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January 2026, Australian Open, fourth round. Before the first ball, the chair umpire asks world No. 1 Carlos Alcaraz to take off the band on his wrist. Aryna Sabalenka is told the same. Their WHOOP bands were approved by tennis’s governing body, but not by that tournament. A few months later, three of the four Grand Slams said they would allow them. That one moment says a lot about tennis wearables right now: they’re more useful than ever, and the rules depend on where you play. This page explains those rules, then compares the best tennis trackers for practice, matches and recovery: recovery bands, GPS watches with tennis modes, heart-rate monitors and smart rings. It also gives an honest word on racquet sensors.
Prices change often. The prices below are what we saw at the maker or a major retailer in October 2026; check the current price before you buy.
Our top picks
WHOOP 5.0 (Peak membership)
- About $239 a year, sensor included
- ITF-approved for matches (haptics off)
- Recovery, Strain and Sleep scores
Garmin Forerunner 570
- About $550
- Tennis activity profile
- Training Readiness and HRV Status
Polar H10
- ECG chest strap
- Up to 400 h coin battery
- Bluetooth + ANT+
Polar Verity Sense
- Optical, upper-arm band
- Up to 30 h battery
- Pairs with phones and watches
Oura Ring 5
- From about $399 + $5.99/month
- 6 to 9 day battery
- Readiness and Sleep scores
Tennis wearables compared
| Device | What it tracks | Where you wear it | Subscription | About (Oct 2026) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| WHOOP 5.0 | Strain, sleep, recovery, heart rate | Wrist or other supported spots | Required (Peak tier) | $239/year |
| Garmin Forerunner 570 | Tennis sessions, heart rate, readiness, GPS | Wrist | None | $550 |
| Polar H10 | Heart rate (ECG) | Chest strap | None | $105 |
| Polar Verity Sense | Heart rate (optical) | Upper arm | None | $105 |
| Oura Ring 5 | Sleep, readiness | Finger | $5.99/month | From $399 |
First, the rules: can you wear it in a match?
Tennis is unusually open to wearables. The ITF Rules of Tennis call them “Player Analysis Technology” (PAT): anything that records, stores, sends, analyzes or shows a player performance data, from a heart-rate monitor to a smart racquet. Under Rule 31, PAT can be used in competition only if the ITF has approved it, even if it’s switched off. The data can be recorded during a match, but the player can look at it only when coaching is allowed under that event’s rules. Never during a point.
- WHOOP: the ITF approved WHOOP 3.0, 4.0, 5.0 and MG in December 2025, on one condition: players must turn off haptic (vibration) alerts before going on court, and can be asked to prove it. The band can stay on, but the phone app counts as an auxiliary device and can be used only when coaching is permitted.
- Grand Slams set their own rules. At the 2026 Australian Open, players were asked to remove WHOOP bands because the tournament hadn’t approved them. In April 2026, the French Open, Wimbledon and the US Open said WHOOP devices would be allowed in matches. Check the current rules for each event.
- Everyone else: junior, college and club events follow their own organizers. A device that isn’t on the ITF’s approved list is a practice-only tool unless the event says otherwise.
The best tennis wearables
1. WHOOP 5.0: best for match play and recovery
WHOOP is a screenless band sold as a membership (about $239 a year for the Peak tier, sensor included). It has a battery that lasts 14+ days and daily Recovery, Strain and Sleep scores built from heart rate, heart-rate variability (HRV) and sleep. For tennis, its edge is that the ITF has approved it for match play, so tournament players can track the full load of a match, not just practice. It’s especially useful on tournament weeks and when traveling across time zones. A 2026 study of 52 WTA players used WHOOP bands to measure how much sleep they lost after flights. No screen means no stroke data. Remember to turn haptics off before matches.
- Good: ITF-approved for matches; comfortable; strong sleep and recovery data.
- Watch out: ongoing membership; no stroke counts; not allowed at every event.
- Best for: college and tournament players, and anyone juggling matches, travel and training.
2. Garmin Forerunner 570: best watch with a tennis mode
Garmin’s owner’s manual for the Forerunner 570 lists tennis, along with pickleball, padel and other racket sports, as built-in activities. So you can log sessions with heart rate and time, and use GPS for your off-court runs. It also gives morning Training Readiness and HRV Status, which help you decide between a hard hit and an easy day. It costs about $550. Garmin users are clearly picking up racquets: Garmin’s 2025 Connect data report found racket sports had the biggest jump in recorded sessions of any activity (+67%). Third-party apps for Garmin and Apple watches add stroke counting, but wrist-based shot detection isn’t perfect, so treat stroke counts as rough.
