Your Essential Summer Tennis Checklist

At Tennis Warehouse, our in-house players can’t help but get excited with the rest of the tennis world as the season swings into the summer months. Hotter temperatures find us playing more and more outdoors in order to enjoy the pleasant weather before the calendar turns against us again. Our playtesters have been playing and competing during summer seasons for most of their lives, and as such they’ve acquired various tips, tricks and tidbits over the years. Sometimes it’s about the preparation before, or the recovery after, intense heat. We’ve also got a plethora of on-court practical solutions to the many problems that seem to crop up during summer hitting. We’ve got a good mix of potential items to acquire and changes to maybe make, so let’s get started!

Summer Tennis Checklist

Consider restringing more frequently

One thing that usually suffers during more intense heat is the overall tension loss of your racquet's stringbed. A hot day will cause the materials present in your racquet and strings to soften up and actually loosen, like a potato being boiled in water. On hot days make sure to keep your racquets out of your car for long periods of time! One way to combat this is to consider restringing your racquets more frequently. If you are like us, you are likely playing more tennis during the summer months and the increased play increases wear and tear on your strings. If you get to the point where you feel you are no longer getting the most out of your racquet, try restringing and get the control back in your game.

Consider a setup with more control (hotter weather means more balls will fly long)

Due to the increased heat, court conditions will cause the ball to fly faster and farther. Because of this, it isn’t a bad idea at all to opt for a stringbed that is a little more control-oriented. One way to achieve this is to of course raise your tensions, to give you a faster rebound rate and a little more directional input to your shots. Or you could choose to hybrid your setup with a secondary string, one that offers more control than your primary string of choice. You could also raise the tension of either the crosses or your mains to increase your overall control levels.

Always a good idea or time to re-grommet or do maintenance (heat can melt/warp plastic)

During hotter months, plastic materials become much more malleable. As such, your racquet’s grommets might be in more jeopardy than visible to the naked eye. If you’re able to source the correct grommets for the frame, it’s a great idea to give yourself a more premium setup concerning the internals of your racquet. Check out our grommet instructional article if you need help changing out your grommets!

Consider changing to or using a dry overgrip (increased levels of sweating during the heat) due to less grip overall and more moisture present during play and over time. When we sweat, our hands naturally become slippery, weakening our grip on the racquet. There are many ways to enhance your grip, but for gear purposes, there’s a strong candidate in the various dry and ultra-absorbent overgrips out there on the market. These grips typically have slightly thicker compositions that allow for additional moisture absorption, in addition to specific materials that are more explicitly designed to handle the increased moisture levels. If you need additional help picking out an overgrip, check out our picks for the best overgrips, or if you need help installing your overgrip, follow our how-to tutorial.

Other forms of grip enhancement:

• Rosin powder: Rosin is commonly used to enhance grip in a variety of sports, so it may come as a surprise to see a tennis vendor selling it. Make no mistake, this form of grip enhancement was used by some of the game’s greats, such as Pete Sampras. Rosin powder may be one of the most practical substances one can apply, as the hands are prone to slippage under tricky conditions.
• Towels and wristbands: When sweating, the important thing is to embrace it instead of resisting. Acknowledge that you will be perspiring, then find a way to deal with the moisture. A common tactic to deal with this is to make use of a small court towel, one that easily allows for wiping away moisture and such. Pro players are oftentimes seen using a towel during matches, and there’s a good reason why. Having a towel to return to can also be a good form of grounding as a mental break from the stress of play. Another option to consider is wristbands. They can help stop the sweat from dripping down your arm and onto your grip, and you can also use them to wipe sweat from your face between points.
• Grip lotion: Grip lotions are pretty much self-described. They easily add additional grip capabilities to one’s hands and maintain their grip traits for long periods of play (2+ hours). Elsewhere, they provide excellent resistance against blisters, on both your hands and feet! You can also use grip-lotion for protection against colder weather, so this accessory works well both during hot and cold times of the year.

Electrolytes (coconut water, powders, drink mixes, etc.)

When we exercise, our body loses electrolytes and doesn’t have a way to naturally replenish them during prolonged periods of exercise. Because of this, it is oftentimes essential to have a convenient way to re-up the levels that you are working with, either on-court or after the match. A naturally occurring liquid that is quite electrolyte-rich is coconut water. Elsewhere, specific items like drink mixes and electrolyte beverages provide easy ways to upgrade your hydration station.

Food / Nutrition

During the hotter months, our bodies must expend more energy to keep functioning accordingly. Because of this, our overall caloric losses are greater than during cold months (typically). It’s a great idea to have some quick snacks ready-to-go, but try to get ones that aren’t messy, won’t melt and have a good chunk of protein. Items like dried fruit, nuts and protein bars are a great way to stay satiated throughout the heat.

Recovery from heat (recovery drink mixes, post-workout)

Just as vital (if not more so) as the on-court training and rigamarole is our recovery after the fact. Our bodies need adequate amounts of time to recover from the stresses we have just put them through. There are a great plethora of recovery drinks and foods for post-play but be sure to address your needs for stretching and muscle soreness as well. Consider investing in a foam roller, stretching bands, or a percussion therapy massage gun to target specific muscle groups during your recovery process.

Sunscreen

Sunscreen is a largely practical tool to protect oneself from the harsher UV rays beaming down on us whenever we play outside. Make sure to acquire the right type for you depending on the environment you’re in, as well as how long you are planning on playing outside for. Stick sunscreen is an extremely easy form of application but may get messy if left in one’s bag for too long. Sprays are also easy to use and require no hands-on application typically if you’re in a rush and don’t want to clean your hands off before playing.

UV blocking apparel/additional guards

One of the most surefire ways to combat sun exposure is to simply cover up visible skin with a light and breathable layer. Consider items like individual arm sleeves or athletic tights to cover up your limbs without having a large impact on performance. Brands like BloqUV and IBKUL specialize in making UPF protective clothing that feels light and is also moisture wicking.

Hats/Visors

Keep your head in the game with something up top give you some extra shading. A practical hat or visor is a great way to maintain your visibility on court, while also blocking UV exposure on sensitive areas like the face. Oftentimes a lightweight headwear item is a good idea, so you don’t weigh yourself down during play. Some hats, like the Lenoir Sun Flap Sports Hat, come with an additional neck protection layer, which helps protect an infamously burned area.

Sunglasses (lens type, style, practicality)

Lastly, in the name of visibility and clarity, consider some eyewear to help sharpen your senses on court. There are many types and styles of shades available, but we suggest something either polarized or tinted to help create higher levels of visibility. Eyewear that isn’t in your way is highly practical as well, so consider the weight and shape of the glasses you’re checking out.

For better or worse in many ways, heat brings out who we truly are. It’s essential to know how our minds and bodies respond to a more extreme change in conditions on court, so make sure to make the changes that make the most sense for you. That might look like changing your tension or string setup at first but may graduate to having a new electrolyte mix on hand or a useful towel in your bag. Increased levels of sweating are a mostly universal experience during summer, so having a way to combat that helps, be it a different overgrip or some rosin enhancer. Lastly, make sure to protect yourself in addition to your tennis equipment from the heat by wearing the appropriate UV blocking gear or right kind of sunscreen. Remember to stay hydrated, healthy and happy as the sun beams alongside your newfound energy.