Who believes in the "Right and Privilege" mentality?

Back when I was playing basketball during high school , when a noob player uses the "big basketball bag" to store his stuff and brings it when playing, he often gets regarded by more skilled players as a poser athlete or something. The main idea of this weird mentality is that noob players don't have the right to use showy stuff like in this case the basketball bag. I wonder if this is the same in the tennis world? I'm planning to buy a 6-pack Yonex bag because a backpack seems way to inconvenient already but there's always that above mentality. Guys at my club are sometimes jerks who pick on those still in tennis training.
 

Nuke

Hall of Fame
I do think it's a bit funny when a newbie brings a six pack of Pure Drives to a match, but I don't give him a hard time over it.
 
Your game should speak for you, not your stuff. I try to be understated. I use a backpack bag and dress for the place of play. I save my color coordinated wear for the club. If I'm playing at the public park, I dress down.

Anybody playing any amount of tennis really needs some type of bag. My eyebrows only get raised when I see guys with those enormous bags, color coordinated outfits, beautiful new color coordinated shoes. If your going to show up looking like Federrer, you'd better have some game.

That's my .02
 

raiden031

Legend
If your going to show up looking like Federrer, you'd better have some game.

I think its stupid for anyone to go out of their way to buying all these accessories or expensive clothing and shoes to look like a pro whether they are beginner or advanced (but not actually a touring pro), if the sole reason is to impress people. I notice with women at my clubs, they are more concerned with their tennis attire than their game. I don't notice as much with the adult men though. I imagine with juniors its about having the racquets and bags. All stupid IMO. But I don't think good players are any more entitled to be poseurs than beginners are.
 

Klatu Verata Necktie

Hall of Fame
If you're judging people based on the stuff they have aren't you being just as shallow as they are? Let people do as they please. If having nice things makes someone happy, why rain on their parade?
 
I agree with server em up if your gonna look like federer you schould have some skill to back it up... but I mean if you just have a bag of stuff and your not trying to be all showy then... why not??
 

psamp14

Hall of Fame
what you are calling "right and privilege" is true in all sports....

in general i have seen that beginners in tennis carry only 1 racquet, or a 3 racquet bag to carry their stuff in....but getting a 6 racquet bag doesnt really show others you're really good or present yourself as a poser

however the less limelight the area, the less flashy i would try to look

generally i wear neutral type clothing and color of clothing but if i am playing at a public facility i try to look like an average tennis player (appearance)....but at the tennis centers and private clubs, bring your full gear

but the bottom line is your game that speaks for itself, so dont worry about appearance, just work on your game
 

Jefar

New User
It's always been my opinion that people should earn the right to play in polo shirts. I really don't know why, but whenever I see a low 3.5 or 3.0 player in fancy clothes, especially polos, it just makes me want to laugh. To give some perspective, though, one of the best players I know doesn't even wear dry fit stuff most of the time. The only expensive thing he ever has on is a lacoste hat.
 

AmericanTemplar

Professional
I think that it's more a question of how much you play rather than how well you play. I think that it is lamer to be a decent tennis player who shows up to the courts once a month decked out in flashy gear, than it is to be a beginner who spends everyday at the courts trying to improve and invests in good equipment. For the most part, I'm either in work clothes or tennis clothes and I like to look and feel good in both. That being said, I don't understand why some people carry a 6-racquet and only have one racquet.
 

WildVolley

Legend
I think this is partly a response to rich kids. Often, the better athletes are not from money. So they feel a little jealousy when someone with less talent has much better gear.

I don't know why it surprises the rich kids that ostentatious displays of wealth might bring jealousy?

Personally, it doesn't bother me. I don't mind being around rich people as long as they aren't a-holes.

I carry a 6-racquet bag because I can bring extra shoes, towels, hats, waterbottles, etc, in a single bag, even though I'm usually only hauling two racquets. When I play for 3-hours at a time in the sun, it is nice to have that extra gear.
 
i'm planning to buy a 3-pack because I only have one racquet and i didn't see the importance of getting an expensive $30 bag only for a racquet. Right now I'm using a normal trekking backpack to store my things and my racket. But the racquet's size is too big for the backpack so it ends up rattling the bag's zipper open as I walk.
 

