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We’ve all been there – rushing to escape the house or office, we grab a few things, jump in the car, drive like the wind to the courts, greet our partner and then get that horrible sinking feeling – there’s something missing… like a racquet. You feel like a complete Muppet, as well as potentially letting your opponent down. The solution is a well packed kit bag – full of all the essentials that you’ll need for a great time on court. No more frantic searching through drawers and cupboards or fishing bits of kit out from under the car seats. Just grab and go.
Lets take a look at some essentials that you might want to keep in your kit bag to ensure you have everything you need. The exact list is personal and can vary depending on the season, but the core items will remain the same.
Racquet(s)
The game looks mighty silly without one of these, but even this most obvious bit of kit can vanish without a trace when time is pressing. Once you start hitting with power and spin, you’ll start getting through strings, so two identical racquets with the same string and tension are advisable. If you only have one, then keep a careful eye on the condition of the strings – they have a habit of breaking at the worst possible time.
Vibration dampeners
Dampeners can fly through the air faster than small town gossip. Keep a few spares, or prepare for a frustrating game of find the chunk of rubber.
Balls
Another staple of a well stocked kit bag, a new pack along with some older balls for practice are in order. Keep rotating out older balls as they get past their best – playing with balls of varying bounce and fluffiness can be frustrating. Also make sure your balls match the surface you’re playing on – you can even get special pressure balls for playing at high altitude.
Warm up band
Warm up bands are great for stretching key muscle groups in a controlled way before a game. Remember to warm the body up first, before you start stretching.
Spare grips
Puppies may be for life, but grips certainly aren’t. You control the racquet with a surprisingly small area of contact, so it needs to be good. A worn grip makes you grab harder, causing the wrist and arm to tense up, which in turn prevents correct movement during shots. A tense wrist can also transmit lots of vibration up the arm, which is never good. Buy a pack of ten or more, and you’ll see the price per grip plummet.
Tack rag / rosin resin
Tack rags impart a tacky resin to hands and grips, whereas rosin resin is designed to help combat excessive sweating of the hands. Which, if any, you’ll use will depend on the conditions you’re playing in and the grip you use.
Sweat bands
Feed your inner Bjorn Borg, while keeping that stinging shampoo-laced sweat out of your eyes. Head and wrist bands are much more than a fashion accessory, they really work. Don’t get caught short when the mercury rises, or have to resort to reusing yesterday’s drenched bands. Keep a few spares and control that sweat! And don’t forget some spare hair clips.
Spare cloths
Its always wise to have spare clothing, especially on a hot day. It feels great to peel off a sweaty layer before a final set, as you head into the clubhouse, jump into the car or head down the pub for a cheeky pint. Don’t forget a pair of good quality athletic socks, and a hat for those sunny days.
Towel
An excellent way to wind up the rest of your household is to use a bathroom towel on the tennis court. Save yourself the lectures and stern looks and get a towel just for tennis. Body wipes are also wonderful things to have for a quick cleanup job before you pop into the shops or pub on the way home.
Sunglasses / spare contacts
Squinting on a bright day isn’t much fun, and a bit of grit in the eye can play havoc with a pair of contacts, so keep spares. And don’t forget eye drops.
Drink
Most courts will have access to plain old water, but you can do so much better than that. Modern sports drinks contain minerals and salts to replace what’s lost in sweat, and some contain carbohydrates for an energy boost. Keep your drink in an insulated container to prevent it heating up on a sun-baked court.
Large insulated water bottle
A hot summer’s day can make a tennis court feel like a frying pan, so make sure your drink keeps cool with an insulated water bottle. Normal sizes aren’t large enough for a long game in the heat, so pack a 26 oz or larger size. By happy coincidence, 26 oz is equal to a bottle of wine…
Energy bar / gel
How often have you rushed around all day, only to turn up to a game of tennis hungry and fading fast? Grab a quick energy gel and you’ll soon feel like your best self again. Gels are used by many pros and are shelf stable, so always keep a few in your kit bag for use before and during a game.
Sports sun cream
Get the good stuff that soaks in, and don’t forget to apply before you go outside. A tube of UV protection chap stick for the lips works wonders too. Cancer sucks.
Minor first aid kit and plasters / finger tape
A few band-aids are always useful, and if you suffer finger blisters then try some of the specialist sports strips – Nadal wouldn’t be seen on court without them. A pair of nail clippers won’t hurt, either.
Kinesiology tape
Great for giving a little extra support where its needed – just make sure you’re applying it correctly for maximum benefit.
Anti chafing stick
Don’t suffer chafing in silence – get yourself some of this and bring relief to a tiresome issue.
Meds: antihistamines, asthma inhalers, ibuprofen etc
Better to have and not need, than need and not have.
Gel ice pack
A great addition to your kit bag if you have any sort of injury that could benefit from icing after play. Just don’t forget to cool them down the night before.
And finally… a decent kit bag to put it all in
If you have the luxury of driving to the court, then you can use a large kit bag and rest assured you’re ready for any eventuality. If you cycle, then a rucksack style is excellent, and if you’re in the market for a little style, then a tote bag might fit the bill. Just remember to take any sweaty kit and shoes out when you get home, or your whole tennis kit could end up smelling like the business end of a badger.