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The Hollywood version of a nightmare revolves around zombies, bad makeup and hysterical shouting, but the real world offers something far more terrifying – present buying. Even the best intentions can go horribly pear-shaped with just a click of a mouse. Don’t despair though… we’ve got a list of great gifts for the tennis player in your life that will actually get used, rather than gathering dust at the back of some distant cupboard. One important note: just because somebody likes hitting a ball over a net, it doesn’t follow that they want everything in their house to be adorned with pictures of tennis balls, or to be confronted by annoying trinkets with tedious tennis themed ‘motivational’ phrases. However much you hate somebody, don’t go there. Life is too short to waste.
Balls
With the spotlight on racquets and fancy new gear, its easy to forget the humble old tennis ball, but without it the game looks rather silly. Regular players get through lots of balls, so a few cans (or even a case) will always be appreciated. Regular duty balls are made for clay and grass courts, extra duty are for hard courts. Low compression balls are for beginners and kids – the reduced bounce and speed makes them easier to play with.
Penn Championship balls are great value for money, especially when you buy multiple packs. One of the most popular balls in America. For extra duty, choose the Pro Penn Marathon Extra Duty
Wilson US Open balls are another best seller. They are well made, with good durability and a consistent bounce. They also have a reputation for maintaining their pressure well. If you play above 3000 feet, choose the high altitude version. Again, prices per ball plummet when you buy multiple packs
Grips
Like balls, grips are a consumable item for the tennis player. Good players hold their racquet gently, especially when hitting hard – a worn grip forces you to tense up the hand, which in turn will prevent proper motion. Changing a grip regularly is essential, so multi packs are a great gift for any player.
Tourna Mega Tac is an excellent example of an extremely tacky overgrip. Good durability, but not very absorbent. Great for cooler weather and players who grip the racquet gently. Good value, especially when you buy a pack of ten. Try Original Tourna Grip if you play in very hot or humid conditions.
Yonex Super Grap Overgrip is a popular choice, featuring comfort, a slight tack and good absorbancy. Yonex produce several variations, including Super Grap Soft, which is slightly thicker with more cushioning, and Dry Grap for sweaty hands.
Grip powder or cloth
Rosin grip powder is a great product for playing in hot, humid conditions. It helps to prevent a loss of grip by controlling sweat. Tack rags help in a slightly different way: they produce a tacky feel that enhances grip – they are popular in cooler conditions.
Tourna Tennis Rosin Powder instantly dries sweaty hands. It is non-sticky, and a great accessory to have in your bag for those hot, humid days.
Tourna Tac Rag is, as the title says, a tack infused rag that you rub on your hands or dab on your handle to produce an instant tacky feel. Cloths can be used many times, and Tourna report that one cloth should last 4 to 6 weeks of average use.
Sweat bands
Sweat bands are not just some fashion throwback to the ’70s… they really do help tame sweat on a hot day. There’s nothing worse than losing your grip and watching your expensive racquet sailing menacingly towards your opponent… or having shampoo infused beads of sweat run from your hair into your eyes causing stinging. If you play in really hot, humid conditions, keep a spare in your kit bag so you can swap out during a match. Headbands come in a dizzying array of sizes and styles, but they can basically be divided up into traditional and tie types. Traditional types are expandable and can add a much needed element of Bjorn Borg to your style. Tie types are increasingly popular and tie at the back of the head… perhaps not the best choice for young children.
The Nike Premier Home and Away Headband is a classic style that can be worn inside-out to reveal a second color. The Dri-Fit Fury is a tie variety.
Nike Premier Singlewide Wristbands come as a pair with various color options available to match a mood or outfit.
An upgraded racquet
Any intermediate and above tennis player needs a second racquet in case a string breaks. A word of warning though – racquets are a very personal thing. The more advanced a player, the stronger a preference they’re likely to have. That said, there are some go-to classics that are safe bets if you know a few details about somebody’s game style.
The Babolat Pure Drive has, for many years, been the benchmark racquet for intermediate players. It is a powerful racquet that has a good feel and plenty of spin potential. Make sure you select the correct grip size option, and note that this is a fairly stiff frame, so those with tennis elbow will need to select a softer string to compensate.
The Wilson Blade Pro is a great choice for an advanced player, or an intermediate on a roll. Its one of the most popular racquets on the college scene, and is also a great choice for an up and coming school level player. The racquet is designed for the modern all court game, with a focus on control rather than outright power.