Klatu Verata Necktie

Hall of Fame
You guys shouldn't have to defend your equipment. Whether or not you show up to a match with a gold plated 12 pack bag or a cardboard box, you still have to play the match on the court. Players who get annoyed with other people's stuff reveal personal insecurities and shouldn't make you feel self conscious.
 

iplaybetter

Hall of Fame
i cary a Tecnifibre tour 9 and it is small for what it is and i need the space i cary 3 rackets and a lot of stuff so it works, no one needs anything bigger i just laugh at the people with super sixes
 

goober

Legend
Tennis bags are pretty standard gear at clubs both private and public. You definitely will not be a poser. Even drifit clothing of some sort is not really that showy imo. To really stand out you have to match from head to toe with the latest models of clothing and have a huge bag with 4-6 of the same racquet
 

TheShaun

Hall of Fame
i have a nike bag that i bought because i couldn't resist the price, $20! but i have yet to use it. i think i'd feel weird with it, it's huge and i have nothing to put in it.
 
P

ProStaff Legend

Guest
i dont look down on others for doing it but i wouldnt do it myself. i hav 1 racquet that i carry in my hands, i dont need a bag. spares would be nice but since i use a wilson, im worried about quality control
 

ubel

Professional
All fun and games until the poser with the huge bag starts schooling people :eek:

OP: don't be afraid of what other people think, if you need the bag, do what you gotta do. people who make fun of others for their equipment are generally not confident in their own games and feel a need to draw attention away from themselves so that their imperfections aren't as noticeable. these people are ******** and both a) need to realize that it's just a game and b) need to be ignored or YOU won't be able to enjoy the game. g'luck man :)
 
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chlsmo

Semi-Pro
Well I've been playing for ten months (two lessons a week, one clinic a week, and practice/hitting sessions on 3-4 other days a week), and I have/use the following: Wilson nCode 6 pack bag, Two nSix-One 95's, One K95, My old Fischer racquet, Nike Air Max Breathe 3's (probly my 6th pair of tennis shoes), 5 Nike Tennis shorts, 8 Nike Tennis Polos, 2 Reebok Polos, a Lacoste Sport Polo, Prince NEOS, dozens of wristbands and bandanas and headbands etc, Wilson Overgrip reels, a Case of tennis balls, etc etc.

Im 25 and love tennis. I bought everything at outlets and/or used (NEOS) or I got them as gifts. Basically I'm not as good as a lot of people (not even in that great of shape) BUT I care about my tennis, and I wear a lot of the clothes outside the courts too. Sometimes I try not to match my clothes, and think about only bringing a minimum of things to court (to avoid any scrutinizing eyes) but invariably I end up wishing I had brought something E.G. a new overgrip etc.

So I don't know if I am the guy you TTW-ers dislike, but I try not to just buy to have, rather, I try to buy to use. :0)
 

dave333

Hall of Fame
I use a 6 pack even though I only have 2 racquets. I chuck in my school clothes after I change, towels, shoes, sunscreen, ipod, cellphone, maybe schoolbooks that aren't fitting, etc.
 

Silent

Professional
I'm planning on getting a bag. I looked at a few of them and decided to go with a 6-pack, even though I'm not Roger Federer and even though I have only 2 racquets. Why ? Because the difference in price between that one and the 3 pack is so small that there is absolutely no reason to get a smaller one. Do I really want to save $5 that bad ?

I do make a point of not getting the bright orange one because I simply don't like flashy things. However, more often than not, tennis equipment is flashy and that's the end of it, so I really don't care about what others bring to the court, except for their game.
 

AmericanTemplar

Professional
Tennis bags are pretty standard gear at clubs both private and public. You definitely will not be a poser. Even drifit clothing of some sort is not really that showy imo. To really stand out you have to match from head to toe with the latest models of clothing and have a huge bag with 4-6 of the same racquet


I agree. I see players of all skill levels wielding 6 packs. I think that 6 pack users who actually carry 6 racquets are in the minority. I use a 6 pack and usually carry 3 racquets but I have 4 more and sometimes people will give me their racquets to string so it fills up quite easily. If I were to regularly carry 6 racquets, then I would probably buy a 12 pack or at least a 9 pack.

As far as "posers" go, the worst thing that I see around here are hipsters who play tennis as a retro novelty with dated equipment, headbands, short shorts, and knee-high tube socks. Those are the people who I really wanna deck--them and the people who wear bandanas.
 

ohplease

Professional
Back when I was playing basketball during high school , when a noob player uses the "big basketball bag" to store his stuff and brings it when playing, he often gets regarded by more skilled players as a poser athlete or something. The main idea of this weird mentality is that noob players don't have the right to use showy stuff like in this case the basketball bag. I wonder if this is the same in the tennis world? I'm planning to buy a 6-pack Yonex bag because a backpack seems way to inconvenient already but there's always that above mentality. Guys at my club are sometimes jerks who pick on those still in tennis training.

