I have a question about college tennis

Falloutjr

Banned
It just now occured to me; how do college players pay for their racquets and strings, etc. I'm a future college player and I was just curious if you have to buy your own string and grips and (in the event that one were to break) racquets. Thanks for the info.
 

LeeD

Bionic Poster
Of course, non athlete aligned colleges don't pay for much of your gear.
Major tennis universities can pay for almost everything, if you're top singles material.
Most likely, you're going to a better school than the first, and can't make top singles Div1 Majors, so you'll have to settle for something in between, like discounts on gear.
Can't be specific, we don't know how you play, where you're attending, and what you're willing to do for the team.
 

Falloutjr

Banned
Of course, non athlete aligned colleges don't pay for much of your gear.
Major tennis universities can pay for almost everything, if you're top singles material.
Most likely, you're going to a better school than the first, and can't make top singles Div1 Majors, so you'll have to settle for something in between, like discounts on gear.
Can't be specific, we don't know how you play, where you're attending, and what you're willing to do for the team.

I'm good enough to make some lower D1 teams (I'm looking at schools like Xavier, Cleveland State, Wright State, Youngstown State, etc.). They are schools with large student enrollments so they should have larger budgets, right?

And what do you mean by "what I'm willing to do for the team"?
 
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LeeD

Bionic Poster
"willing"...
Can you string rackets?
Can you order and maintain gear to help out the coach?
Can you donate time to prep for matches?
Can you work on promotions at school and also nearby community to attract spectators and sponsors?
Can you help with tutoring for troubled athletes, athletes on the grade cusps?
What are you willing to DO for the team besides grace their courts with your prescense.
# of school enrollment has little to to with $$$ going to the tennis program. Some school accentuate school sports, so have budgets. Other school are more academically involved, and might not care about sports budgets.
Can't miss at UTenn or Stanford, UCBerkeley or Harvard.
#2 Hardvard singles gets all rackets, strings, labor, bags, clothes, travel expenses, practice (private coaching) expenses, court time, nutritional food and supplements, for free. But he's gotta maintain some prescense and skill.
 

Falloutjr

Banned
"willing"...
Can you string rackets? No
Can you order and maintain gear to help out the coach? Yes
Can you donate time to prep for matches? Yes
Can you work on promotions at school and also nearby community to attract spectators and sponsors? Yes
Can you help with tutoring for troubled athletes, athletes on the grade cusps? Definitely
What are you willing to DO for the team besides grace their courts with your prescense. Whatever the coach asks of me or whatever I feel would benefit the team I suppose

# of school enrollment has little to to with $$$ going to the tennis program. Some school accentuate school sports, so have budgets. Other school are more academically involved, and might not care about sports budgets.
Can't miss at UTenn or Stanford, UCBerkeley or Harvard.
#2 Hardvard singles gets all rackets, strings, labor, bags, clothes, travel expenses, practice (private coaching) expenses, court time, nutritional food and supplements, for free. But he's gotta maintain some prescense and skill.

And I don't think I'm quite good enough to play at those schools (I would probably have the talent to be a walk-on, but it would be a couple years before I got some playing time and I prolly wouldn't plat at Stanford with the recruiting classes they get) and I couldn't get into Stanford or Harvard anyways. I have the SAT scores but not the grades (I had an 1870 SAT and a 2.6 cumulative with a few APs)
 
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tennisjon

Professional
I coach at Drew University in Madison, NJ (D3) and played D1 tennis. The amount of free things really depends on the school and their budget. Being a D1 team or a D3 team has not so much to do with it. Big-time D1 programs are more likely to have more money in their tennis budget for gear. In my case, both where I played and where I coach we offer our players string. We buy several reels for the team and its your choice to use them or to buy your own string. We have a couple of stringing machines. I teach players how to string so I don't have to do all the stringing. Some schools provided stringing for free. Some schools provide bags, sneakers, racquets, clothes for free, others provide it at a major discount. It can be a question to ask when you do your visits.
 

