Do you carry around a tennis backpack or a SUITCASE?

hpaiste

hpaiste

Rookie
After awhile, I got really sick of lugging a Wilson Super-Six Bag to the courts day-in, day-out. So I switched to carrying one of the new Wilson BLX backpacks. I WOULD SERIOUSLY RECOMMEND A TENNIS BACKPACK TO ANYONE. If you don't think there is enough room, think again. It can easily carry three racquets (why would you ever need more than two in the first place?) and the main compartment is very large. Large enough to hold a pair of shoes, two towels, two sets of clothes, and other tennis equipment. There are two side pockets, one for a can of tennis balls, the other insulated for a water bottle. Plus there is a front pocket, for all wristband/bandana needs. Truly recommended. Stop carrying 6 racquets around, and start using one of these:
http://www.tennis-warehouse.com/Wilson_BLX_Club_Bags/descpageBGWILSON-BLXCLUBBP.html

and stop with this one:
http://www.tennis-warehouse.com/Wil...Six_Pack_Bag/descpageBGWILSON-BLXTBAGFED.html

Hope it was helpful?
 
I don't like tennis backpacks because they make me feel... ehh.. not sure how to describe it... like I should be riding a bike and carrying a sack-lunch with me. Like a kid I guess, or like someone without a car.

So I carry my Nike 6-pack on my shoulder. It even has backpack straps but I don't use them. Feels more pro than a backpack :D
 
Winky said:
I don't like tennis backpacks because they make me feel... ehh.. not sure how to describe it... like I should be riding a bike and carrying a sack-lunch with me. Like a kid I guess, or like someone without a car.

So I carry my Nike 6-pack on my shoulder. It even has backpack straps but I don't use them. Feels more pro than a backpack :D
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+1...let's be honest.
 
yeah, and i have a cool tennis ball keychain on my zipper pull.

really, i can see why some people might dig the backpack, it's just not for me.
but then again, if that was the bag i had gotten for free, i'd use it too.
 
I switched to the backpack 2 years ago and never looked back. My shoulders, back and arms just feel better. It's surprising how a heavy shoulder bag can tire you out by the time you walk across the parking lot or to one of the outer tennis courts.
 
I just got the new Head Murray backpack and like it over the other backpacks Head has out there. I had the silver one and it was more flamboyant than I was comfortable with. The Murray backpack has better organization and I am not struggling to get everything to fit. I agree that the backpack is much more comfortable than a 6 or 9 pack bag. If you can limit yourself to carrying only 2 racquets it is the way to go.
 
hpaiste said:
http://www.tennis-warehouse.com/Wilson_BLX_Club_Bags/descpageBGWILSON-BLXCLUBBP.html
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I've got one of those - they're great backpacks. I reviewed it here: http://tt.tennis-warehouse.com/showthread.php?t=338539

Agree with your sentiments regarding racquet bags v backpacks. I used to carry round a 12 racket bag, then a 6 racket bag. It was pointless and tiring. I can get everything I need in backpack, and for a tourneys, I just leave any excess which I've never used anyway in the boot of my car.
 
GameSetMatch said:
I've got one of those - they're great backpacks. I reviewed it here: http://tt.tennis-warehouse.com/showthread.php?t=338539

Agree with your sentiments regarding racquet bags v backpacks. I used to carry round a 12 racket bag, then a 6 racket bag. It was pointless and tiring. I can get everything I need in backpack, and for a tourneys, I just leave any excess which I've never used anyway in the boot of my car.
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Hey man!

When I was looking into getting a backpack, i found your review! So thanks to you for such a wonderful bag! I love it!
 