You can spend a LONG time checking out other people's steez and giving them props/no props. Unfortunately, style points, either in your gear or your game, have almost no bearing on how badly you hand out beat downs or vice versa.

Buy the bag because it'll solve a problem, then go solve more problems in the form of your game, the other guys' games, etc.

Personally, I honestly don't care what gear or style someone brings to the party, as long as they're good people and can ball, then we're down.
 

heninfan99

Talk Tennis Guru
You should play with a single sub-$50 racquet with free bag until you're a 4.0. AND walk to the club barefoot. Otherwise you're a poser :)

It is gratifying to crush a guy with 6 new Babolats with a used, demo stick.
 
Wow, zombie thread.

When I started playing tennis I used my old basketball shoes and some cut off sweats. It kinda sucked. The pockets were small and the shoes tore up fast. I had a racquet from Big 5 that I paid $30 for, and grabbed a bag of crappy Wilson practice balls to go with it. I used the racquet cover that came with it for a bag, stuffing a bottle of water inside.

After a month or so, I was over it. I ordered up some real tennis shoes and a pair of shorts. Then I bought a new stick. Then I got some polo shirts and a 6 racquet bag.

I was at the court one day playing some mixed dubs with friends, when this dude showed up on the other court. He had one stick of unknown origin, some crappy looking running shoes, corduroy shorts, t-shirt, and a basket of balls. He proceeded to hit serves that I thought were "pro level" at the time. Really nice, deep serves with huge spin. I was awestruck by this scrubby guy and his big game. He was very nice, but the look on his face told me I sucked.

It wasn't a conscious decision, but over the years I have toned it all the way down. The shoes are long gone, but I still have those original tennis shorts I bought. They are missing half the threads, but I don't really care. My other shorts and shoes came from the auction site or the clearance rack. I wear t-shirts, and don't care if I color coordinate or not. The 6 pack bag is long dead and a backpack takes it's place now. I still have the visor I started playing in, and it's falling apart, but I love it and can't find another I like as well.

I am still not as good as that scrubby dude I saw that day, nor do I dress quite as badly, but I never have to feel like a tool on court.

I don't care if a newb dresses like Fed or Nads and sucks. I think buying all that stuff is part of the fun for some people. Doesn't hurt me in the least. OTOH, I am impressed when I see those people that look like they came to the wrong place but can really play. YMMV.
 

10ACE

Professional
Back when I was playing basketball during high school , when a noob player uses the "big basketball bag" to store his stuff and brings it when playing, he often gets regarded by more skilled players as a poser athlete or something. The main idea of this weird mentality is that noob players don't have the right to use showy stuff like in this case the basketball bag. I wonder if this is the same in the tennis world? I'm planning to buy a 6-pack Yonex bag because a backpack seems way to inconvenient already but there's always that above mentality. Guys at my club are sometimes jerks who pick on those still in tennis training.

Never care what others think. Their concerns do not effect yours. Ur reasons for getting a 6 racquet bag.
 

gbc08

New User
I think you're thinking too hard on this. Just get the bag and enjoy. Dress up, dress down, big bag, no bag.....I would spend less time trying to figure out how to fit in and more time figuring how to get better, so i can enjoy the game
 

struggle

Legend
i tote a huge 12 pack bag, yet only keep 3-4 frames in it. seems silly at times, but the bag was free and i can heap loads of other extras in it too.

no worries.
 

Gasolina

Professional
Yeah I order a 3-racquet bag a while ago and am paying for it right now. I should've bought a 6-pack so I could put my work clothes, shoes, gatorade, some towels, an extra t-shirt, along with other random stuff like overgrips and strings and balls of course.
 

Tdot

Rookie
The way to judge a person is by looking at how he treats other people not how he looks or what he wears.
 

Donny0627

Professional
I think that it's more a question of how much you play rather than how well you play. I think that it is lamer to be a decent tennis player who shows up to the courts once a month decked out in flashy gear, than it is to be a beginner who spends everyday at the courts trying to improve and invests in good equipment. For the most part, I'm either in work clothes or tennis clothes and I like to look and feel good in both. That being said, I don't understand why some people carry a 6-racquet and only have one racquet.

I understand what you mean here, but at the same time i kinda disagree...

