Tennis Accessories

Tennis is a sport that needs a plethora of tennis accessories in order to be successful. We’ve listed the most important ones for you. Enjoy!

In addition, tennis can take hours to play, so the equipment you use during play is essential. Wearing comfortable shoes, for example, will reduce fatigue, but what about your grip or strings?

If your sweat makes it challenging for your fingers to grip your tennis racquet properly, some tacky overgrips might be worth considering. This blog post will cover must-have tennis accessories to help tennis players stay healthy and in tip-top shape on the court!

Rackets

This is an obvious one especially if you play more frequently and or on a competitive level. Maybe your racket’s tennis strings are too loose or even broken. At this point, you must switch to another racket you brought with you.

We recommend having at least 2-3 rackets in your bag and we selected the most popular racket from each of the three big tennis racquet brands – Wilson, Head & Babolat.

Strings

Strings break, and they break faster than you might think. So it’s always a good idea to keep an extra set or two (or even a reel) of your favorite string on hand to take to your favorite stringer when you need your racquet re-strung as quickly as possible. Pick your favorite one from the most popular tennis strings on the market.

Dampeners

The basic idea of a vibration dampener is to absorb the shock caused by the tennis ball hitting the tennis string during contact. This primarily affects two components of the string bed’s feel and sound. The dampener muffles the shock on your arm, so you feel less impact. Below we hand-picked the most popular ones out there.

Overgrips

The two most significant advantages of using an overgrip are better sweat absorption and adhesion (or tack). Usually, the grip tape that comes with a tennis racquet at the time of purchase does not absorb moisture all too well, and even with great sweat absorption, overgrips do lose their tack, especially in hot and humid conditions.

Anti Slip Rings

Anti slip rings are designed to keep your tennis overgrip in place which is a great help especially when the sticky tape that comes with all overgrips comes off the racket handle in the middle of a point. The rings give you that peace of mind that you’ll need for every point.

Lead Tape

Adding lead tape to your racket is a great way to customize a tennis racket to your specific needs. By placing lead tape in different positions on your racket, you can add weight, swing weight, and adjust the balance, stiffness, and stability of your racket, which is something you might consider during a match when conditions can change the feel of a racket, etc.

Score Keeper

Your personal tennis scorekeeper keeps track of points, games, and sets. Know the score at a glance and never forget from which side of the court to serve. They attach to the inside or outside of your racquet throat.

Weighing less than 1.9g, and don’t mess with the balance of your racket. It meets the ITF rules and lets you focus on the game without worrying about the score while indicating, at a glance, from which side of the court to serve from.

Balls

Be a good tennis partner and keep some balls in your bag at all times, even if they aren’t brand new. You don’t want to be that person who always relies on someone else to bring them to court.

Ball Savers

Tennis ball savers keep balls pressurized like a can, preventing them from going flat so fast. They are also about the size of a ball can, so they’ll fit right into your bag.

Finally, don’t waste good balls due to a lack of bounciness. Another useful item to keep with you always. Below are the three best-selling ball savers on the market.

Shoes

Wouldn’t you like to have an extra pair of shoes in your tennis bag if your current shoes don’t feel right or even suddenly break because of wear and tear? In my case, I need a new pair of shoes every 3-4 weeks as the rubber of my shoe’s sole wears out and becomes less and less until I have zero grip.

Men

Women

ShoeLaces

It happens more often than one would think. For example, you are in the middle of an exciting match, and one of your shoelaces rips while you try to tie them, and there you go; you’ll need a pair of them right away.

Off-court shoes

Getting out of your tennis shoes immediately following a lengthy match or practice session is always a huge relief. So, among the items you want to keep in your bag at all times are a pair of flip-flops, special recovery sandals, or a comfortable pair of sneakers.

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Socks

The right pair of socks will make you feel much more at ease, help you avoid blisters, reduce unnecessary swelling and keep your feet nice and dry.

After or even during a match, switching from sweaty to dry socks simply feels great and has you want to play longer than you could ever imagine.