Living in the tropics, I use a backpack for reasons of hygiene. Keeping used grips in an enclosed dark space is asking for mold, so I use a backpack that fits three racquets, a couple cans of balls, extra shirts and more.
 
backpack wouldn't work, I need to fit my stuff in a locker >.<

my instructor swears by backpacks though. But what happens if it starts to pour, and your racquets are in the bag? They;re exposed ;)
 
Manus Domini said:
backpack wouldn't work, I need to fit my stuff in a locker >.<

my instructor swears by backpacks though. But what happens if it starts to pour, and your racquets are in the bag? They;re exposed ;)
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You could. Hide the raquet handles under a spare shirt while you run to your car/building/batcave
 
Broccoli said:
Living in the tropics, I use a backpack for reasons of hygiene. Keeping used grips in an enclosed dark space is asking for mold, so I use a backpack that fits three racquets, a couple cans of balls, extra shirts and more.
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I use the Nadal 12 racket backpack. Because its mainly black it still looks quite new after months(or years) of use. I rotate 3 sticks but the extra space comes in handy when it's hot, humid and you're playing a best of 3 match on clay.
I can go through multiple shirts, sweat bands and lots of water. I would agree that the BP style is the most convenient for me.
 
Most people have a 6 or 9-pack bags not because they literally need 9-10 racquets a match. It's all the other stuff you have to carry to go along with the sticks. Absence of a consistently secure place to put it and being too far from the car, you have it all with you at your convenience. But if you can fit it all in a backpack, more power to you.
 
Manus Domini said:
backpack wouldn't work, I need to fit my stuff in a locker >.<

my instructor swears by backpacks though. But what happens if it starts to pour, and your racquets are in the bag? They;re exposed ;)
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What, don't you own plastic racquet bags? Like what Fed (or any pro) takes off their racquet once they start a match?
 
Um, I don't mean to be offensive, but people who carry 6 or 9 packs usually look like fools.

Apart from a teaching pro who might have to carry several frames he is restringing for others, all of the best players I have ever seen would show up with 2 rackets in hand and a bottle of water. When they hit the courts, they'd put their wallet and keys at the side of the court and just get to playing.

Nothing makes you feel like more of a loser than showing up to the courts with a body bag full of stuff and then walking off shortly afterwards when the guy with no bag or anything wipes the floor with you.

Unless you're a teaching pro, if you show up on court with a giant bag, you're carrying too much stuff.

You don't need to bring 20 overgrips to every tennis match. You can check your grips before you leave home and change them there if necessary.

You don't need 3 sets of clothes. If you're going somewhere important after tennis, the chances are, you'll want to stop by the house before you go anyways. Get changed there.

You don't need 4 pairs of shoes. Honestly, you just don't.

Rackets (2), balls, and water, that's all you need that you can't wear.
 
I should have bought a backpack so long ago, for about 4 years I've been walking about 10 minutes to the courts with a regular backpack carrying my racket(s) in my hand.

Now I have a car, I see no need but wow I wish I had one for the last couple of years.
 
I use this bag - holds three racquets and your gear.

http://www.tennis-warehouse.com/Wilson_K_Factor_KTour_Red_Bags/descpageBGWILSON-WKTB6.html

I typically carry two to three racquets depending on how I feel and the condition of the strings. Today I have two racquets for a match at lunchtime (okay, it's a long lunchtime). There's room for a change of clothes (including long pants because it's cold today), a can of tennis balls and a water bottle.

There's also a flat storage area where I put a notebook and some slash folders for my job. The bag has a handle on the top, backpack straps on the bottom and a shoulder strap so you can choose which way you want to carry your stuff. I normally carry a backpack with my laptop into the office. I usually use the top handle or the shoulder strap for carrying the tennis bag.
 
movdqa said:
I use this bag - holds three racquets and your gear.

http://www.tennis-warehouse.com/Wilson_K_Factor_KTour_Red_Bags/descpageBGWILSON-WKTB6.html

I typically carry two to three racquets depending on how I feel and the condition of the strings. Today I have two racquets for a match at lunchtime (okay, it's a long lunchtime). There's room for a change of clothes (including long pants because it's cold today), a can of tennis balls and a water bottle.

There's also a flat storage area where I put a notebook and some slash folders for my job. The bag has a handle on the top, backpack straps on the bottom and a shoulder strap so you can choose which way you want to carry your stuff. I normally carry a backpack with my laptop into the office. I usually use the top handle or the shoulder strap for carrying the tennis bag.
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http://www.tennis-warehouse.com/Wil...r_RedBlack_Bags/descpageBGWILSON-WKPTBR6.html = I use that bag and i really like it instead of carrying a backpack..... I have 4 racquets so far (N5, Kobra Tour, (2) Surge) and amazingly they all fit....