I really only carry 3 rackets with me, but whenever i get a new bag, I always buy the biggest option available(in the "line" i want), because i can always use the extra racket compartments to carry other crap(extra clothes, overgrips, strings, towels, etc...) which i seem to have a lot of...
 

Irvin

Talk Tennis Guru
Don't jump to conclusions

Several years ago I was playing tennis with some friends and was a new guy came up and sat down with a Beer in one hand, two more in plastic in the other hand along with an old wooden racket.

This guy watched for a while then as one guy was about to leave he asked if he wanted to hit. A few unkind remarks were made and the last one I remember is, "I have never been beaten by a drunk with a wooden racket." Big mistake 6-0, 6-0. Later they became good friends.

Think of what would happen if one of these long haired scruffy looking dudes on the ATP walked up to your courts and wanted to hit and you had no idea of who they were. The last thing you want to do is upset them.

Who cares what you bring on the court?

Irvin
 

princetohead

New User
Many people who belong to a private tennis club are financially more privileged than most tennis pros (tournament pros or teaching pros). Consider that only top 150 in the world can make break-even or better. Thus, that those privileged people spending their own money, a lot of money, to support the industry, which in turn supports the poor pros, just makes sense and is called redistribution of wealth and a part of free market mechanism. Whether you are 2.0 or 5.5, if you have money and want to spend, spend. It's good for the tennis industry ecosystem.
 

LetsGoRoddick

Professional
i used to use a sports bag, but i didn't bring too much to the courts. now its just a plain blue bag that i got for free, you know, the ones you have to pull on the strings to close the bag. I keep two packs of tennis balls, a spare shirt, my phone/wallet/ipod and one or two bottles of water. I carry my racquet in my hand.

As for apparel, most days i wear a simple white undershirt(I have a dozen or so of these), but if I feel like it, I use dryfits. All my dryfits are just a single plain color(no design). I use basketball shorts, and they are a bit on the flashy/shiny end, but I can't really help it when I buy them, who would buy something ugly?

I can't really help it when I buy them, who would want to buy something ugly?- that's probably why you get some people looking really flashy. They just bought something they liked, and took it to the courts to put it to use.
 

ayuname

Semi-Pro
Yo swag is yo swag. Don't let them haters be jockin' on you mayne. You gots to show them that you ain't no scrub, a scrub is a guy who can't get no points from you.

:)
 

SirGounder

Hall of Fame
I personally carry a 12 pack bag with me anytime I'm at the courts. I wear my hat backwards with Oakley sunglasses. Nike CB 2.3's with the accompanying Nadal clothing. Everything matches of course. My drinks are always aligned perfectly next to my bag.

I keep six Head Metallix 10 racquets in my bag, freshly strung full Lux at 68 lbs for extra control. You should see the fear in people's faces when I pull the racquet out of the poly bag and toss it over my shoulder for someone else to pick up. I use a Fed forehand, Nadal backhand, with a Sharapova shriek (I tried the Azarenka but lost my voice after 5 min).

Honestly though none of my stuff matches. When I first got my 6 pack, I felt a bit goofy carrying it around because I caught a lot of attention (it had just come out). 4 years later and nobody looks twice. I usually go straight from work to the courts so it's nice to be able to carry my 2 sticks, clothes, etc. Nothing matches though. I spend a bit on shoes because I think they are more important than clothes for tennis.

If you are decent I don't think people can truly give you crap about your gear. I have to admit that it's funny to see somebody wearing all the pro stuff and 4 matching K6.1's playing mixed doubles for 2 hours.
 
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Power Player

Bionic Poster
I really do not care what anyone chooses to wear. It is a non issue to me. I have a dunlop bag and dunlop racquets. I like to try and grab dry fit clothes when I can at Ross since Florida heat is a killer. If I play at a high end tennis club, I dress according to their rules since I am a guest.

Anybody who cares too much about what someone else is wearing is lame. I hit with guys who have all sorts of racquets and all sorts of clothes. I pay way more attention to the quality of their shots coming at me then anything else.
 

jonline

Semi-Pro
Bigger bags are a thing of convenience sometimes. If you're carrying a few racquets, a bunch of water/gatorade, overgrips, etc., I don't think it's at all above anyone to have a nice six-pack bag. It's just a bag, after all.
 