Training bands / resistance bands
Great for warm-ups, strength and conditioning work. Every pro has a set, and for good reason. Bands can be combined to give a greater variety of resistances. Bands are very light compared to the equivalent traditional weights, so produce very little momentum and inertia – great if you want to work on rapid acceleration and deceleration movements.
Training bands come in a wide range of resistances for different exercises, so it makes sense to buy a set. The Theraband set contains just the bands, making it very portable – great to keep in your kit bag for court-side warm ups. The Veick set comes with handles and higher resistances.
Reaction ball
Don’t be put off by the strange looks: they’re designed to bounce unpredictably off a wall or floor, providing a challenging catch. They help to develop quick reflexes, hand eye coordination, footwork and balance.
The Champro Reaction Ball has a wonderfully unpredictable bounce, and can be used alone or with a partner. A great way to train and warm up, but keep it away from pets!
Foam roller
A simple way to do deep tissue massage and aid recovery, keeping those muscles in top working order.
The Triggerpoint foam roller can be used on the back, body and legs
Massage gun
Sooth tired muscles the easy way – a gift for the tennis player in your life that you can secretly use yourself
The Renpho Massage Gun is highly rated and comes with a selection of attachments. It also has speed and amplitude adjustment.
The Theragun Mini Massager packs a punch, but is compact enough to put in your kit bag and use before or after a game.
Finger blister wraps
Even the best players get blisters, and pros turn to these to help. You can protect an existing blister, or prevent a new one with this great tape.
Meister StickElite Tape is a highly rated wrapping tape for fingers and toes. It comes in half inch wide by 15 yard reels and is perforated.
Proper sports sun cream
High quality sports sun cream may not be the coolest present for a tennis player, but it’ll be a whole lot more welcome than premature ageing and skin cancer. We’re not going to recommend a particular product, as this is far too important a subject for a tennis gear blog so use reputable resources like Consumer Reports to evaluate products. Don’t hit the courts without it, and make sure you apply well before you start playing or go out in the heat. Take special care if you have kids – they tend to be pretty rubbish at applying it themselves and their skin is particularly sensitive -an alarming amount of skin damage occurs before the age of 18. Be warned!
Tennis sunglasses
Sunglasses come in a huge variety – aimed at everything from grabbing attention as you stroll downtown to spotting fish in sunny conditions. Even tennis players have a range of eye wear designed especially for us: colored lenses that are optimized to highlight balls, lightweight frames and secure arms that won’t fly off. They sure beat squinting for hours on end. Note that for best depth perception, you should use unpolarized sunglasses.
These Tifosi Rivet Sunglasses are unpolarized, so you won’t lose any depth perception. They’re lightweight and come in a range of colors.
Kinesiology therapy tape
As we age, our bodies have an annoying habit of accumulating various aches and pains. Some well applied tape can do wonders for a whole range of problems – just look at how many pros are taped up before and during games. If you have a problem area, its a good idea to consult a physio or other expert to learn the exact way to tape for maximum benefit.
KT Tape Pro is a best selling support tape that can comes in precut 10 inch by 2 inch strips. The KT website has instructions for use.
Theraband Kinesiology Tape is a waterproof tape that comes in a continuous roll and has a stretch indicator that allows you to see how much tension you’re creating.
Hydration (electrolyte) mix powder
Turbocharge your water bottle with hydration powder. It replaces important electrolytes lost in sweat, allowing you to play harder, especially in hot and humid conditions. Mixes can contain electrolytes (essential minerals) on their own, or have added carbohydrates to provide energy. If you’re working out hard and sweating lots, then choose a product with enough sodium to give you at least 300 milligrams per hour of exercise. Remember to consult your doctor before starting a serious exercise regime, and if you have any underlying medical conditions. Nutritional needs are very personal.
Gatorade Endurance Formula, 32 oz pack is a great entry point to the world of sports drinks. It comes in several flavors, can be mixed up in any quantity and contains much more sodium and potassium than the bottled stuff you see in shops.
Skratch Labs Hydration Powder is another highly regarded sports drink mix, with all the electrolytes you need, plus carbs in the form of cane sugar.
Energy gel
Players traditionally munched on a banana between changeovers, but science has evolved and now a new range of energy gels are being used at both the professional and club level. They can contain a dizzying array of supplements to energize and maintain your performance. They can be taken on their own, but many people like to consume with drink.
GU Energy Gel will give you a boost just when you need it. It comes in lots of different flavors and is an Amazon pick with great reviews. Options include caffeine or caffeine-free.