Plus my shoes, overgrips, 2 cans of tennis balls, and etc..... It's really handy even though i have a car i still carry them around especially when my court is at least 60 feet away from the parking lot.....
 
I once played a tournament where a teenage girl was murdered on one of the courts a few weeks before the tournament. The courts were in a fairly unsafe part of the city.
 
spaceman_spiff said:
Um, I don't mean to be offensive, but people who carry 6 or 9 packs usually look like fools.

Apart from a teaching pro who might have to carry several frames he is restringing for others, all of the best players I have ever seen would show up with 2 rackets in hand and a bottle of water. When they hit the courts, they'd put their wallet and keys at the side of the court and just get to playing.

Nothing makes you feel like more of a loser than showing up to the courts with a body bag full of stuff and then walking off shortly afterwards when the guy with no bag or anything wipes the floor with you.

Unless you're a teaching pro, if you show up on court with a giant bag, you're carrying too much stuff.

You don't need to bring 20 overgrips to every tennis match. You can check your grips before you leave home and change them there if necessary.

You don't need 3 sets of clothes. If you're going somewhere important after tennis, the chances are, you'll want to stop by the house before you go anyways. Get changed there.

You don't need 4 pairs of shoes. Honestly, you just don't.

Rackets (2), balls, and water, that's all you need that you can't wear.
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Everyone at my club has a larger 6-9 racquet bag. I have yet to have a guy show up with 2 sticks and a water bottle and wipe the court with me, but I guess there is a first for everything.

I have a Dunlop 6 pack and it is perfect. I have 3 racquets since I string my own and like the extra racquet. I also like to bike to the courts. The 6 pack holds all my sticks, plus all extra gear and a large thermos and I can ride there with it on my back. Sometimes I go to work downtown and then go and play tennis right after. The bag holds all my clothes also for tennis.

When I go home, all my tennis gear is in my bag. It's not all over place. I like organization and cleanliness. I also like to have extra overgrips too since it kind of gets hot here. Call me crazy.
 
i have both a backpack and a 12 pack bag. backpack suffices 90% of the time. 3 sticks, some balls, clothes and room for keys/cellphone/wallet. that's it.

the large 12 pack bag holds all the other crap we like to have but don't need every time. lead tape, overgrips, vibe damps, shoes, change of clothes, socks, towels, grip enhancer, head tape, new skin, advil, tylenol, my kids' racquets, my wife's racquet, candy bars, scissors.

agree wholeheartedly about the douchiness of carrying a giant 12 pack bag to the local courts and playing recreational level tennis.

agree wholeheartedly about the dweebiness of carrying a tennis backpack with racquet handles sticking out while everyone else has a bigger bag.

still love it when i bring backpack to matches and crush opponents who then spend 15 minutes packing up all their crap in their giant bag.

kinda sucks when somebody wipes the floor with me and then i have to pack up my little backpack like i'm in junior high and rode to the match on my schwinn 10 speed.
 
prjacobs said:
Don't try this in New York City:).
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Well, you can always chuck it under a jacket or in the ball can.

But let's be honest, if you run into someone who would walk up to a court and steal your wallet right in front of you, he/she probably won't care whether it's hidden in a bag or lying on the ground.
 
Power Player said:
Everyone at my club has a larger 6-9 racquet bag. I have yet to have a guy show up with 2 sticks and a water bottle and wipe the court with me, but I guess there is a first for everything.

I have a Dunlop 6 pack and it is perfect. I have 3 racquets since I string my own and like the extra racquet. I also like to bike to the courts. The 6 pack holds all my sticks, plus all extra gear and a large thermos and I can ride there with it on my back. Sometimes I go to work downtown and then go and play tennis right after. The bag holds all my clothes also for tennis.

