Equipment

Tennis Racket

Tennis rackets are the primary pieces of equipment that you use to play tennis.  When you buy a racket there are several factors to consider.  

Tension

Somewhere on the racket it should list the tension the racket can be strung at.  This will be listed in a range of pounds (i.e. 65-75 lbs.).  The tighter you string a racket the more control you will have when you hit the ball.  The looser a racket is strung the more power you will be able to generate when you hit the ball.

Head Size

Also listed on the racket should be the hitting area of the strings.  This will be listed in square inches (i.e. 95 sq. in.).  The greater the size the more hitting area on the racket, and thus the more room for error when you try to hit the ball.  Larger heads can reduce how maneuverable the racket is, which can hurt your net play.

Grip size

On the very bottom of the butt of the racket, there should be a number between 4 and 4 5/3.  This number represents the grip size.  Size 4 grips have the smallest circumference and 4 5/3 is the largest.  To see what size grip you should use, click here go to to the Wilson tennis site.  Click on "Grip Sizer" link to open a PDF file with a chart to compare your hand to.  You will need Adobe Acrobat or Adobe Acrobat Reader to open the file.

Tennis Balls

Another important part of the game is the ball you use.  When you buy tennis balls, the container should be marked what surface the ball is meant for.  The easiest to find are hardcourt balls and clay balls.  The difference is that clay calls have less felt.  This prevents the ball from picking up much clay and then becoming very heavy.  The extra felt on a hardcourt ball allows the ball to go through more wear and tear before it becomes unusable due to lack of felt.  

It is also important to know that after your open a can of tennis balls, the balls will gradually lose internal pressure.  When they become too flat they become unusable.  They also lose pressure due to being hit.  A new set of tennis balls will usually last about one-and-a-half or two sets if both players play at a high level and hit very hard.

Shoes

It is best to buy tennis shoes if you plan to play tennis.  Using shoes designed for other sports is generally a bad idea.  Tennis shoes are designed for the typical foot movements used by tennis players.  Using other types of shoes can result in being weighed down or not having enough support in the right areas and being vulnerable to injuries.

Other Equipment (And their uses)

Vibration dampeners: Placed in racket strings to reduce the amount of vibration that travels into your arm

Over grips: These are placed over your normal grip either because your grip has worn down or because the substance its made of suits you better than the substance your normal grip is made of.

Replacement grips: When you wear down a grip, you can remove it and put on a new grip to replace it.

Strings: The strings of a tennis racket can be made from several different materials.  Typically, the more expensive the string the better feel it will give you when you play.  These strings are more likely to break quickly.