Imagine that you're playing an important tournament, you really want to win, and you can't finish the match because you break a string in your only racket, or you run out of energy and can't continue without food or water. All the practicing in the world won't help you win the tournament if you aren't prepared.
You see most pro's carrying several rackets onto the court in a bag that also contains other essentials. In some cases, they carry a second bag with even more "stuff". Do you ever wonder what they have in those bags? And why do they need all that just to play tennis?
If you want to give yourself the best chance of winning a tennis match, you need to be prepared. What if the temperature on court climbs over 115 degrees, or if you're playing in extra humid conditions? You may not have anticipated every possible scenario, but you're already at a disadvantage if your opponent has.
Here are some useful items that you may want to consider bringing with you on court for your future matches --
- Rackets
Most players carry their rackets in a bag to protect them from the elements (i.e. sun, heat, etc), and it's always a good idea to have one or more spare rackets in case a string breaks. - Tennis Balls
You never know when you'll need balls, and your generosity will be greatly appreciated if you have an extra can to loan to the court next to you. - Water
Your body needs to be kept hydrated to work efficiently during a tennis match, so always bring extra water in case there is none available on the court. - Hat/Visor
There are many good reasons to consider wearing a hat during your tennis match - the band helps keeps sweat out of your eyes, the bill shields your eyes from overhead sun, and the cap keeps your head cool. Disregard this one if you play indoors or aren't used to wearing a hat. - Sunglasses
This is a great way to see the ball clearer on a bright day, and eliminates you having to squint, plus it protects your eyes from harmful UV rays. Disregard this one if you aren't used to playing with sunglasses on. - Extra Towels
You can't have enough dry towels during a match - to wipe sweat from your forehead, to dry off your hands/arms/legs, to sit on instead of directly on the wood bench, etc. - Headbands/Wristbands
This is the best way to keep sweat out of your eyes while you're on court, but on a hot day they get wet fast so you'll want to get a fresh one often. - Sunscreen
In case you forgot to apply it before the match, or if you have sweat so much that it's gone - in any case, you still need protection from the sun. - Dry Socks
There's nothing like putting on a pair of dry socks between sets or matches, and it's a good way to avoid blisters on the feet. - Extra Shirt
Same as dry socks, will make you feel refreshed and ready to continue, plus you won't feel weighted down from a soaking wet shirt. - Snack Food
You should try to eat a few hours before your match, but if your start time is delayed or you split sets in a long match, you may need extra energy on court, so try to bring along healthy snack food like bananas or granola bars. - Aspirin/Bandages
Because everything doesn't always work out the way we want, you may not feel well or could sustain an injury during the match and without making a big deal over it you can reach in your bag for one of these items. - Grip Tape/Overgrips
If your hands are sweaty or you have problems keeping your grip dry, consider wrapping a new overgrip on your racket for better feel. - Dampeners
If you use these in your rackets, make sure to bring extra because they do have a tendency to pop out, and you don't want to experience playing without one unless you're used to it. - Pencil and Paper
It's handy to have something to record stats about the match you just played, or to swap info with prospective new players.
Have fun on the courts!
