Tennis clothing
Getting the clothing right can definitely help you sway a match. Fabric warmth, weight, stretch, style, layers and quantities are key factors to consider when putting together your kit bag. One of the main variables to consider is the weather. A game can be won or lost depending of the clothing and accessories you choose to wear in a match.
In a warm environment clothing is not as important, just make sure your body is as cool as possible and remember to consume enough liquid.
In cold weather it is wise to follow the advice and tips outlined below to help you play to the top of your game.
Socks - This is usually only a problem in extreme conditions but an extra pair of socks can make all the difference when the temperature drops. Many players often play with two pairs of socks all the time for added comfort and cushioning, but it is worth trying this out in practice before you use it in a match situation.
Bike Pants are a great asset to any player's wardrobe. The rubberised material really keeps in the heat. On the down side the material is slippery so your shorts move around a lot.
Long sleeved T-shirts are terrific at keeping in the heat without the weight of a sweater or the cumbersome warm-up top. Create layers that trap heat by wearing your tennis shirt over your t-shirt. You can also wear the T's over your tennis shirt by pulling the collar through the T-shirt neck to make it look like a tennis shirt. That way if you get too hot you can take it off easily.
Vests of the sweatshirt variety are the best in terms of (less) weight but you have to get the fit right or they will tend to ride up because of the elastic band piece they put around the hip band at the bottom. Wool vests are very warm but they are difficult to clean and dry.
Hats & Beanies. The majority of your body heat will be lost out through your head. Try to get used to a brimmed hat, if you don't like hats with brims (that can be a bit annoying on serve) then use a ski/football hat and have enough to change them as they get wet with sweat. They also don't dry very quickly so have enough for a couple of matches.
Track Pants are often allowed to be worn on court in the extreme cold. The problem is that the pockets are often too deep or too shallow. If the pockets are too deep you with find the second ball (when serving) will slide around onto your thigh getting in the way. If the pockets are too shallow it could cost you a point by allowing the ball to pop out of your pocket in the middle of a rally. You lose the point automatically every time this happens after the first time (as the first time is deemed accidental).
In a warm environment clothing is not as important, just make sure your body is as cool as possible and remember to consume enough liquid.
In cold weather it is wise to follow the advice and tips outlined below to help you play to the top of your game.
Socks - This is usually only a problem in extreme conditions but an extra pair of socks can make all the difference when the temperature drops. Many players often play with two pairs of socks all the time for added comfort and cushioning, but it is worth trying this out in practice before you use it in a match situation.
Bike Pants are a great asset to any player's wardrobe. The rubberised material really keeps in the heat. On the down side the material is slippery so your shorts move around a lot.
Long sleeved T-shirts are terrific at keeping in the heat without the weight of a sweater or the cumbersome warm-up top. Create layers that trap heat by wearing your tennis shirt over your t-shirt. You can also wear the T's over your tennis shirt by pulling the collar through the T-shirt neck to make it look like a tennis shirt. That way if you get too hot you can take it off easily.
Vests of the sweatshirt variety are the best in terms of (less) weight but you have to get the fit right or they will tend to ride up because of the elastic band piece they put around the hip band at the bottom. Wool vests are very warm but they are difficult to clean and dry.
Hats & Beanies. The majority of your body heat will be lost out through your head. Try to get used to a brimmed hat, if you don't like hats with brims (that can be a bit annoying on serve) then use a ski/football hat and have enough to change them as they get wet with sweat. They also don't dry very quickly so have enough for a couple of matches.
Track Pants are often allowed to be worn on court in the extreme cold. The problem is that the pockets are often too deep or too shallow. If the pockets are too deep you with find the second ball (when serving) will slide around onto your thigh getting in the way. If the pockets are too shallow it could cost you a point by allowing the ball to pop out of your pocket in the middle of a rally. You lose the point automatically every time this happens after the first time (as the first time is deemed accidental).