Kit & Equipment
Any non-marking trainer of any colour is fine to wear. Most players wear a light lawn tennis shoe or a heavy squash shoe.
• Colour
Shoes can be any colour but the most common choice for real tennis is white (or predominantly white)
Comfort and cushioning
Lots of different styles of shoe are used, so make sure you choose one which prioritises your own comfort. In particular, running around on a concrete floor requires good shock absorbers in the heel and cushioning throughout the sole of the foot.
• Grip
Squash, lawn tennis and badminton shoes are all designed for a different surface to a real tennis court and so provide different grip. Badminton shoes probably provide the most grip, lawn tennis the least, with squash shoes in the middle. Avoid shoes which cause you to slip, and make sure your shoes are non-marking.
• Non-marking soles
Shoes need to have non-marking soles and should not be used for any outdoor activities. This helps stopping dirt entering the tennis court which makes it slippery. It is recommended that your real tennis shoes are carried to the court and then put on when you arrive (as is the same for badminton or squash).
• Popular brands
Numerous companies make shoes suitable for use in real tennis. Popular brands include Asics, Salming, Adidas, Nike and Dunlop.
• Support and weight
Badminton shoes on average weigh a little less and are more flimsy than a squash shoe and squash shoes are usually lighter and less sturdy than lawn tennis shoes. Real tennis is played on a concrete surface and requires longer strides than squash or badminton, so a heavy squash shoe or a light tennis shoe strikes a good balance between support and weight.
• Where can I buy real tennis shoes?
There is no such thing as a real tennis shoe and so players use shoes intended for squash, lawn tennis or badminton. It is very much a personal choice as to make and design.
General sports clothing, such as is worn for lawn tennis or squash, is advised for real tennis. Many clubs have a requirement for white clothing so it is worth checking directly with the club.
• Colour
Some clubs have a requirement for “tennis whites”, either for all play or just for tournaments. Club professionals can give guidance on this point if there you have any questions.
Outer layers do not usually have to be white during warm ups even at courts which require tennis whites.
• Layers
Particularly in winter, you may want to wear extra layers. Many courts are old buildings and lack modern heating systems. Outer layers do not usually have to be white during warm ups even at courts which require tennis whites.
• Where can I buy clothing?
Standard sports clothing can be purchased from retailers and brands like Play Brave, Nike and Adidas prove to be popular. Many clubs sell clothes with the club’s logo on them which are popular choices, particularly if you are called upon to represent your club in a match/tournament. Speak to your professional for more details.
How are balls made?
Every club provides balls for its members and these are refreshed once every couple of weeks. Balls continue to be made by hand in a tradition more than 700 years old.
Nowadays the centre of a real tennis ball is usually made out of cork, although some balls still have a cloth centre. The core is tightly wrapped by copious cotton tape. Twine then secures this cotton tape in place. Finally, yellow felt covers the ball and is stitched together by hand.
“New balls” generally refers to balls that have been re-covered rather than made completely from scratch. Professionals remove the yellow felt, retie the cotton tape and twine if needed, and then sew on a new cover.
Real tennis rackets are made of wood, are not symmetrical in shape and are much heavier than a lawn tennis or squash racket. Clubs will have rackets for beginners to use.
• Borrowing rackets
New players will borrow a racket from the club when they are learning how to play. Once you start playing matches, you will likely want to purchase your own racket. New rackets ensure a consistent balance, grip, weight and string tension.
Some beginners may like to use an “oversized” racket as the bigger racket head makes it easier to hit the ball. Talk to your club professional about the pros and cons of this option to see if it is appropriate for you.
• Grip and handle
Grip: a standard grip is a thin under grip and then a regular grip. Some people are happy with a single grip and a few will opt for several layers.
Handle: rackets come with a square or round handle as you desire. It is recommended you add your name/initials to the end to help identify it.
• History
• Manufacturers
Grays of Cambridge was founded in 1855 and are an established international sports company with brands such as Gilbert and Gray Nicolls. They are by far the largest manufacturer of rackets and most players use a Grays racket which can be purchased from your club professional. Other manufacturers in recent years have included Harrow sports which explored making real tennis rackets after its 2000 founding, and Goldleaf rackets was a popular manufacturer for half a dozen years in the 2010s.
Harrow are designing a new Graphite racket, click here to read more about it.
• Tension
Unless specifically requested, strings will be tightened as much as possible by the restringing club professional. It may be worth considering the effect of a looser stringing. You may not hit the ball as hard, but the sweet spot will be larger, and the impact on your wrist and elbow when contacting the ball will be less severe.
• Types of racket
The three most widely seen types of racket (as manufactured by Grays) are:
Standard: this is the plainest, cheapest racket and is also the least durable. It may be a good option for someone just starting out in the game.
Xtra-Tech: this has a reinforced frame which should make the racket last longer and allow it to undergo more restrings (less sturdy frames may struggle to undergo really high string tension multiple times).
Customised: it is possible to design your own racket for an extra fee, and this might prove a popular option if a group of players are going on a tour or to celebrate some special occasion. Many clubs now also have customised rackets in the club colours which prove to be popular.
Other rackets which are less frequently seen are:
Oversized: these rackets have a much larger head which makes it much easier to hit the ball, especially for beginners.
Junior: these rackets have a shorter handle making it easier for juniors to wield.
Semi-tech: half way between standard and xtra-tech in terms of sturdiness and longevity.
As with other racket sports, many players come equipped with sweat bands, racket bags, spare grips, and other extras. Some people like to wear sports glasses.