Protect Your Gear: How to Choose a Suitable Tennis Bag

 Getting the right tennis gear is important, but so is how you carry it to the court and around. That’s where tennis bags come in to protect your precious collection – racquets, grips, shoes, towels, balls and snacks. Whether you’re a beginner, an avid player or a tournament competitor, having a suitable tennis bag is critical to keeping your gear safe and sound, giving you peace of mind. Here’s everything you need to know about it.

Why Do You Need a Tennis Bag?

You may ask yourself why you need a special tennis bag, thinking you can carry your gear in a normal sports bag or backpack. The answer is that normal backpacks and duffel bags don’t work well for tennis gear. Reason number one for that is how racquets fit (or don’t fit) in a normal bag. Most standard backpacks can’t accommodate more than two tennis racquets, and even if they did, the grips would still be sticking out the top, causing the zipper to loosen as you walk. That can make the grips hit you in the back of your head while walking or lose some items.

Tennis backpacks feature a special section just for racquets that can fully zip up while still allowing the grips to stick out, keeping your other belongings safe in the additional pockets. Because these backpacks are designed with athletes in mind, many have separate sections for damp clothing, tennis shoes, and drink holders for your water bottles.

How Do I Choose a Tennis Bag?

When searching for a high-quality tennis gym bag, you’ll find different bag types and sizes. Your level of play, practice, the means of transport and the number of racquets and gear you bring to the court regularly are the most important factors to consider when deciding which bag is best for you.

Level of Play

Depending on your play level, you’ll need more (6+) or less (1-2) tennis racquets. Most tennis players need at least two racquets to swap them if breaking the strings in the middle of a match or a training session. Suitable bags for most intermediate players are those with room for six to nine racquets while advanced players prefer bags that can hold up to fifteen racquets to store all their equipment.

Practice

The level of practice is another significant factor to consider. The more you practice, the more you’ll need to travel. Thus, spend money on a durable and practical bag. Select an insulated pocket, or thermo bag, to protect your racquets from the intense summer heat. Yes, your tennis racket's strings tend to relax in the heat when left in your car.

Means of Transportation

It makes sense, but a backpack will make getting about easier if you're going places on two wheels. On the other hand, you can keep all your tennis gear in a traditional tennis bag if you are travelling by car. You want it to be comfortable.

Number of Racquets

The most common classification of brands selling tennis bags is according to the number of racquets a bag can hold. The more racquets, the more space you have for all your sports stuff, bottles, shoes, overgrips and other accessories. 

Different Types of Tennis Bags

Once you learn what to pack and how to use it, you can check the different tennis gym bag types and start choosing the best.

Racquet Bags

The traditional tennis racquet bag has a distinctive design from other sports bag types. 3- to 15-packs are available, depending on how many racquets they carry.

• 12- to 15-packs. The largest options are best for tournament and league players, and anyone who wants to carry a bunch of gear to the court. Although these bags are the most popular options for professional players, those who aren’t playing professionally can benefit from their functionality, too. Built with three compartments to hold anywhere from 12 to 15 racquets, most oversized tennis bags have at least one thermo-lining compartment to protect your gear from extreme temperatures, a handful of pockets for accessories and vented pockets for dirty gear and shoes. Although large, they often feature well-padded, adjustable straps for a comfortable fit over a shoulder or as a backpack. Even if you don’t necessarily need to bring 15 racquets, you may appreciate the space and flexibility this bag option offers for a long day of tennis. 
• 6- to 9-packs. Similar to their larger counterparts, even identical, with the difference of having two instead of three racquet compartments. Many players prefer these to the largest bag option because they offer the same convenience but aren’t as massive.
• 3-packs. Simple in style and featuring only one racquet compartment and one or two accessory pockets, the 3-packs are ideal for newer tennis players.

Backpacks

Many players choose backpacks because they’re convenient to carry racquets and any other equipment they may require for the day's events. It's nearly always a no-brainer to walk or bike with tennis-specific backpacks because they feature padded sections for racquets and have zippers that stop when opened. In addition to a shoe tunnel, these packs feature a compartment for equipment, many accessory pockets, mesh side pockets for balls and drink bottles, and more. We adore backpacks even if we don't play every day because they have many possibilities and are functional off the court! 

Pro tip: If fashion and style are significant to you, many different designer backpacks are available that are both practical and adorable, making them a great way to bring some originality to the court!

Totes

Tennis totes come in various designs that complement your style, from colourful and printed to quirky and fashion-forward, to fit your game! With pockets and sections designed with the needs of tennis players in mind, these bags hold your racquets, shoes, and court accessories. These totes come in various sizes, materials, and prices and will help you arrive in style, whether flashy and colourful or muted colours!