Straight sets, tiebreaker, 40 love? What do these terms mean? Don’t worry if you don’t know these yet. Today is the first step for you to learn the ins and outs of tennis. The most important thing is the equipment and what you wear. As we enter the tennis court for our first swing, we want to be ready and set.
Tennis Racquet to Never Miss
The best way to find the proper equipment for tennis, including a tennis racquet, is at a specialised tennis equipment shop that has all the supplies of brands, designs, models you’re going to need. As you come across the different options, remember that there is not one racquet that fits all.
Starting your journey to become the next Rod Laver, pay attention to the size of the head of the racquet. On the one hand, a big-size head racquet is more forgiving if you don’t centre the shot, and can offer a larger hitting area. On the other hand, as a beginner, you need more precision and control with the manoeuvring, which is what a smaller-head size offers. Also, make sure the whole design is lightweight and gives out a lot of power. A bigger head provides a more powerful shot, due to the higher bouncing effect.
You will be happy that this can be as big of an investment as you want it to be. At an online tennis equipment shop that has it all prices can range from 50 to 500 AUD, your choice comes down to the type of racket you want. If you can’t decide, check to see if you can demo for a week any racquet you choose. Some shops offer this option, and it’s a nice solution that allows you to sample out a few swings to find the right fit for you in terms of feel and performance.
There are advantages of going cheap, like being able to see if this is the sport for you as you get the gist of the moves and work on skill. Going more expensive, however, comes with some specs. A higher-end racquet comes unstrung but can be strung upon your needs.
To know a bit more about grips keep in mind most adult women find success with a 4 ¼ (grip size 2), while men typically feel comfortable with a grip size 3. This is so important because how your hand holds the racket is essential to have the right hits. If you aren’t sure what grip is right for you, go smaller. You can always add more grip later.
Tennis Balls That Keep Bouncing
Tennis balls will go bad after about 2 weeks or 3-4 playing sessions. Unopened tennis balls are kept in a pressurized tube to help them retain bounciness and firmness, but even those will expire after two years with tiny leaks in the pressurization.
You can buy tennis balls in a pack of 36 or 12 depending on how many you choose to have. Now how do you plan to train? Would you like to use training balls? These are a great option to save your pressurized balls for the big game. A clever invention at most tennis shops is a tennis ball pressurizer tube that ensures tennis balls will never lose their bounce as it can restore life to old tennis balls.
Tennis Shirts To Keep You Cool
Polo’s aren’t just for golf. They are a traditional tennis look for men and women with a nice crisp collar. For example, a material made of 87% recycled polyester, and 13% spandex is perfect to keep your clothes flexible and breathable as you sweat out your opponent.
Most women opt for a moisture-wicking tank top or short-sleeve shirt that’s not too loose or too tight. With this look, you look professional while still being cool. Keep in mind some courts have different dress codes that should be checked beforehand if you don’t want to suffer any embarrassment. Most courts specify “tennis whites,” so all white you should be.
Bottoms to Keep You Moving
Perhaps you have already been keeping up with tennis. Players such as Serena Williams have surely put tennis fashion to the test with stylish and unique designs. For women classic tennis outfits include skirts and dresses, many of which are paired with compression shorts underneath.
Thankfully they are expanding what is permitted in women’s tennis fashion. You can wear compression shorts and leggings without a skirt or dress required on top thus allowing your style to shine through. Tennis dresses are not only cute but comfortable and functional.
If you are someone who struggles with friction when running around, grab a pair of compression shorts to wear underneath to eliminate this problem. For men, it’s a bit easier, as for semi-fitted shorts are the main option. But things like long pants, running shorts and baggy gym shorts aren’t fit for the game.
Shoes to Stay on the Ball
Tennis isn’t a game of standing around. While playing, you need to run, swing, and jump to get a hit. That’s why your shoe game is very important. The wrong footwear can lead to countless problems and injuries. That is why you have to consider many factors such as the surface you will play on.
Will the ground be slippery? Will you have an unlevelled surface that could cause an ankle injury? Keeping these things in mind will help you make a wise decision when choosing tennis shoes. Both men and women want non-marking soles. In addition, look for shoes with support around the ankles and sides. This will give you the needed strength in these areas for when you run around and jump.
Game On
We play for the love of the game. Love may mean 0 but it doesn’t take away how much fun you’re still having. Tennis is a great sport for keeping the heart rate up and your health optimal, so keep this in mind on your next match.