Science in Sport Energy Gel is another Amazon top pick, featuring an isotonic formulation.
Water bottle
We all have water bottles, but few are large enough for a serious work out in the heat. Choose an insulated bottle, as the combination of a hot court surface and sun can heat up unprotected drink in minutes.
The Yeti Rambler 26 oz insulated water bottle is beautifully made and a great size for an hour or so on court. Its easy to take apart and clean, as well as fill up with ice. It comes in a huge range of colors that should compliment any look. Its also the perfect size for a bottle of wine…
The Underarmour 64 oz Water Bottle is a beast! It’ll keep half a gallon of drink cool, so you won’t have to worry about running out! Great for a tournament or long session on the courts. Also available in 32 oz sizes.
Fitness tracker
Add some science to your workouts and games: if you want to increase your fitness quickly, then you need some basic data to track your performance.
The Whoop 4.0 Fitness Tracker provides a wealth of information that can give valuable insights into health and wellness
Apple / Android watch
A strange one for a list about tennis accessories, but if you’re a parent on court, you need to keep up with the latest domestic emergencies. Playing with a phone in your pocket is a real pain, and having your silicon friend fall out of your pocket and smash on the ground makes for an expensive afternoon. A smart watch is the perfect solution: a minimalist way to keep in touch with the world while keeping your attention firmly on the game. Pay a little extra and you can even connect your watch directly to your cell network, so you don’t need to stay within Bluetooth range of your phone.
Apple Watches offer connectivity, as well as a slew of heath tracking features, making them a wonderful present for a tennis player… or, indeed, anybody who likes to get up and about. The Apple Ultra 2 has cellular connection and is designed for outdoor activities.
The Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra can track your exercise, sleep and body vitals, all while keeping you connected. It has a rugged titanium body for outdoor activities and AI input to increase accuracy and functionality.
Kit bag
Its surprising how much gear you end up carting around, because there’s nothing worse than driving all the way to the court, waiting for your reservation, only to find you haven’t got some essential bit of kit. On a hot day you’ll need sweat bands and a towel, sunscreen, sports sunglasses and a hat, a long session cries out for an energy bar or two, an important game might justify a new grip and new balls, a finger might benefit from taping to prevent a blister…the list goes on, but a decent sized and well packed bag is the only thing you need to remember as you escape the house and run to the car.
The Babolat Pure Wimbledon Six Racquet Bag is elegant and well designed,with enough space for several racquets and a bunch of kit. The larger RH12 is good for 12 racquets, or two racquets and all the gear and change of clothing you’ll ever need.
Tennis rucksack
If you cycle or take the bus to the courts, then a traditional tennis bag isn’t ideal: you need a rucksack. They’re usually not as large, but good design allows them to carry all the essentials.
Babolat’s Pure Wimbledon Backpack holds up to three racquets and has well thought-out compartments. It successfully treads the line between being compact and functional.
The Wilson Tour Backpack holds two racquets and is a popular choice for people who have to take their gear to school.
Tote bag
An fashionable alternative to a traditional tennis kit bag, the tote bag stores racquets in a vertical position. The smaller footprint makes them more convenient to put in the passenger seat of a car or store around the house. If you step on a tote bag, you’re also slightly less likely to break your expensive racquet.
Ame & Lulu Hampton’s Tennis Tour Bag is made of canvas and available with a choice of accent colors. Its an elegant alternative to the ubiquitous racquet bag.
The Wilson Lifestyle Tote is made of 100% recycled polyester and can hold two racquets. Thoughtful interior compartments make it a great choice for a bag that you’ll use every time you head to the courts.
Towel
Stealing the wife’s best towel and taking it to a tennis game is a sure-fire way to get into trouble… and besides, they never quite look right when liberated from their natural bathroom environment. Save the lecture and give the gift of a nice tennis towel instead.
S&T Microfiber Towels are highly rated, compact enough to fit in any kit bag and come in packs of six.
Hat/visor
Playing with the sun in your eyes is no fun, which is why so many professional players wear hats. A good hat can also keep the sun off your forehead, meaning you don’t have to wear sunscreen there – if you’ve ever had sunscreen infused sweat dripping into your eyes, you’ll appreciate that. (Please use sunscreen on the rest of your face regardless of whether you’re wearing a hat – up to 80% of premature ageing is due to sun exposure…. and skin cancer is nasty)
The Addidas Woman’s Superlight Visor is a bestseller and available in a number of colors. Great if you need to shade your eyes, but still want to feel the wind in your hair.
