Rackets
What to demo in 30 minutes
Same shots, similar strings, one racket after another. Check control, handling and how each one feels once you’re tired.
Open the demo checklist →Buy less, buy better.
Short, practical checklists for demoing rackets, fitting shoes, restringing and buying second-hand.
Rackets
Previous-generation frames
A racket doesn’t get worse when the new paint job arrives. Buy the old one if you’ve played it and like it; wait if the new version changes the weight, balance or string pattern. Either way, compare the ready-to-play price.
Open the previous-gen checklist →Shoes
Shoes by brand →
Fit and court before brand
Check your club’s courts and footwear rules first, then the fit. In your normal tennis socks, lunge and change direction: your heel should stay put without the front of the shoe pinching.
Open the shoe checklist →Shoes by brand →
Clothing and bags
Buy for the session you play
Make sure you can move, there’s a pocket for a ball and the seams won’t rub. For bags, count what you actually carry before reaching for the biggest one.
Open the kit & bag checklist →Strings
When to restring
How to tell your strings are done, and what to ask the stringer next time.
Open the restring checklist →Strings
Buying string sets by the pack
Sets or a reel, how much string you need, and the real cost once the stringer’s been paid.
Open the pack checklist →Used
5 Oct used racket prices →
A–D condition grades
A simple A-to-D scale for second-hand rackets. Grade the frame first, then talk about price.
Open the A–D guide →5 Oct used racket prices →
Clothing and bags
Pack for an outdoor winter session
Layers, floodlights, wet kit, grips and a court that’s safe to play on: what to check before, during and after a cold session.
Open the winter session checklist →