MomentumGT

Semi-Pro
I have a huge racket bag. . .Dunlop 10 pack. I have 4 Dunlops, 5 Head rackets I used in college, balls, drink, and a few extra clothes. I got the HUGE bag because one of my bros thought it was a good idea to sell my Head rackets in one of our garage sales. :evil: Thank gawd I was there in time to stop him. Now I keep them with me in a bag so nothing like that happens again. LOL.

I don't wear matching brands and or color coordinate, if it happens it was by accident, but I do like to have flashy shoes that can be seen from 5-6 courts down. lol. I get some stares from other people at the courts because one pair is full on red with white accents. I personally feel I have enough game to justify my flashy/ugly shoes.

-Jon
 

cghipp

Professional
I use a 6 pack even though I only have 2 racquets. I chuck in my school clothes after I change, towels, shoes, sunscreen, ipod, cellphone, maybe schoolbooks that aren't fitting, etc.
What he said. I used to play a lot right after work, and I wanted to fit everything in one bag. The last thing I needed was to have to schlep a duffle, tennis bag, laptop bag, purse, and maybe a lunch bag in and out of the office. So, my giant bag held two racquets and a ton of other stuff.

(Bizarro-me would say, "I need that giant bag to hold all of my GAME!")
 

Kirko

Hall of Fame
the bane of club tennis >>

Back when I was playing basketball during high school , when a noob player uses the "big basketball bag" to store his stuff and brings it when playing, he often gets regarded by more skilled players as a poser athlete or something. The main idea of this weird mentality is that noob players don't have the right to use showy stuff like in this case the basketball bag. I wonder if this is the same in the tennis world? I'm planning to buy a 6-pack Yonex bag because a backpack seems way to inconvenient already but there's always that above mentality. Guys at my club are sometimes jerks who pick on those still in tennis training.

I never liked it some guys with "maybe" a bit better game or strokes drubbing on the guys who don't, I guess that will never change. I always buy tennis clothes on sale and use them until they get pretty bad, the very nice stuff I get as gifts I wear after I play and then use them when the other stuff goes "south". the three big things to have in tennis are racket,strings & shoes, I never comprised there. with that being said you need a bag and bigger is better for a regular guy playing tennis because you can fit towels, some clothes and bottled water. I don't carry multiple rackets only one which I like when I get it the way I want I want to play it forever and would rather quit if the string breaks and come back again. I use a dunlpop nine-pack I got a great deal on at the pro shop I go to. I carry balls and other stuff, very convienent.
 
S

SheLovesMyPlowThrough

Guest
In my opinion, do whatever you want. Personally, I used to carry a tennis bag with all my strings, og's, racquets, balls, etc. After a while it got inconvenient. Now when I go to the park to play with friends, I just take the one racquet I want to use, currently the Aerogel 200, and like three balls. There's really no point to bring a huge bag full of stuff if you're only using the above. Tournaments are different, but if you're just playing friendly, just carry the essentials, everyone I know does the same. It's not just more humble, it's also just more practical.
 
If you have the means to purchase nice things, why should you let it bother you? It's a luxury to be able to afford nice clothes and good equipment and one should be able to enjoy it as long as you treat people with respect and you are not a snob.

Even at the public courts I play at, six pack or larger racquet bags are commonplace. I have a six pack bag and every bit of space comes in handy. I can carry 3 racquets, 3 or 4 bottles of water, some tennis balls, extra clothing, sunscreen, etc.... all in the convenience of one bag.

.
 
S

saigonbond

Guest
Back when I was playing basketball during high school , when a noob player uses the "big basketball bag" to store his stuff and brings it when playing, he often gets regarded by more skilled players as a poser athlete or something. The main idea of this weird mentality is that noob players don't have the right to use showy stuff like in this case the basketball bag. I wonder if this is the same in the tennis world? I'm planning to buy a 6-pack Yonex bag because a backpack seems way to inconvenient already but there's always that above mentality. Guys at my club are sometimes jerks who pick on those still in tennis training.

Posers can't play. Can you play?
 

genius24

Semi-Pro
Back when I was playing basketball during high school , when a noob player uses the "big basketball bag" to store his stuff and brings it when playing, he often gets regarded by more skilled players as a poser athlete or something. The main idea of this weird mentality is that noob players don't have the right to use showy stuff like in this case the basketball bag. I wonder if this is the same in the tennis world? I'm planning to buy a 6-pack Yonex bag because a backpack seems way to inconvenient already but there's always that above mentality. Guys at my club are sometimes jerks who pick on those still in tennis training.

guys at your club need to grow up.....
 
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