When I go home, all my tennis gear is in my bag. It's not all over place. I like organization and cleanliness. I also like to have extra overgrips too since it kind of gets hot here. Call me crazy.
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I'm going to take a wild guess that the people at your club either aren't terribly good (as is common at most clubs) or are too busy "keeping up with the Jones's." Around here, when people like that stroll up to the courts with their 9-pack bags and their full matching Adidas outfits, the good players say "all the gear and no idea."

I'll give you a couple of examples of what I've seen from good players.

In a city-wide HS tournament my junior year, I played the number one seed. This guy went on to be the #1 player at a top-50 Division 1 college. He showed up with 2 frames and a bottle of water in hand and wiped the floor with me and every other guy there. That's the day I stopped carrying a big bag.

Last night, I played a doubles match with one of the top guys in the county as my partner. Our opponents showed up with the whole 6-pack setup, despite the fact that they drove to the match. I had my small backpack (because I sold my car and now walk to the club from about a mile away), and my partner drove in with 2 frames in hand and the clothes on his back. We finished our warmup and all 4 sets (2 against each opposing pair) in just over an hour and a half, losing only 3 games all night.

I've seen guys use a gym bag or small backpack for their clothes when playing directly after work or other similar circumstances. I've even seen a former D-1 guy who just used a plastic shopping bag in those situations. But in general, all the very best guys I've seen in highschool, USTA leagues, and here in England followed the frames-in-hand model. Even the teaching pros just show up with frames in hand on the rare occasion they play a match on a day they aren't coaching.

All that extra gear you mention is not really necessary for a match if you really stop and think about it. I grew up playing in 100-degree heat, so I understand your dilemma, but throwing on new overgrips in the middle of a match is a bit excessive.

As for storing your gear at home, I've found that closets and drawers work well.
 
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Thats weird because I play with ex D1 players and guys doing ranked 5.0 tournies. Sure some of the guys I hit with are 4.0-4.5, but your generalization of me and the guys I hit with is completely wrong and seems like you are simply trying to be insulting so you can validate your own opinion.

Now I am in the US, so maybe things are different here. We have an open tournie here coming up that includes world ranked players and every single guy I saw in it used a racquet bag.

And I use my closet also. That's where I put my racquet bag when I come home from tennis.

For me it is a huge convenience. A lot of the guys I hit with have large bags that are at least 5 years old, but they still use the bags for the same reason. It's not about keeping up with the Jones's or anything lame like you are insinuating.
 
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Power Player said:
Thats weird because I play with ex D1 players and guys doing ranked 5.0 tournies. Sure some of the guys I hit with are 4.0-4.5, but your generalization of me and the guys I hit with is completely wrong and seems like you are simply trying to be insulting so you can validate your own opinion.

Now I am in the US, so maybe things are different here. We have an open tournie here coming up that includes world ranked players and every single guy I saw in it used a racquet bag.

And I use my closet also. That's where I put my racquet bag when I come home from tennis.

For me it is a huge convenience. A lot of the guys I hit with have large bags that are at least 5 years old, but they still use the bags for the same reason. It's not about keeping up with the Jones's or anything lame like you are insinuating.
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All I'm saying is that most guys I've seen carry a small bag (like a 3 pack) or a backpack for individual matches or practice. And, the very best guys usually just have a couple of frames in hand and maybe water and balls. But without fail, the guys with giant bags (except for teaching pros) are never anywhere close to the best players on court. They're just guys who are trying too hard to look the part. They're like the 3.5 guys who whip out 4 matching K90's.

If I'm on court waiting for my opponent to show up, a guy with a couple of frames in hand who looks like he doesn't expect to be there long (like the D1 player I played while he was back home last summer) is a lot more intimidating than a guy with a giant bag packed with enough stuff to survive for a week away from home (like the guys last night).

This is based on what I've seen playing highschool and youth tournies in Oklahoma, USTA leagues in the DC area, and county leagues in southern England.
 
Well in that case, I agree. Looking the part and sucking is very lame. I have seen the Nadal and Fed wannabes everywhere, and that is a horrible look, even if you are great. If you were talking about that whole thing, it is a different story then what I am describing.

