Fall & Winter Gear Checklist

It's that time of the year when the weather starts throwing us curveballs. Maybe you show up to your favorite courts to find them a little soaked from the morning fog, or maybe the earlier sunsets are bringing in colder temperatures more rapidly. Either way, it's the changing of the seasons and as such it makes sense to adjust your approach to tennis to match the occasion. Take a moment to consider your bag and gear setup, and what can be adjusted to make them more autumnal or wintry. In order to combat the change in conditions, your gear can be modified or rearranged to better your chances of success on court. In this seasonal guide, we've outlined some apparel and gear choices you can take with you wherever the occasion brings you.

Let's start with the obvious; your tennis bag or backpack. While a whole new tennis bag may not be the best option for you, it is always worthwhile to check in with your equipment holder to see the current state of its livelihood. We get it, sometimes bags are a mysterious void that collect all kinds of uncertainties. Take a minute to go through your belongings, remove any excess waste or dirt, and give your bag a good-old fashioned shakedown after removing all equipment.

Note, now may be a good time to actually go through the process of cleaning and/or washing your bag. Start with a simple wipe down to remove excess dirt and debris. Next, use a light cleaning solution to target any areas of concern and get that elbow grease going. While a full wash isn’t necessary, it’s never a bad idea to increase the cleanliness of your setup. A little now goes a long way later.

Warm-up Jacket

A warm-up jacket is the ideal on-court accessory for hitting outside as the weather starts to cool down and the daylight begins to dwindle. We recommend going with a full-zip solution, as they are the most easily removable for when you're ready to shed layers. Typically, you might want to look for something that is non-bulky, so as to warm up in it more easily. Additionally, having something cumbersome during warmup could cause some frustrations if it were to get in the way, so best just to eliminate that component altogether.

One of the biggest advantages to compression clothing is the additional warmth that comes with it. Elsewhere, compression sleeves and clothing help to promote blood-flow for high-intensity muscle groups, elevating your performance and helping to sustain against injuries. Depending on what part(s) of your body typically get cold, it may be worth investing in the corresponding compression layer. For example, if your arms are known to get chilly, it could make sense to either procure a long sleeve compression layer or an individual arm sleeve or two. These kinds of layers can easily be added to your typical tennis outfit, falling in underneath for a nice complementary visual element (a neutral color like black or white goes a long way here). The same principle applies for the lower body, where full tights or individualized compression sleeves can be implemented relatively easily. If you overheat easily, consider maybe going with the appropriate appendage layer, as opposed to a more intense form of compression.

Athletic Pants

Shocking as it may be, depending on where in the world you are, tennis can be played in pants. When choosing pants for tennis, it is definitely worth considering what kind of movement is available to you, and typically you will want something as non-obstructive as possible. As such, pants that are more form-fitting and less baggy will usually lead to better movement on court, as long as they're not overly compressing anything. Otherwise, it may be worth having very light and/or baggy pants for walking on that can be easily removed if need be.

Tension Adjustment

As the year winds down and things cool off, our racquet setups may have to compensate for the change in conditions. In colder weather, balls tend to fly less fast and far compared to the hotter months. As such, it may be worthwhile to adjust your tension to give yourself some additional power access in order to generate more depth. Typically, the best way to do this is to drop tension by say, maybe three or four pounds, which will increase ball speed and create a higher launch angle for easier depth. If you are looking to up your control, raising your tension by three or four pounds is the way to go. Additionally, consider adding a soft string to your usual full bed setup (if you aren't a hybrid player already), as this will up your power access without mitigating the control aspects of your stringbed in its current state. 


Heavier Duty Shoes for Warmth

As we move into colder seasons and conditions, you may want to have shoes that appropriately meet your needs indoors or outside. A heavier shoe will typically provide more stability, which could go a long way as you start to adjust to the overall changes in playability conditions-wise. If you remain outdoors, a heavier shoe may help with warmth on the foot and provide additional stability. If your hitting sessions move indoors, a heavier shoe may help you adjust to the more idealized conditions, or conversely, a lighter shoe may help you move better on the faster courts. If you're looking for heavier duty shoes, don't miss our guides for best stability shoes and best durable shoes.

Overgrip/Replacement Grip Changes

As you adjust your wardrobe and gear to fit the occasion, it's always a good idea to consider the status of your grip. Colder conditions may encourage some players to go for a softer grip, to increase the tactile nature of their hand on the handle. Additionally, swapping out your replacement grip for something with more or less defined bevels may help you be more intentional with your grip and technique.

Depending on your preferences as a player, colder conditions may be better or worse for your game. Sure, your balls will tend to stay in more since the balls are flying less, but you also may find it harder to hit through the court as such. Whatever you can do to ease your mind while playing, we encourage you to seek out. To summarize, let's list out the key takeaways:

• Bag check - Clean, declutter, organize, and repack.
• Warm-up Jacket - Something light, full zip, non-bulky.
• Compression layers - Arm sleeves, leg sleeves, whatever your appendages desire
• Athletic pants - Light, non-swishy, easy to put shorts under and remove
• Tension adjustment - Drop tension for more power, add a softer string for feel
• Heavy duty shoes - Increased stability, better warmth, tougher outsoles
• Overgrip/Replacement grip - Soft for more feel, dry for less sweat

If you don't have access to an indoor court, be sure to try out these simple gear changes to improve your winter court sessions!