve and be blinded by the sun, because that is not a fun way to lose a point! For the sun, definitely consider a hat or sunglasses, especially since some players will use the sun as a strategy and purposely slingshot the ball into the sky when you’re on the sunny side of the court. Wearing a cap and sports sunglasses, however, are not just for shielding the sun.
Another reason players wear hats specifically is for sweat. If you’re playing in hot conditions or just getting a workout in, your forehead is bound to sweat. It can be super frustrating if this drips into your eyes and affects your game. Instead, wear a hat and prevent sweat from pouring down your face. Be sure the hat you choose is a breathable fabric so you don’t trap in the heat.
Sunscreen
Tennis is a sport that is often played outside without a lot of shade, putting its players at risk for skin cancer. The tennis star Andy Roddick has been vocal about his experience with skin cancer, urging all players to wear sunscreen. In fact, just wearing SPF 15 while playing tennis can reduce your risk of squamous cell carcinoma by 40%!
Tennis can be a sport that is so fun that you forget you’re exposed to the elements, so the next time you’re getting ready to play outside in the sun, or even cloudy conditions, don’t forget about putting some sunscreen. Since tennis is a lifetime sport, wearing SPF while playing now can ensure that you can still play outside and enjoy the game into your later years.
What to Wear Takeaways
If you’re not sure where to begin, the best idea is to invest in a comfortable and durable pair of tennis shoes. The rest of the tennis gear is more flexible, especially for a beginner. When considering clothing, remember you’re going to be moving around, so you don’t want to feel trapped in your clothes. Look for breathable, comfortable, athletic fabrics! And, as always, tennis is a sport where the elements play a role–when there’s sun, wind, or heat, you will want to adjust accordingly with your choice of outerwear, eye protection, and sunscreen. The bottomline is that wearing something comfortable is your best friend–you can only play your best if you feel confident in yourself and strong in your choice of attire. Play on!