kelkat

Rookie
Way back in the day (1977 - 81), I played for Wash St. Soon after graduation, I got a thick letter from either the univ or the NCAA, asking me how much I spend on shoes, rackets, practice attire, etc. It was a pretty extensive questionnaire inquiring about all kinds of stuff. I filled it out and send it back and forgot about it..... well about 1 yr later, I received a check for around $500 from a class action suit......It was the beginning of Title VIIII, and little did us gals know that the guys were getting their stuff paid for all those years. The check was like pennies from Heaven; so unexpected, appreciated, and a little slice of history as well.
 

cmb

Semi-Pro
depends on how good u are. If you play for a bum school, u will pay for your rackets. Shoes and strings are almost always free.
 

johnkidd

Semi-Pro
I'm good enough to make some lower D1 teams (I'm looking at schools like Xavier, Cleveland State, Wright State, Youngstown State, etc.). They are schools with large student enrollments so they should have larger budgets, right?

And what do you mean by "what I'm willing to do for the team"?

Xavier is far from lower tier....they have won the A-10 the last 3 years IIRC and are getting a lot of the top talent from the Cin'ti area.

Cleveland State has also stepped up their program over the last 5-10 years. We actually beat them when I played.

But back to the point about equipment, it depends on the school and the budget.
 

Falloutjr

Banned
Xavier is far from lower tier....they have won the A-10 the last 3 years IIRC and are getting a lot of the top talent from the Cin'ti area.

Cleveland State has also stepped up their program over the last 5-10 years. We actually beat them when I played.

But back to the point about equipment, it depends on the school and the budget.

I meant that in terms of I would probably make their team as opposed to a team like Ohio State or a highly ranked school.
 

kenny22

New User
i also have a question about college tennis and didnt want to start another thread so is there like a cut off age to play for a college tennis team.
 

Larrysümmers

Hall of Fame
i also have a question about college tennis and didnt want to start another thread so is there like a cut off age to play for a college tennis team.

i think D1 and D2 it is 5 years after your high school graduating class. and D3 and JR college is 4 years starting with your first year at the school...this is what i think. i am not 100% sure though
 

ynnek20

New User
i think D1 and D2 it is 5 years after your high school graduating class. and D3 and JR college is 4 years starting with your first year at the school...this is what i think. i am not 100% sure though

thx for that i really been wanting to know that for awhile.
 

Falloutjr

Banned
Future college player? D1? How can you possibly play at college level, when you continue to use that frying pan, western grip serve of yours, and don't know how to hit a kick serve?

Lol I said western fh grip thinking it could be used interchangably with EBH grip because they're essentially symmetrical, but I suppose not, as someone corrected me. Like I've already stated, I don't know much about grips. All I know is the way I hold my racquet works for me, so I just stay with that, and I don't know what you refer to when you say "frying pan", I use a pretty standard racquet model. And sure, I don't know how to hit a kick serve. We'll go with that.
 
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okdude1992

Hall of Fame
damn wish i played for a better school. i play d3 and we get free warmups, a couple shirts and shorts, plus players package from any racket company. not bad but we have to pay for strings and shoes
 

mvtennis125

New User
Lol I said western fh grip thinking it could be used interchangably with EBH grip because they're essentially symmetrical, but I suppose not, as someone corrected me. Like I've already stated, I don't know much about grips. All I know is the way I hold my racquet works for me, so I just stay with that, and I don't know what you refer to when you say "frying pan", I use a pretty standard racquet model. And sure, I don't know how to hit a kick serve. We'll go with that.

not trying to gang up on you with gameset but hes right.... i think your way underestimating the level of d1 tennis. are you top 300 b18 in the nation? go watch a level 2 national tourney. no offense iv seen your videos but comon your lying to urself.
 

Tar Heel Tennis

Professional
are you a senior in high school? if so, then you should be asking the coaches that are RECRUITING you what they have to offer as far as equipment.

if you aren't being recruited, then honestly, i seriously doubt you need to be worrying about any of this.
 

Big_Dangerous

Talk Tennis Guru
damn wish i played for a better school. i play d3 and we get free warmups, a couple shirts and shorts, plus players package from any racket company. not bad but we have to pay for strings and shoes

Better than me, All they got here is club tennis, and we have to pay for everything.
 
Lol I said western fh grip thinking it could be used interchangably with EBH grip because they're essentially symmetrical, but I suppose not, as someone corrected me. Like I've already stated, I don't know much about grips. All I know is the way I hold my racquet works for me, so I just stay with that, and I don't know what you refer to when you say "frying pan", I use a pretty standard racquet model. And sure, I don't know how to hit a kick serve. We'll go with that.