- Good: tennis mode plus running GPS; readiness and HRV built in; no subscription.
- Watch out: wrist heart rate is less reliable in stop-and-go play than a chest strap; check event rules before wearing it in a match.
- Best for: club and league players who also run or cross-train.
Check the Garmin Forerunner 570 price on Amazon
3. Polar H10 and Verity Sense: best heart rate for practice
Tennis is all bursts and pauses, which is hard for wrist sensors. A chest strap reads the heart’s electrical signal directly, and in accuracy studies chest straps like the Polar H10 hold up better than wrist sensors. It runs up to about 400 hours on a coin battery and connects by Bluetooth and ANT+ to phones, watches and apps, for about $105. If a chest strap bothers you, the Polar Verity Sense sits on the upper arm, away from your racquet wrist, with up to 30 hours of battery and the same price. Use either for drills and conditioning to see whether hard days are hard and easy days are easy.
- Good: accurate heart rate in stop-and-go play; long battery; works with most apps.
- Watch out: heart rate only, no stroke data; practice tools unless your event allows them.
- Best for: conditioning sessions and players who want honest effort numbers.
Check the Polar H10 price on Amazon
4. Oura Ring 5: best for sleep on the road
The Oura Ring 5 starts at about $399 plus a $5.99 monthly membership. It lasts 6 to 9 days and gives Readiness and Sleep scores. It’s the easiest of these devices to sleep in, and you can simply take it off for matches. It’s a good fit for players who mostly want to manage sleep and jet lag during tournament trips. Neither Oura nor WHOOP is a medical device. Our WHOOP vs Oura vs Garmin comparison, best smart rings guide and HRV for athletes explainer go deeper.
Check the Oura Ring 5 price on Amazon
What about racquet sensors?
Babolat launched a connected racquet in 2014 and a wrist-worn tennis sensor in 2015, and several clip-on sensors followed. Most of that first wave is hard to find new today, and some of the apps are no longer updated. If you find a racquet or handle sensor for sale, check that the maker still supports the app on your phone, and check whether it’s on the ITF’s approved PAT list before you use it in a tournament. For stroke counts, most players now use a watch app instead. For technique, a coach and a phone video still beat any sensor.
How to choose a tennis tracker
- Start with the question. “Am I recovered for tomorrow’s match?” points to WHOOP or Oura. “How hard was practice?” points to a Polar strap. “Log my tennis and my runs” points to a Garmin.
- Check the rules where you play. ITF approval is the starting point, but tournaments, leagues and schools decide what’s allowed in their matches.
- Add up the real cost. One payment (Polar, Garmin) versus a yearly fee (WHOOP) or a monthly fee (Oura).
- Keep it simple for juniors. Young players don’t need daily scores. Sleep, food and a sensible schedule matter more.
- Listen to your body too. An elbow or shoulder that keeps hurting needs a sports medicine doctor, PT or athletic trainer, not a better recovery score. See our tennis injuries guide.
Back to the tennis hub, or see tennis training, recovery and tennis gear. For every strap we cover, see the best heart rate monitors for athletes, or compare with basketball wearables.
Tennis wearable questions
Can you wear a WHOOP during a tennis match?
Under the ITF Rules of Tennis, yes: WHOOP 3.0, 4.0, 5.0 and MG were approved in December 2025, as long as haptic alerts are turned off. Grand Slams set their own rules. The 2026 Australian Open didn’t allow them, while the French Open, Wimbledon and the US Open said in April 2026 that they would. Check your event’s rules.
Can I check my watch data during a tennis match?
Only when the event allows coaching, and never during a point. The ITF rules treat wearable data like coaching, so it can be recorded during a match but viewed only at times when coaching is permitted.
Does Garmin track tennis?
Yes. The Forerunner 570’s manual lists tennis among its racket-sports activities, along with pickleball and padel. It records time and heart rate. For stroke counting, players use third-party apps, which are only roughly accurate.
Are tennis racquet sensors still worth buying?
Be careful. Many sensors from the 2010s are hard to find new and some apps are no longer updated. If you buy one, check app support and the ITF’s approved list first. A watch app plus video from your coach covers most players’ needs.
What’s the best wearable for a junior tennis player?
Often none. If a family wants one, a simple heart-rate strap for conditioning or a watch with a tennis mode is plenty. Sleep, food and a sensible schedule do more than scores. See our youth tennis guide.