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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.
The Wilson Blade 98 is a modern day classic, loved by professionals and college players alike. The frame is low powered, allows excellent control and accuracy along with great feel. If you’re a 4.0 player or above and you bring your own power, then this is definitely one to check out.
The Babolat Pure Aero is a racquet famous for spin: provided you have the correct technique, you can hit shots that seem to defy physics. If you have a power game and need spin for control, give it a try.
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.
The ADV dampener is Amazon’s best seller, and comes in a pack of three which makes a racquet change much easier. They have a reputation for not falling off, and come in various colours to blend in or make a statement.
Wilson’s old school style dampener is extremely popular and comes in a two pack with various colour options. The perfect accessory for a Wilson racquet, or stick it on another make and show your reckless disregard for convention.
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. Single packs may be convenient, but a multipack box will work out much cheaper in the long run.
Penn Championship Tennis Balls with extra duty felt are the #1 selling ball in America. This link is for a 6 can pack (18 balls).
Wilson US Open Tennis Balls with extra duty felt are another best-seller. Not the cheapest, but very high quality.
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.
The Theraband resistance band set is a great addition to any kit bag – lightweight and compact, but also able to help you prepare your body for the game ahead.
The Veick resistance band set is a best seller – the complete set would be great for off-court conditioning work, and you could then perhaps keep one band in your kit bag for warming up.
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.
Tourna Original Dry is the classic dry feel overgrip. You’ll see them used all over the place, from tour pros and college players to your local club. Sweat makes the grip tacky, so they’re popular in hot and humid conditions.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.
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.
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.
Tourna Tac Rag is great for any sport where grip is important – just rub it on your hands or grip. Each rag lasts several weeks.
Tourna Rosin Resin helps to dry out sweaty hands – it comes in a shaker bottle and can be very useful on hot and humid days.
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.
The Nike Reversible Headband is a classic design that allows you to change between two colours.
The Nike Swoosh Wristband is a bestseller that can help stop sweat running down your arms onto your hands.
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.
S&T Microfiber Towels are highly rated, compact enough to fit in any kit bag and come in packs of six.
The classic Wimbledon Towel is the one to have – you’ll have to head over to the official Wimbledon online shop, but its worth the effort.
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 key electrolytes 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.
Gatorade Endurance Formula, 32 oz pack is a great entry point to the world of sports drinks. It comes in several flavours, 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.
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…
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.
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 colours that should compliment any look.
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.
GU Energy Gel will give you a boost just when you need it. It comes in lots of different flavours 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.
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.
Meister StickElite Professional Porous Athletic Tape is designed for fingers and toes and has excellent adhesion.
KT Health Blister Prevention Tape can help prevent blisters from forming by reducing friction in key areas. It sticks well and is a popular solution to the age old enemy of athletes.
Kinesiology tape
Great for giving a little extra support where its needed – just make sure you’re applying it correctly 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.
Anti chafing stick
Don’t suffer chafing in silence – get yourself some of this and bring relief to a tiresome issue.
Body Glide Original Anti Chafe Stick is the original and has been tested over time to prevent skin rubbing
Gold Bond Friction Defense Stick is another highly rated solution to skin rubbing
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. Just remember to cool them down the night before.
The Sherpa Therapy Gel Ice Pack can be used hot or cold, and is flexible when cold, so can conform to body shape.
The KingPavonini Wraparound Ice Pack for Knees allows the whole knee to be cooled at the same time. It makes a pack of peas look rather quaint!
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.
The Wilson Roland Garros Tour backpack style tennis bag holds two racquets and is small enough to wear when you’re cycling or walking to the courts.
The Babolat Pure Wimbledon six racquet bag is a large bag that can store anything you’d ever need. The Wimbledon colour scheme gives a much more traditional feel than some of the more lively colour choices available.
The Wilson Tote Tennis Bag is an alternative style that holds two racquets. The compartments are well thought out and the bag is easier to maneuver than a traditional full size carrier.
The Ame and Lulu Backpack is aimed at women and has an elevated sense of style.