Shirts

Most players always have one or even two extra shirts in their bags, just like with extra rackets. So changing into a dry shirt during a match might give you a second wind, and who knows? It might even change the outcome of the match. 

wristbands

Especially on hot and sunny days, sweatbands will quickly become soaked, effectively turning into wet, sweaty washcloths that are wrapped around your wrist. YUCK! Keep a spare pair or two wristbands in your bag to look stylish while keeping the moisture away from the racket handle and overgrip.

Headbands

Headbands in tennis are, above all else, practical. They have become a staple tennis accessory worn by many pro players for their style and functionality as tennis fashion has evolved – see Frances Tiafoe and Stefanos Tsitsipas.

The sole reason why players frequently wear headbands is to absorb sweat on their foreheads before it runs into their eyes. Trust me, it’s extremely uncomfortable when a salty liquid (your sweat) gets into your eyes in the middle of a rally. It may even cause you to lose focus and, in the worst case, obscure your vision.

Hat/Visor

A hat or visor on hand will help keep the sun out of your eyes while you play with the sun beating down on your back. It will also keep your head from heating up when you try to keep your cool ;)

When it gets hot outside, you may not think you need it now, but you most likely wish you had brought some protection.

Men

Women

Sunglasses

Keeping a pair of sunglasses in your tennis bag can help you deal with those bright and sunny days. Even if you don’t prefer to wear shades when playing tennis, there’ll be times when you’ll be a spectator, and wearing sunglasses could come in handy.

Remember that extended sun exposure could potentially cause problems with your vision. We’ve listed the most popular shades on the market below. Also, check out our roundup review of the best sunglasses for tennis players here.

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Sunscreen

This is yet another obvious item to bring to the court for athletes who compete outside. Unfortunately, too many tennis players suffer from skin damage, so when you’re out on the court, make sure to slather up and wear sunscreen. The price is simply to high for cutting corners on this one.

Towel

Towels are often forgotten and underappreciated pieces of tennis gear. But they shouldn’t be! A good towel is important for drying your hands to keep your grip from slipping and your face to keep sweat from dripping into your eyes, and the towles listed below are the ones that we found to be soft and extremely absorbent.

Cooling Towel

If you live in a sunny and hot climate like me, you no doubt have one or two stashed in your tennis bag. Cooling towels can help prevent heatstroke and other heat-related illnesses on the hottest summer days. In your search for the best cooling towels out there, we’ve handpicked the three best ones below.

Thermal Water Bottle

Don’t be too cool to bring a good amount of water to the court – it’s just not that wise.  Instead, bring plenty of fluids or a sports drink full of electrolytes to the court. Your focus, emotions, and how quickly you become tired can all be negatively impacted by even mild dehydration.

More importantly, becoming dehydrated while exercising is quite dangerous. All thermal water bottles below will keep your magic potion nice and cool without leaking any plastic particles into it. Genius!

Electrolytes

It’s common sense that maintaining hydration is essential for giving your best effort on the court. Tennis players (aka Rafael Nadal & Novak Djokovic) frequently have two or more bottles on hand during changeovers, one with regular water and one with a bright color. 

The latter is probably a specially formulated electrolyte-rich drink. So that’s why we advise you to carry little packs or dissolvable tablets of electrolytes with you whenever you can.

Protein Bars

For high-performance athletes, good nutrition is crucial, so many players carry a few nutritional snacks in their bags at all times. In addition, tennis players need energy sources to get them through long days because their training regimens are so demanding.

In case you didn’t know, protein plays a key role in hormone regulation and brain function and keeps a healthy immune system. It is also vital to athletic performance as it helps maintain, build and repair lean muscle mass. Below are some healthy and effective energy boosters for your upcoming workout.

Energy Gels

Energy gels help in maintaining peak performance and postponing the onset of fatigue. Since eating and drinking too many fluids during a game can cause GI distress and discomfort, many athletes avoid doing just that.

However, energy gels are a practical, portable, and ideal way to refuel before, during, and between matches. So choose your favourite gel from the hand-selected list below today.

Warm Up Equipment

It’s a good idea to keep this in your tennis bag, even though not everyone will need to bring warm-up or stretching equipment to the court. Stretching is a great way to loosen up the body and help it recover pain-free and quickly after playing. In addition, jump ropes, therapy bands, hand grips, foam or massage rollers, and other useful accessories can be added without taking up too much room.