I actually don't think I have a giant bag. It is the Dunlop 4d 6 racquet bag. I thought it may be too small for when I wanted to play tennis after work and fit everything in it, but it works.

Personally, I like having 3 racquets on hand. I will usually always use 2 because it gets very hot and I like to alternate them due to grip. The 3rd will stay in the bag unless I break a string, but that has happened to me enough times to where I prefer 3.
 
spaceman_spiff said:
Um, I don't mean to be offensive, but people who carry 6 or 9 packs usually look like fools.

Apart from a teaching pro who might have to carry several frames he is restringing for others, all of the best players I have ever seen would show up with 2 rackets in hand and a bottle of water. When they hit the courts, they'd put their wallet and keys at the side of the court and just get to playing.

Nothing makes you feel like more of a loser than showing up to the courts with a body bag full of stuff and then walking off shortly afterwards when the guy with no bag or anything wipes the floor with you.

Unless you're a teaching pro, if you show up on court with a giant bag, you're carrying too much stuff.
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LOL. I tend to agree.

At my club, its only tends to be the 3.5 rec players, or players who are new to tennis that turn up with their massive brand new 6/12 racquet thermos, 4 racquets, pairs of spare shoes, and a whole host of other equipment that they don't need. Basically, the ClubHoUno types.

The best players that I see just turn up with a couple of beaten up old racquets which they've been using for years, and a drink. All because they've "got game" and will beat you with any piece of equipment.
 
I'm a backpack(er). Sometimes I just bring one racquet but I still use the backpack to hold water, 2 cans of balls and my keys/wallet.

But to each his own I guess. If they want to bring the whole arsenal then let them.
 
Power Player said:
Everyone at my club has a larger 6-9 racquet bag. I have yet to have a guy show up with 2 sticks and a water bottle and wipe the court with me, but I guess there is a first for everything.

I have a Dunlop 6 pack and it is perfect. I have 3 racquets since I string my own and like the extra racquet. I also like to bike to the courts. The 6 pack holds all my sticks, plus all extra gear and a large thermos and I can ride there with it on my back. Sometimes I go to work downtown and then go and play tennis right after. The bag holds all my clothes also for tennis.

When I go home, all my tennis gear is in my bag. It's not all over place. I like organization and cleanliness. I also like to have extra overgrips too since it kind of gets hot here. Call me crazy.
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I'm with you power player. I have a 9-racket bag that is fairly empty during the summer, but is pretty full in the winter with a change of clothes and shoes. I only have one pair of shoes that I bring with me, 3 rackets, some balls, over grips, and a few head bands - but it's nice to get everything in there without the bag bursting at the seams.

Also, if I'm playing a tourney, I can just use the same old bag with a few more clothes on long days - shirts, socks, etc. Everything's in one place, nice and tidy - OCD satisfied.
 
As a junior and up through my early 20s, I would just walk up with 2 racquets in hand and all that. (which became three after the time I broke two stringbeds in a match).

Now that I'm 30 and always on the move with work, life, etc, I need the bigger bag so I can change clothes and shoes, etc. (still using the same three sticks I used in HS).

It's just efficient (the 6-pack bag). Whether one look or the other is supposed to tell my opponent about my game, i never really put this much thought into either routine, because I let my playing do the talking; and it is nice to have a dry set of clothes to change into after a match so I don't sweat all over my leather seats afterwards.

;P
 
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Today someone else drove me to the match. I really didn't want to get sweaty all over his leather seats. Sometimes I bring my iPad in my bag if I'm concerned about positions in the market during the day.

I also have dividers in my bag to separate the racquets out. I did used to just leave them in the trunk where they could bang against each other. I use full poly so the odds of breaking the strings in two racquets is remote. I don't carry lead tape, overgrips, wrist bands, etc. but I do carry plastic bags that I store my dirty and soaked clothes in after taking a shower.
 
There's not a whole lot you can do about losing to a guy who just shows up with one racket and a bottle of water. That's got more to do with game than equipment preparation. You can only control so much on perception, but I see your point.

