Make Sure You Have Packed These 6 Items Before You Head Down To The Court
Tennis has a reputation for being the ultimate leisure sport, you turn up with a racquet, a water bottle, and some tennis balls – right?
Well, the people who think that tennis is a low effort sport probably haven’t played it. It is just as important to prepare for a game of tennis as it is to prepare for a 10k run or a swim in the ocean.
Whether you have loved tennis for a long time, or have only just started to play it after watching the Australian Open – you will find this article helpful.
Here are 6 essential items to pack for your day at the court.
#1 – Finger Tape
Finger tape is an infinitely useful piece of gear that you will find yourself using all the time once you buy it. You will probably end up thinking, how did I live without this for so long. That’s how we felt.
Finger tape can be used to prevent blisters, treat injuries, and can even be used to help improve your grip on really warm days.
What makes finger tape even better is that it is cheap, you can get it in bulk, and you can buy it anywhere you can purchase gear for an intermediate player. The tape won’t take up any extra space in your bag but it will make a huge difference to your quality of life on the court.
#2 – Sunscreen
All tennis players should be wearing sunscreen when they play outside – no matter the weather.
Recent studies into how UVA and UVB rays work have shown that they can penetrate clouds with ease – meaning that we can get sunburn even on a rainy day. It is not just sunburn that we should be worried about – these rays can permanently damage our skin.
If you are playing tennis outside then you should make sure you apply waterproof sunscreen before you play and have a spray can of sunscreen to keep you topped up during the match.
#3 – The Right Shoes
Do you find that your feet are hurting all the time? Do you suffer from achy knees? Have you started to develop athlete’s foot?
These are all signs that you are not wearing the right pair of shoes when you are playing tennis.
You want to make sure that you have shoes whose soles have not worn away. You need shoes with good ankle support. And you need to make sure that there is enough room for your toes inside these shoes.
The best shoes will provide support for both your knees and ankles – which in turn will take the pressure off your hips. All three of these can be problem areas for people who regularly play tennis.
#4 – Sweatbands
We understand the 1980s and early 1990s have tainted the idea of wearing sweatbands for many of us. However, this is one piece of gear that you will notice all the pro players wearing – especially on their wrists.
Why? Because they prevent your hands from getting moist, which in turn leads to fewer blisters and better racquet grip.
#5 – The Right Racquet
This is not something that beginners need to worry about as buying the right racquet requires an investment. Plus a beginner has no idea what type of racquet is the right racquet for them.
The more time you spend playing the game, the more you will understand your style of play and how you hold your racquet. These in turn will inform the kind of racquet you should be purchasing.
Once you reach an intermediate level, you will start to notice when a racquet does and doesn’t work for you. When this starts to happen, it is time for you to start looking for the perfect piece of gear.
#6 – A Fitness Watch
Whether you are playing for fun, to get to know new people, or for fitness – you will want to get better at tennis. We recommend that you wear a fitness watch during your sessions to help you do so.
You can use the data provided by the watch to help track your progress when it comes to fitness. You can see which areas of your game you need to improve and even discover if it is your stamina levels that are preventing you from going any further.
Some of the more advanced watches even come with apps specific to tracking tennis metrics.