Athletic Tape/ KT Tape

Athletic tape or KT tape can relieve pain or protect parts of your body prone to injury. It also can be used to prevent blisters around your fingers, aka Rafa Nadal, making it an essential item in your bag. Order yours now!

Fitness Trackers

It’s important to track your vitals with a solid fitness tracker during workouts and also have some data to compare against for better performance in the future. That’s why we included the best-selling fitness trackers for tennis players on our list.

Ice Pack

Instant ice packs are great for any tennis player needing immediate relief from any sort of discomfort. They are ideal for sprains, strains, bruises and swollen tissue. You’ll be surprised at how much faster recovery is if you make it a habit to apply ice to minor injuries after playing.

Keeping an ice pack and wrap in your bag just makes it hassle-free and simple. If you browse the Amazon shop you’ll most likely come across the three best selling instant ice packs below.

Ankle Brace/Sleeve

They are made to reduce swelling, improve balance, safeguard the ankle from further damage, and provide joint support. Spending a lot of time on the courts, braces, and sleeves also helps keep the ankle joint warm and reduces muscle stiffness. What’s not to like about having an accessory like this with you?

Knee Braces

Our physical therapist advises using a suitable brace or support while playing tennis if you’ve ever sustained a knee, ankle, or elbow injury. To lessen pain, inflammation, and recovery times, knee braces offer stability and a constant blood flow to the joints. Another item to think about when packing your tennis bag next time. You can find a list of the most popular knee braces below.

Elbow Braces

Elbow braces can be a necessary piece of equipment for playing the sport competitively, even though they are less crucial for players who are just getting started. Without medical care, the cumulative pain from these injuries will get worse over time! If you want a long-term fix to these issues, be sure to spend your money on the best tennis elbow braces you can get.

Toe Covers

Toe covers can help alleviate pain by preventing the nail from getting caught on the upper of the shoe if you have an ingrown toenail and don’t want it to get worse while playing tennis. Amazon is the best address to find the best toe covers available.

Contact Lenses

Bring an extra set of contacts as well because you can’t hit if you can’t see the ball coming at you at high speed. I’ve seen dozens of players that had to end their session because they couldn’t see anything any longer once they lost their lens while playing. Most players don’t bring this essential accessory, but they really should. Based on our research the kits for contact lenses below are the bes to keep in your tennis bag.

First Aid Kit

A first-aid kit should be in your tennis bag just as much as your tennis rackets, though we certainly hope you won’t need it. In this kit, you can keep items like athletic tape, bandages, and antiseptic cream.

I’d throw in some Tylenol, too, in case you or a teammate (or even an opponent) has a headache or cramps or needs help minimizing swelling in case of injury. In general, you can find a variety of first-aid kits in Amazon’s online store that can treat the majority of minor injuries.

Notebook

A notebook is useful for two things: 1) writing down mistakes and suggestions for improvement after discussing them with your coach, and 2) if you play in a league, write down the opponent’s name and what stood out in terms of strengths or weaknesses so you can be prepared for the following time you face each other. So the next time you lose a set in a match, just pull out your notebook, and you should have everything you need to win!

Tennis players should always have the latest equipment, from new racquets to safety gear. Investing in the right equipment upfront will help you save money and maintain your health and happiness while playing.

We hope this 2022 article on the best and most necessary tennis accessories in a tennis bag was helpful and prepared you for all the ensuing battles on the tennis court. Now sign in to your Amazon account and purchase all the items that caught your attention. You won’t regret it.

Christoph Friedrich

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Christoph Friedrich is a German tennis player and coach currently residing in Oakland, California. He began his tennis journey at the age of eight and has since dedicated his life to the sport. After working as a tennis coach and hitting partner in New York City for eight years, Christoph decided to share his knowledge and experience with tennis players around the world by creating the My Tennis Expert blog. His goal is to make tennis education accessible to everyone and help players select the best equipment for their game, from racquets and strings to shoes and overgrips. Christoph's extensive research and expertise in tennis technology make him a valuable resource for players of all levels.

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