The Wilson Men’s Ultralight Hat is a great place to start your search for the perfect hat. The perforated sides and back allow some extra airflow.
Clothing
Take a look at old photos of Andre Agassi from the ’80s and you quickly realize that tennis fashions can be, at best, fleeting. That said, every tennis player can benefit from high quality athletic wear, as it feels much more comfortable, can wick moisture away from the skin and moves correctly with the body. Decent shorts and skirts, tops and socks repay the investment many times over, especially when you’re playing in the heat.
Hipster ball band
Ball bands allow you to hold a couple of balls when you don’t have pockets – very useful when you’re serving in a game
Tourna Hipster Ball Bands come in four different sizes and can be worn over your shorts or skirt.
The Nebudo Tennis Ball Band has an additional zippered pocket for keys or a cell phone. Also great for Pickleball.
Shoes
Good shoes are always an investment – they feel good, grip well and support the foot correctly. The harder you play, the more shoes go from fashion statement to essential bit of kit. If you know somebody’s exact foot size and width, then a new set of shoes will always go down well. Regular players will get through at least a pair each year (assume a pair will get about 50 hours of court use before the tread wears down and grip suffers).
The ASICS Men’s Court FlyteFoam 3 Shoes are a highly rated premium tennis shoe for players who play hard
The ASICS Gel-Resolution 9 is a premium Women’s shoe that is loved by keen players. Note that they do run a little narrow.
Most shoes are all surface, but there are also specialist offerings with grips that are fine tuned for clay or grass. These shoes are designed for clay, and can give a player that extra bit of control
Sports gear storage solutions
Guaranteed not to get the pulse rushing, but something you’ll be glad you bought. Sports gear multiplies faster than a field of rabbits, and essential items can disappear even faster, so check out these useful storage devices.
The Mythinglogic Garage Sports Equipment Organizer is a large steel framed storage unit that’s ideal for corralling lots of different sports gear into one place.
Tennis Channel subscription
In the fragmented world of sports broadcasting, its great to have one go-to place for tennis. The tennis channel gives you access to tons of live action as it follows the professional tours around the world.
Club membership
Municipal courts are the traditional gateway to the sport, but there’s nothing like being a member of a club and meeting lots of players in the area. Clubs are about far more than just hitting a ball over a net: they provide a great social experience, access to discounted coaching, competitions and a great place for kids to hang out. If you’re new to an area, then a club membership is a great way to quickly feel part of the community.
Coaching session
The world’s top players wouldn’t dream of stepping onto a practice court without a coach present – a good coach can diagnose faults, put together exercises to correct them and generally supercharge your tennis development. The benefits of a coaching session last far beyond the end of the lesson too: every time you step on court, a little voice in your head can keep you on the straight and narrow path. Truly the gift that keep giving.
Tickets to a tournament
There’s nothing like seeing the world’s top players in the flesh – you really get to appreciate their speed and just how hard they strike the ball. Visit your local tournament, or take a trip to one of the large events around the country. While you’re there, don’t forget to check out the practice courts – there you can see top players mere feet away, and most of them are more than happy to sign autographs and pose for a photograph. Talking autographs, don’t forget to take a sharpie or two.
Tennis camp
Tennis camps are one of the fastest ways to improve, as well as being a fun social time. A great way to get kids (or partners) off screens and out of the house. You could even combine a camp with a family holiday – adults can explore while the kids are having their own fun. Check out the Mouratoglou Tennis Academy on the French Riviera. Not the worst place in the world for a tennis -inspired vacation!
Subscription to an online training programme
Youtube has a ton of great content, but nothing can beat a dedicated online tennis site. Top Court is a great place to start – its highly rated and contains coaching clinics from greats such as Brad Gilbert and Nick Bolletieri, along with lessons from current professional players such as Alexander Zverev, Casper Ruud, Felix Auger-Aliassime, Nick Kyrgios and Iga Swiatek.
Subscription to the USTA
Buy a USTA Membership and join a community of over 570,000 tennis fans, players and enthusiasts. You get access to USTA sanctioned leagues and tournaments, an opportunity to qualify for a national rating and ranking and access to early purchase /discounted seats at pro tour events. Junior memberships are free. Adult memberships are $44 dollars, which also gives you access to complementary and discounted gear.
Books with a tennis theme
Tennis has a rich history of characters, events and traditions, along with lots of books dedicated to improving your game.
