Tennis Gear: The Complete Tennis Equipment List

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The best part of a new season might be the gear: a fresh can of balls hissing open, a racquet with a new grip, shoes that still squeak on the hard court. Tennis doesn’t need much, but the few things you buy matter, for your game and for your arm. Here’s a simple tennis equipment list: how to choose a racquet and grip size, which strings are kinder to your elbow, shoes for each court surface, the right balls, what elbow straps can and can’t do, and the recovery kit for long weekends. All of it is tennis gear we’d actually put in a bag.

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.

The quick checklist: a racquet in your grip size, a spare overgrip, tennis shoes for your court surface, a new can of balls, padded socks, a big water bottle, a hat and sunscreen, and something comfortable for your feet afterward.

Our top picks

Racquets and grip size

Under the ITF rules an adult racquet can be up to 29 inches long and 12.5 inches wide; most are about 27 inches. Beyond that, the choice comes down to head size, weight and stiffness. An oversized head (like 115 square inches) has a bigger sweet spot, which helps beginners. For your elbow, the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS) says stiffer racquets and looser string tension often reduce the stress on the forearm in players with tennis elbow, and that technique and equipment are common causes in racquet sports.

Grip size is the one spec everyone should check. To measure, hold your hitting hand open and measure from the bottom lateral crease of your palm to the tip of your ring finger, rounding to the nearest eighth of an inch. A second check: hold the racquet with a forehand grip and slide the index finger of your other hand into the gap between your fingertips and palm; if it doesn’t fit, the grip is too small.

US size	European size	Typical player
4 in	L0	Smaller hands, juniors moving to adult frames
4 1/8 in	L1	Smaller hands
4 1/4 in	L2	Most common for women
4 3/8 in	L3	Most common for men
4 1/2 in	L4	Larger hands
4 5/8 in	L5	Very large hands

Between sizes, choose the smaller one: an overgrip adds a little thickness, but you can’t make a grip smaller. Two good frames: the HEAD Ti.S6 is a long-time beginner and recreational racquet with a 115-square-inch head, 27.75 inches long and about 8.9 ounces, sold pre-strung in several grip sizes (about $55 to $100 on Amazon, depending on the listing). The Babolat Pure Drive Team is the lighter version of Babolat’s popular power racquet, about 10.1 ounces unstrung; Babolat says the 2025 version adds flax fibers to filter out some of the frame’s stiff vibration. For kids, racquet length goes with the ball color: see our youth tennis guide.

Check the HEAD Ti.S6 price on Amazon

Strings and tension

• Synthetic gut: the cheap, all-round string most pre-strung racquets come with.
• Multifilament: many fibers wound together, softer and more comfortable, but less durable.
• Polyester (“poly”): the stiffest common string, used by many advanced players, but it sends more shock and vibration to the arm.
• Natural gut: the most elastic and comfortable, and the most expensive.

If your arm is sore, many coaches and stringers suggest a softer string at a lower tension, which fits the AAOS note about looser strings. The Wilson NXT is what Wilson calls one of its most popular, time-tested multifilaments, sold as 16-gauge sets. Strings lose tension over time, so restring regularly if you play often.

Tennis shoes by court surface

Don’t play in running shoes. Tennis shoes are built for side-to-side movement and are more stable laterally; running shoes are made for moving forward. AAOS suggests shoes with good support, padded tennis socks or two pairs of socks, and arch support if you’re prone to plantar fasciitis. Then match the outsole to your court:

Surface	Outsole	Why
Hard court	Modified herringbone, tough rubber	Grip plus durability on an abrasive surface; works on most courts
Clay (red or green)	Full herringbone	Keeps clay out of the tread and makes slides predictable
Grass	Small nubs or “pimples”	Traction on a slippery surface; can’t be used on other courts

Hard-court players wear outsoles down fast, so check the tread; some shoes come with an outsole durability guarantee. Shoe models change every year and fit is personal, so we don’t push one shoe. Try them on with your tennis socks, and buy the pair that holds your foot securely on a hard side step.