I used to be that guy - man with two rackets, a jug of water, towel, and ready to go. Up until 11 months ago, I didn't even own a tennis bag. Then all the sudden I accumulated all this extra stuff I'd like to carry while keeping my two hands free. Oh well.




spaceman_spiff said:
Um, I don't mean to be offensive, but people who carry 6 or 9 packs usually look like fools.

Apart from a teaching pro who might have to carry several frames he is restringing for others, all of the best players I have ever seen would show up with 2 rackets in hand and a bottle of water. When they hit the courts, they'd put their wallet and keys at the side of the court and just get to playing.

Nothing makes you feel like more of a loser than showing up to the courts with a body bag full of stuff and then walking off shortly afterwards when the guy with no bag or anything wipes the floor with you.

Unless you're a teaching pro, if you show up on court with a giant bag, you're carrying too much stuff.

You don't need to bring 20 overgrips to every tennis match. You can check your grips before you leave home and change them there if necessary.

You don't need 3 sets of clothes. If you're going somewhere important after tennis, the chances are, you'll want to stop by the house before you go anyways. Get changed there.

You don't need 4 pairs of shoes. Honestly, you just don't.

Rackets (2), balls, and water, that's all you need that you can't wear.
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Who knew that there was so much "baggage" about backpacks vs. bags. I just want to clarify that my statement about the NYC tennis courts was said lightheartedly, even though you'd have to be an idiot to leave your wallet out when playing. I also am not crazy about the ghetto reference above. I played for years at the Harlem Tennis Center, and as a white minority player, I couldn't have had a better time.
Hey, ultimately, use what you want. But, for me, the backpacks are a little dorky:)....
 
spaceman_spiff said:
I'm going to take a wild guess that the people at your club either aren't terribly good (as is common at most clubs) or are too busy "keeping up with the Jones's." Around here, when people like that stroll up to the courts with their 9-pack bags and their full matching Adidas outfits, the good players say "all the gear and no idea."

I'll give you a couple of examples of what I've seen from good players.

In a city-wide HS tournament my junior year, I played the number one seed. This guy went on to be the #1 player at a top-50 Division 1 college. He showed up with 2 frames and a bottle of water in hand and wiped the floor with me and every other guy there. That's the day I stopped carrying a big bag.

Last night, I played a doubles match with one of the top guys in the county as my partner. Our opponents showed up with the whole 6-pack setup, despite the fact that they drove to the match. I had my small backpack (because I sold my car and now walk to the club from about a mile away), and my partner drove in with 2 frames in hand and the clothes on his back. We finished our warmup and all 4 sets (2 against each opposing pair) in just over an hour and a half, losing only 3 games all night.

I've seen guys use a gym bag or small backpack for their clothes when playing directly after work or other similar circumstances. I've even seen a former D-1 guy who just used a plastic shopping bag in those situations. But in general, all the very best guys I've seen in highschool, USTA leagues, and here in England followed the frames-in-hand model. Even the teaching pros just show up with frames in hand on the rare occasion they play a match on a day they aren't coaching.

All that extra gear you mention is not really necessary for a match if you really stop and think about it. I grew up playing in 100-degree heat, so I understand your dilemma, but throwing on new overgrips in the middle of a match is a bit excessive.

As for storing your gear at home, I've found that closets and drawers work well.
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Why do you even care what another player carries his gear in? I happen to think that the backpacks with racquets sticking out looks very retro, but dorky! I don't presume to rate another player by how they stow their racquets or what they wear (within reason) on the court. Some, like myself, like to keep most of our "stuff" in one bag, so I know where it is.
Cheers,
kev
 
It's not judgement; it's observation

Just to clarify, I'm just sharing my observations, and what I have observed is that players who bring loads of stuff have almost always turned out to be less-skilled than those who just bring the basics, with the exception of teaching pros who carry a giant bag for other reasons (their bags are usually full of other people's rackets).