Radar gun
Take a radar speed gun to a tennis club and it will become a magnet for tennis players… everybody will want to measure their serve speed, and you’ll hear some wonderfully imaginative excuses for low numbers! Putting an exact figure on your serve speed is not just interesting, its also a very useful way to track progress and set goals. It can also allow you to evaluate racquet / string performance in a more scientific way. The geeky toy that everyone will want to play with.
The Pocket Radar Smart Coach is a compact radar speed gun that produces remarkably accurate readings up to 130 MPH, and has smartphone app compatibility. There is also a cheaper version without the app connectivity.
Training aid
A key part of mastering a stroke is learning how it feels. There’s no time to watch the racquet as you play a shot – you have to rely on muscle memory, which is developed from repetition. Training aids are a great way to build muscle memory without having to be on court.
Billie Jean King’s Eye Coach allows you to remove all the unpredictable elements of tennis and just focus on your swing mechanics. Probably best for players up to 3.0, and make sure you purchase the correct size for your height.
Ball pickup tube
The easy way to pick up multiple balls after practice that doubles as a convenient storage solution. Ball pickup tubes save your back and save you time.
The Gamma Balltube holds up to 18 balls and has a hook to attach it to the fence when not in use
Ball hopper
If you’re teaching a youngster to play, or are wanting to improve your serve, there are few things more useful than a ball hopper. The underside is designed to allow you to pick balls up, and the tops often have a closure to prevent balls flying all over the place in your car when you brake. Some have handles that flip around to act as a stand, making it easier to grab balls as you practice your serve.
The Tourna Ballport allows you to collect up to 75 balls and contain them securely thanks to a no-spill lid. The handles can then be reversed to form legs, so you can reach the balls without bending over .
Ball cart
If you have your own court, then a wire mesh ball cart is an extremely efficient way of managing all your gear – there’s a reason every coaching pro has one. Alternatively, the smaller mesh versions are also very useful and portable, great if you’re coaching a child. They store over 100 balls and allow you to grab a handful without bending over. They can be combined with a ball hopper for picking balls up from the ground.
The Gamma Brute is a wire mesh style full size ball cart – the type you see professional coaches using at every club. It can hold up to 325 balls. The Gamma EZ Travel Cart Pro is a portable version and comes in 150 and 250 ball sizes.
Functional tennis pointer
These may seem like a cruel trick to play on a tennis player, but they actually work wonders by forcing the player to concentrate on footwork and a very small contact point. Take your eye off the ball or get lazy on footwork and the ball will fly past you like a scalded cat.
The Wooden Spoon may sound like something out of a Dickens novel, but it really works. There’s no hiding bad technique when you’re swinging one of these. It will literally force you to watch the ball right up to the moment of impact.
Cell phone stand
Watching a video of yourself playing is a fantastic, if sometimes unsettling, way of analyzing your game. A video lets you see what you’re actually doing, and if you contrast and compare to some of the excellent Youtube videos of slow motion strokes by pros, you can supercharge your tennis development. Check out this article on the use of smart phones. To get the best results, you’ll need a cell phone stand and an app that allows voice control of video. The magnetic option is great if you have steel net posts and netting supports, whereas the tripod allows you to position the camera anywhere on court.
Balancing your phone on a kit bag or item of clothing is an exercise in frustration. Instead, try a Magnetic Phone Holder – tennis courts have plenty of surfaces that it will stick to, such as net posts, and you can adjust the angle easily. Tripods are a more traditional solution that allows the camera to film from any position. Fence Mounts are perfect for courts with a chainlink fence.
String savers
Often used to protect expensive gut and delicate multifiliment strings, string savers go in between the strings when they cross, reducing friction and therefore wear. They can reduce feel very slightly, as well as increasing tension, so you might consider stringing a pound or so lighter. You only need to add them near the sweet spot where most balls are hit and string wear is most pronounced. Used by pros like Roger Federer and Pete Sampras who often strung with natural gut.
Babolat String Savers come with an applicator and can increase string life by up to 50%. Used just for the sweet spot area, this pack should be good for at least two stringings.
Strings
If the object of your affection has a favorite string and gets through them fairly regularly, then buy a reel of string… just make sure its the same stuff and in the same thickness, or gauge. A reel of string is 660 feet long, a half reel 330 feet. This can save real money when you get a restring – a reel is good for about 18 racquets. If you fancy experimenting, string can be bought in individual packs, but it works out more expensive.