Tennis balls

The ITF approves three ball speeds: Type 1 (fast) for slow courts, Type 2 (medium) for most courts and Type 3 (slow) for fast courts such as grass. In the US you’ll also see extra-duty balls, with felt made for hard courts, and regular-duty balls. The Penn Championship Extra Duty is the everyday hard-court ball and the official ball of USTA League, approved by the USTA and ITF (about $19 for six cans). There are high-altitude versions for courts in the mountains. For kids, use the red, orange and green stage balls: our youth tennis page has the chart.

Check the Penn Championship price on Amazon

Overgrips

An overgrip is a thin wrap over the racquet’s base grip that adds tack and soaks up sweat. AAOS suggests keeping the handle dry to prevent blisters, and a fresh overgrip is the easiest way to do it. The Wilson Pro Overgrip is the classic: thin, tacky, with finishing tape, about $27 for 12 (a 30-pack is also sold). Change it when it gets slick or worn.

Elbow straps: what they can and can’t do

A counterforce strap is a band worn just below the elbow that presses on the forearm muscles. AAOS lists counterforce bracing among nonsurgical options for tennis elbow, alongside rest and physical therapy, and says 80 to 95% of patients do well without surgery. The research is mixed, though. In a small placebo-controlled trial, both a real strap and a placebo strap helped, and the real one did better on pain at rest in the first weeks; a 2020 review of 17 trials called the effects inconclusive. A strap may make play more comfortable, but it doesn’t fix the cause. Elbow pain that lasts needs a sports medicine doctor or physical therapist, and a look at your racquet, grip size and strokes.

• Mueller Tennis Elbow Support: a strap with a gel pad, one size fits most, about $15.
• McDavid Tennis Elbow Strap: a simple one-size strap, about $13.

Check the Mueller Tennis Elbow Support price on Amazon

Recovery gear for the bag

After a tournament weekend, legs and forearms want attention. A foam roller like the TriggerPoint GRID 1.0 (about $40) works on calves, quads and hips; a small massage gun like the Theragun Mini (about $220) fits in a racquet bag for calves and forearms; and recovery slides like the OOFOS OOahh (about $60, washable, with the APMA Seal of Acceptance) feel good after hours on hard courts. These are comfort tools, not treatment. If something hurts for more than a few days, see a sports medicine doctor, physical therapist or athletic trainer. Compare more in our best foam rollers, best massage guns and best recovery shoes guides, and see the tennis recovery page for the routine.

Check the OOFOS OOahh Slide price on Amazon

Back to the tennis hub, or see tennis injuries, the best tennis wearables and tennis rules. Play another sport too? See our basketball gear list.

Tennis gear questions

How do I know my tennis grip size?

Measure from the bottom lateral crease of your palm to the tip of your ring finger; the result, rounded to the nearest eighth of an inch, is your size. Most women use 4 1/4 and most men 4 3/8. Between sizes, go smaller and add an overgrip.

Which strings are best for tennis elbow?

Softer strings such as multifilament or natural gut, strung at a lower tension, are kinder to the arm than stiff polyester. AAOS notes that looser string tension often reduces forearm stress. Pain that lasts needs a professional.

Can I play tennis in running shoes?

It isn’t a good idea. Running shoes are built for forward motion, while tennis shoes are made for side-to-side movement and give more lateral stability. Pick the outsole for your court surface.

What’s the difference between extra-duty and regular-duty balls?

Extra-duty balls have felt made for hard courts. Regular-duty balls are the other main type many brands sell; check the can for the surface the maker recommends.

Do tennis elbow straps work?

Some players find them comfortable, and AAOS lists counterforce bracing as a nonsurgical option, but studies are mixed and a strap doesn’t fix the cause. See a sports medicine doctor or physical therapist if pain continues.