You can play a gentle game of tennis, but at its best, this sport should see you twisting and turning at speed so you’ll need a strong foundation. You don’t need specialist tennis shoes unless you want them, but you do need a strong support to protect your feet and allow you to turn. 

Comfort and fit – while in motion – is everything with a tennis shoe. The fit for tennis shouldn’t be too roomy because you need the shoe to come with you as you start and stop at speed. 

Tennis is a game of short sprints and lots of sideways movement that requires lateral support – in the arches, on the heel, and around the ankle – and good support in the toe. If you look at a very traditional tennis shoe – like a classic Dunlop Flash – you’ll see all the fundamentals that modern trainers build on. 

The most obvious choice – for gents and ladies – for tennis is a pair of shorts. 

There’s a load of choice – including a rainbow of colours – but function trumps form, and fit trumps function when it comes to game time. 

Tennis shorts tend toward knee length, but need to allow you plenty of movement while not flapping around your legs. Most are now made in high-tech, stretchy, cooling, moisture wicking materials, but it’s still hard to beat the feel of cotton if you’re feeling traditional. 
Make sure your waistband has room for movement and your pockets room for a spare ball. 

Traditionally female players have swished on to court in dresses or skirts, almost always in white. 

A skirt or dress still has a touch of glamour to it, but these days they are very practical, made - often by sports designers - for top-level athletes who are super-serious about winning. 

Skirts still tend towards pleated A-line cuts for freedom of movement, and still tend to be short. A lot now include an under-short or leggings. New material technology also means it’s now possible to wear a fitted skirt more comfortably. 

Look for all the things you would in any other item of sports clothing: moisture wicking is good, ventilation panels will help you stay cool, a built-in bra will give you more support, integral sun protection is a bonus.  

Oh, and don’t forget pockets to carry a spare ball as you serve.  

Almost every feature you’ll find on a pair of trainers you’ll find mirrored on top-of-the-range tennis socks. And almost none of them are essential, and all will be a waste of money if you don’t have a comfortable, snug pair of socks around your feet. 

A little bit of extra padding is good. Strong elastic to keep them up if they go above the ankle will help you stay comfortable. Mesh panels might help you feel a cooler and drier. 

Cotton is comfortable, but a mix of fabrics give the grip to keep you free from chafing. Buy your tennis socks before your shoes and take a pair along when you check out trainers for a perfect fit. 

If the thought of buying specialist tennis socks is making you feel nervous – don’t be! You know us, we offer tennis for all levels, and if you want to play in your usual trainers and socks, no one’s going to blink an eye. 

The sweat band worn at the head and wrist remains an iconic part of tennis kit. However, these are by no means compulsory - only wear them if you think they’ll add to your game. 

The idea is to stop sweat dripping down your forehead into your eyes, or down your wrists and onto your palms to affect your grip. Wrist bands can do double duty as mini face towels during a game. 

Tennis is a hard and fast game, traditionally played in the height of the summer, so it’s hardly posing to use a sweat band if you do sweat profusely. The key thing is that the bands shouldn’t be too tight – they’ll restrict you – or too loose – you’ll spend all match adjusting them. 

And don’t expect sweat bands to last too long, so spending much money on them isn’t a good investment. 

Rackets are a whole subject in themselves. If you’re working with a coach or have a knowledgeable pal then their advice on what suits your game will be invaluable. 

There are a lot of variables to play with, but the chief pay-offs are between power and control. 

A larger head will give you more power; a smaller one will give you more control. Fewer strings will give you more power but less control. A sturdier racket body will give your shots venom while costing you accuracy. 

Coaches advise beginners to err on the power-boasting side of that equation, to focus on a weight, grip, and balance that suits and work from there as their game develops.  

Claims about high-tech shock-absorbing, weight-to-power ratios, and laser cannons are taken lightly and tested in the wild. Take a few shots with any racket you’d like to buy, and get ready to enjoy a summer at the net.  

When you’re visiting one of our beachclubs to play tennis, don’t worry about bringing a racket – we’ll provide those!