My theory is that, as players improve, they get a better understanding of what they really need to have with them and what can be left behind. As time goes on, they get tired of carrying around all of the excess stuff they don't use on court. Eventually, they reach a point where they only bring what they really need and they leave everything else at home.

Yes, some will occasionally bring a change of clothes and such for various reasons, but that stuff is often just left in the car or carried in a small gym bag.

If someone always carries loads of unnecessary stuff every time they play, it's usually a sign that either they don't have a good understanding of what is really necessary or they don't play often enough to get tired of carrying around so much junk.

The only decent players I've seen with loads of stuff are the young ones who haven't gotten out of the juniors mindset yet, so they carry around all the stuff they made their parents buy them a couple of years earlier. They still look like their moms drove them to the courts.

Either way, it's not a look I prefer to emulate.

On the other hand, a backpack is usually the sign of someone who walks or rides a bicycle/motorcycle to the courts and nothing more.
 
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spaceman_spiff said:
Um, I don't mean to be offensive, but people who carry 6 or 9 packs usually look like fools.

Apart from a teaching pro who might have to carry several frames he is restringing for others, all of the best players I have ever seen would show up with 2 rackets in hand and a bottle of water. When they hit the courts, they'd put their wallet and keys at the side of the court and just get to playing.

Nothing makes you feel like more of a loser than showing up to the courts with a body bag full of stuff and then walking off shortly afterwards when the guy with no bag or anything wipes the floor with you.

Unless you're a teaching pro, if you show up on court with a giant bag, you're carrying too much stuff.

You don't need to bring 20 overgrips to every tennis match. You can check your grips before you leave home and change them there if necessary.

You don't need 3 sets of clothes. If you're going somewhere important after tennis, the chances are, you'll want to stop by the house before you go anyways. Get changed there.

You don't need 4 pairs of shoes. Honestly, you just don't.

Rackets (2), balls, and water, that's all you need that you can't wear.
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Couldn't agree anymore. It's just embarrassing if you show up to play somebody, and they have their Super-Six Bag with them loaded with nothing at all (except for their racquets and a bottle of water/gatorade) and someone else showing up with two racquets and a wallet who just utterly dismantles their game.
 
If anyone has any concerns about it raining with a tennis backpack, I've always put my new strung racquets in one of these: http://www.******************.com/products.asp?cat=28

and I have never had a problem with it raining (even though it does). Only the overgrips stick out of the bag, but big deal, their job is to absorb moisture.

And second, I watched this video of Andy Murray giving a charity private lesson somewhere in England during the offseason, and it was quite frankly stupid. The guy taking the lesson was a intermediate, and Murray showed up with his full racquet bag with 6+ racquets in it. He even said in the video he was going nowhere afterwards. Can somebody say tool? Of course, he is a pro, but he is giving a lesson to someone is clearly below his level, but he feels the need to bring five extra racquets, which he does not use. I can't find the video, but I'll keep searching.
 
tennismonkey said:
i have both a backpack and a 12 pack bag. backpack suffices 90% of the time. 3 sticks, some balls, clothes and room for keys/cellphone/wallet. that's it.

the large 12 pack bag holds all the other crap we like to have but don't need every time. lead tape, overgrips, vibe damps, shoes, change of clothes, socks, towels, grip enhancer, head tape, new skin, advil, tylenol, my kids' racquets, my wife's racquet, candy bars, scissors.

agree wholeheartedly about the douchiness of carrying a giant 12 pack bag to the local courts and playing recreational level tennis.

agree wholeheartedly about the dweebiness of carrying a tennis backpack with racquet handles sticking out while everyone else has a bigger bag.

still love it when i bring backpack to matches and crush opponents who then spend 15 minutes packing up all their crap in their giant bag.

kinda sucks when somebody wipes the floor with me and then i have to pack up my little backpack like i'm in junior high and rode to the match on my schwinn 10 speed.
Click to expand...