Babolat RPM Blast was Rafa’s string of choice, and has earned a cult following among hard hitting players who want a low power string that has excellent spin potential and good durability. Its not very powerful, but this allows you to swing hard with confidence. Made out of a co-polyester – it may be a little stiff for players who don’t hit very hard.
Lead tape
Racquet manufacturers make an excellent job of balancing a whole load of characteristics to make a racquet work for as many people as possible. That said, there are times when the addition of a little extra weight in the right place can fine tune a racquet to better suit an individual. Swing weight, plough-through and stability can all be enhanced, and lead tape allows you to do this. Physically strong players with a fast swing who play at a high level will probably benefit the most.
Tecnifibre Lead Tape comes pre-cut in convenient 2 gram lengths, and can be added to the inside of the frame at various positions to give a desired effect.
Balance board
A wonderfully geeky present for the player with multiple racquets who likes to experiment with adding weight, or somebody who wants to make sure all their racquets feel identical. Not for the casual player!
Place your racquet on the Dunlop balance bar and rotate it until the racquet is perfectly balanced. Then note the reading on the balance scale. Adjust the racquet balance point using lead tape.
Ball stamp
Sounds like a medieval form of torture, but these are actually extremely useful to help you keep track of your expensive new tennis balls. Few things are as annoying as ending the day with two immaculate balls and a random one that looks like its gone nine rounds with a teething puppy. If you don’t want to use a custom stamp, then get a couple of large sharpies and make your mark the old fashioned way
Ball machine
Ball machines are the ultimate toy for a tennis player – its like having a practice partner with unlimited patience, perfect strokes and 250 balls stuffed into their pocket. They allow you to hone your technique, push yourself to the point of making mistakes without having to constantly apologize for your errors and hit an unbelievable number of balls per hour. Entry level models are affordable and portable, but the big expensive models like you see in clubs can really offer power and adjustability. If you have your own court, a ball machine will get you hitting every day and really make the most of your investment. Alternatively, if you play with a group, why not all invest in a decent portable machine and share it. Your game will improve rapidly if you start hitting 1000 balls a week!
The Lobster Sports Elite Two is a versatile machine on court, and easy to transport off court. The ball hopper pops off and sits over the machine base, making it easy to load into a car. Lobster have various models that offer more advanced features. Battery powered and good for four to six hours on one charge.
Wimbledon Towel
Each tour event has its own merchandise, but nothing can compete with the iconic Wimbledon Towel. Its the exact one players use on court, and will never go out of style. Click here for the Official Wimbledon Shop.
Stringing machine
A wonderful machine for the serious tennis player who breaks lots of strings. Buy string by the reel and learn to prepare your racquets exactly how you want. There’s a learning curve to using a machine properly, but there are lots of excellent videos to help. Another bonus: you can always sell them at some time in the future – broken strings ain’t going out of fashion any time soon! Model ranges start with an adjustable tensioner weight, mid market models have a manual tension winder and high end machines have an electronically controlled constant pull tensioner for maximum accuracy and ease of use.
The Gamma Progression ELS Stringing Machine is a tabletop model that has a six point mounting system, electronic tension system and comes with all the tools you need to get started. A great compromise between cost, ease of use and size.
Autographed ball
The best way to get an autographed ball is to hang around the practice courts at a pro tournament, but if you can’t do that, or if your hero no longer plays, then buying an autographed ball is a good option. They make great display items that will appeal to true fans… just keep away from the family pet. Click here to search the Sports Memorabilia site on Amazon
Bluetooth headphones
A bizarre one to have on a list of gifts for tennis fans? Hear me out: few things can make getting fit less boring than a decent set of headphones – music can lift your mood, distract from pain and exhaustion and generally elevate an experience. Headphones will even allow you to go for a healthy walk as you listen to Nigel from Accounts drone on about the latest administrative software miracle. Music is a great way to get in the zone before a match – just look at video of professional players wandering around a tennis tournament in between matches: you’d be hard pressed to see anybody not wearing headphones.
The 3rd generation of Apple Airpods are a great starting point for headphones – they’re water and sweat resistant and are a perennial best seller for good reason.
The classic ‘Hall Pass’
If you’re married or in a serious relationship, a Hall Pass is the one of the greatest gifts you can give your partner. Offer to take care of the kids/dog/cook dinner and generally hold the fort down, while they play tennis for a set number of times. Could be once a week, twice a weekend, a certain number of times per month: the format doesn’t matter, the point is that your partner gets to go to the tennis club guilt free. To add an official element, print passes up, complete with terms and conditions.