The Best Tennis Equipment for Casual Players of 2023
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From casual players to experienced pros, every tennis player needs the right equipment. But, particularly for those on the beginner’s end of the spectrum, it can be tough to know where to start when shopping — and how much money to invest, whether the goal is an occasional volley with friends or spending every Saturday morning competing in a league.
To help narrow the playing field, SPY’s editors compiled a list of the true essentials — rackets, balls, shoes, and shorts — all personally tested and vetted with casual players in mind.
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BEST RACKET
Wilson Shift Tennis Racket
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Tennis rackets are released every year, but often, their most noteworthy “new” feature is their paint job. Wilson’s Shift rackets are the exception to this exercise in marketing. Developed by the cross-sport Wilson Labs and its team of mad scientists, Shift rackets flex in the vertical path, imparting massive spin, while remaining firm laterally for exceptional pop and power transfer. (Translation: consistently deeper balls that seem to leap off the court.)
After a limited production run, Wilson noted player froth and rolled it out to the masses. Available in two editions, the Shift 99 V1 emphasizes RPMs for the everyman, with an intermediate-friendly 10.6-ounce weight and open 16×20 string pattern, while the Pro V1 adds a bit over a half-ounce and a more controlled 18×20 stringbed. Yeah, the Shift line tops our best-of list, but it’s also one of the more significant advances in rackets construction over the past decade.
BEST BUDGET RACKET
Babolat Evo Aero
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From GOAT Rafael Nadal, for whom the racket was originally designed, to young gun (and current world number two) Carlos Alcaraz, the Aero line has been synonymous with both excellence and air-churning spin since its inception. The Evo Aero incorporates the line’s famous geometry and cosmetics while lightening both its weight — now 9.7 ounces — and price, making it ideal for new players just entering the sport. Babolat also made a few key design changes, expanding the head to 102 square inches for a bigger, more forgiving sweet spot and greater power, while adding dampening tech to reduce impact transferred to the body. It also comes pre-strung, which saves a trip to the tennis shop. If you’re court-curious and a Rafa stan, then this is your stick.
BEST TENNIS BALLS
Diadem Premier Extra Duty Balls
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American startup Diadem, founded by former pro Evan Specht, has built a reputation for offering high-performance tennis products since its launch in 2015. One of the brand’s most practical releases is its Premier Extra Duty tennis balls, which play firm and fast while holding pressure over multiple hits and weeks. To us, the feel of the ball is great, but as Specht told SPY earlier this year, ultimately, it comes down to preference. Even with this understanding, his fledgling company has done the impossible: elbowed its way in among the biggest and oldest brands in the business.
BEST BUDGET TENNIS BALLS
Penn Championship Balls
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Penn claims its Championship tennis balls are the U.S.’s top seller, and there’s at least one reason for this: Penn Champs can be found just about anywhere. Where many premium balls require a trip to the tennis shop or an online order, the ubiquity of these — not to mention their affordability — means they can be found at big-box stores, groceries, pharmacies, and likely under the nearest rock. Granted, those who have played for years tend to prefer other options to Champs, which can fuzz up fast, flatten just as quickly, and generally have the shortest shelf life after opening when compared to premium models. Still, nothing beats their convenience and price.
BEST TENNIS SHOES
Nike NikeCourt Air Zoom Vapor 11
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Nike is known for creating enduring sneaker franchises that host both generational athletes and multiple generations of athletes (see: its popular Pegasus line of running shoes, now in its 40th iteration). The Vapor line of shoes is the tennis equivalent. First launched in 2004 with the Nike Air Zoom Vapor Speed, Roger Federer wore them for his second Wimbledon win, and sneaker design legend Tinker Hatfield sketched out the Vapor 9 Tour with Fed in the room — resulting in one of the GOATs of tennis footwear designing for the arguable GOAT himself.
While the line has had its ups and downs, we think the Vapor 11, released early in 2023, puts its best foot forward (pun intended), with design advancements that nod to the modern game style. A bathtub-like plastic piece, which starts at the medial heel and encircles the outside of the foot to the toes, provides incredible stability for side-to-side movement, bolstered by the line’s famous arch lock and bootie-like front-foot. Exterior durability is that of a World War II pillbox, with a wrapping outsole over the smaller toes and an upper protected from abrasion thanks to small, striated rubber overlays. The Vapor 11 is the epitome of the line, and we’re here for it.
BEST BUDGET TENNIS SHOES
Skechers Viper Court Pro
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Just getting into tennis? Pickleball-curious? It’s impossible to beat the versatile Viper Court Pro, a 2023 release from Skechers as it courts (ha) the latter trend. Built on a Goodyear rubber outsole, it holds up remarkably well on gritty public courts, while the upper’s mesh toes are protected by a durable cap. As a bonus, they’re machine-washable, allowing players to freshen their shoes after a long session or a hot season. Tennis vets will likely find fault with the shoe’s lateral stability — it seems especially designed to sit planted outside the kitchen and swat volleys. But for the multi-racket-sport athlete, these seem to straddle the baseline of performance and price.
BEST SHORTS
Lululemon Vented Tennis Short 6"
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Take a poll among experienced tennis players, and you’ll keep hearing the same pick for their favorite shorts: Lululemon. The Vancouver-based athleisure giant drilled into the details when designing its sport-specific bottoms. The jammer-style liner stays in place while eliminating the need for a secondary brief, while dedicated mesh ball pockets, located on the lower back waistband and accessed from the side, holds spares more securely than anything designed for the hands. Former top American Jack Sock, a 14-year ATP veteran, offered input on the short, and, as any player will say after a few matches in them, it clearly shows. Buy a second pair — you’re going to want to play in them as often as possible.
RUNNER-UP, BEST SHORTS
Reigning Champ Racquet Sweatshort 6"
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In partnership with quarterly tennis publication Racquet, Reigning Champ combined its own boxing aesthetic for a short that dabbles in both worlds. Cut from a lightweight cotton terry, it oozes that early morning Rocky Balboa feel. Subtle details, like a satin strip along the side seam, elevate it beyond running stairs to the country club. We liked its relaxed fit, which allowed for fast movement during a match and zero constriction at the coffee shop following.
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