Couple things here Monkey -
1.) You never get wiped off the court
2.) You don't ride a schwinn, you're new red batmobile is pimp
3.) you would never own more than 2 racquets anyways because you're "speed-demoing" right now
4.) Don't hate me for taking 15 minutes to pack my bag when we're done playing "recreational tennis" - it's not that I feel super about my huge bag, it's more or less laziness - it fits everything, why not just store everything you need in a big bag so you can just grab it and go - you never have to worry about forgetting anything - also fat kids tend to sweat more which is why I need t change grips/clothes/socks so often.

PS - Just bought the anniversary...
 
So what do you guys need when you play?

I like extra OGs and cans of balls plus a towel. I also got a resin bag which as been an immense help in the humid summers here. I always like to have all my wristbands in a side pocket since it's easy to lose those. Other little thing I use are glucose pills now and then if I am running low on energy. I actually use this stuff when I play. Coming home from work and having your bag packed and ready so you can run back out the door is great.
 
I carry two racquets, one can of balls, one bottle of gatorade, one bottle of water, an extra T-shirt which I put over my current shirt after playing. In colder months, I add a pair of New Balance Vesper pants.

I usually play at lunchtime and will carry my tennis clothes in my bag. At the office, I change in the locker room and leave my work clothes in the locker. So the bag needs to hold stuff that I convey to and from the office.

I suppose that you could carry a bag with your clothes and then carry the racquets, tennis balls and water bottle in your hand but wouldn't it be easier to just carry them in a bag?
 
I carry a six pack when I play. Mostly this is because I got to work first and then go to the courts from work. So I have in my bag my 3 racquets (as I once broke two jobs in a match so I now bring 3 racquets just in case, never needed the third since admittedly), shoes, shorts/t-shirt/socks, water, balls, towel, soap etc...for the shower after and my work laptop and a few papers.

All in all I find it works fine and fits well. I tried to fit it all in a backpack and couldn't.

Spaceman I hope you don't feel this reflects on my level of play :).

Orig
 
^^^

No because you will apparently look like a "poser" if you do something that practical.

I think a lot of kids post on this forum and they worry way too much about trivial stuff. Explains the "I can't get a date in college" threads that pop up in Off Topic way toooften.
 
Power Player said:
So what do you guys need when you play?

I like extra OGs and cans of balls plus a towel. I also got a resin bag which as been an immense help in the humid summers here. I always like to have all my wristbands in a side pocket since it's easy to lose those. Other little thing I use are glucose pills now and then if I am running low on energy. I actually use this stuff when I play. Coming home from work and having your bag packed and ready so you can run back out the door is great.
Click to expand...

When I was living in DC and driving everywhere, I just took two frames, a can of balls, and some water/gatorade. If my shoes were getting really worn and I didn't know if my match was at a club with clay courts, I'd also take the pair I had set aside for clay. That's it, even for the midday weekend USTA matches that were played indoors even in the middle of summer.

When I occasionally hit before work with a friend who lived near my brother, I carried my work clothes in a plastic bag. I'd stop by my brother's house (just down the street from my office) to take a shower and change, so I just ironed my clothes there on those days.

Now that I walk everywhere, I use a Fischer backpack to carry two frames, balls, water, and a mini umbrella (this is England afterall). I think there's a couple of vibration dampeners that got chucked in the side pocket some time ago that I never use, and I think I remember seeing Chapstick or something the last time I looked in there.
 
funny thread!

LOL this is some funny thread!

I have a nasty beat up old head silver and black 9 pack tour bag...I guess that qualifies as a suitcase?

...used to carry 5 rkts....now I realize I only need 3 tops...since I switched to Head MP 18x20 frames I rarely break strings anymore.....

Sunday I had 3 rkts, one sweater vest, 1 water bottle, 1 gator aid bottle a towel a spare pair of socks and the previous weeks can of balls and a new can of balls....

Sometimes though I like to just carry 2 rkts and a towel and water bottle to the court, sometimes I take my beat up old bag....keeps the opponent guessing as to how cool and skilled I really am until we line up to do battle....

I've had a few smart alecs tell me I need a new bag it is an embarrassing nasty pc of gear...maybe it is anti cool...anti poseur...

I guess I just like it, kinda like an old pair of slippers at this point....

Whatever - roll on!
 
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