Seriously not jumping on the GameSetMatch band wagon but I mean D1 is F***ing legit. I practice with my friend who plays for bucknell and they are considered low tier and it takes all my power to stay in ralleys. BTW let me paint you a picture of D3 college tennis let alone D1. I played a school christopher newport (in VA) their #6 was the #4 from his graduating class in VA. My friend from Bucknell was #3 in our state...and won open level tournaments on all surfaces...Dont get your hopes up man you could maybe play for a middle level D3 school if you are a 1 star, but for D1 you gotta be 3 stars and up even for the weaker schools. But dont let it get you down keep training and get better try to prove everyone wrong, but as of now I cant say I see this happening
 

Falloutjr

Banned
Seriously not jumping on the GameSetMatch band wagon but I mean D1 is F***ing legit. I practice with my friend who plays for bucknell and they are considered low tier and it takes all my power to stay in ralleys. BTW let me paint you a picture of D3 college tennis let alone D1. I played a school christopher newport (in VA) their #6 was the #4 from his graduating class in VA. My friend from Bucknell was #3 in our state...and won open level tournaments on all surfaces...Dont get your hopes up man you could maybe play for a middle level D3 school if you are a 1 star, but for D1 you gotta be 3 stars and up even for the weaker schools. But dont let it get you down keep training and get better try to prove everyone wrong, but as of now I cant say I see this happening

I never said I had to start immediately I know I'm not there yet, but I have a whole nother year to practice before I even enroll in school, and by then I should at least make it as a walk-on, then who knows what can happen from there. I never said I expected to be top 3 singles, I said make the team. I already had some offers from a few low to mid DII schools, but I turned them down because they weren't the right choice for me. They were Christian schools, and I'm an atheist and I have no intention of going to church twice a week. Secondly, they were private schools, so three or four thousand out of $30,000+ still is not a good deal. I don't want to put myself that far in debt before I graduate.
 
I never said I had to start immediately I know I'm not there yet, but I have a whole nother year to practice before I even enroll in school, and by then I should at least make it as a walk-on, then who knows what can happen from there. I never said I expected to be top 3 singles, I said make the team. I already had some offers from a few low to mid DII schools, but I turned them down because they weren't the right choice for me. They were Christian schools, and I'm an atheist and I have no intention of going to church twice a week. Secondly, they were private schools, so three or four thousand out of $30,000+ still is not a good deal. I don't want to put myself that far in debt before I graduate.

I know you didnt say start, but honestly lower level D2 schools suck they aren't much better than an average high school team, considering how they lack depth on their roster. Low level D1 teams still have 2 and 3 star kids that dont make the team let alone start. Top 3 singles will never happen unless you are a fantastic 4 star or average 5 star or a 3 star who became godly after graduating. If you are gonna go to one of the schools you listed maybe you could make the team your junior year as an alternate, but a good deal of those schools dont even bother with walk-ons they simply recruit. My one friend who is a 2 star wanted to walk on to NJIT and the coach didnt even let him practice with the team because they werent interested. And NJIT is one of the worst tennis schools in the conference and they have kids who are 3 stars who are benched...its all foreign now in D1 unless you are special or find a very very weak team in the rebuilding stages
 
damn wish i played for a better school. i play d3 and we get free warmups, a couple shirts and shorts, plus players package from any racket company. not bad but we have to pay for strings and shoes

thats all? Our team gets practice gear, uniforms, tennis bags, sweats, pinnies, free string and stringing and shoes. We only pay for racquets which sucks...I would love free racquets
 

Falloutjr

Banned
I know you didnt say start, but honestly lower level D2 schools suck they aren't much better than an average high school team, considering how they lack depth on their roster. Low level D1 teams still have 2 and 3 star kids that dont make the team let alone start. Top 3 singles will never happen unless you are a fantastic 4 star or average 5 star or a 3 star who became godly after graduating. If you are gonna go to one of the schools you listed maybe you could make the team your junior year as an alternate, but a good deal of those schools dont even bother with walk-ons they simply recruit. My one friend who is a 2 star wanted to walk on to NJIT and the coach didnt even let him practice with the team because they werent interested. And NJIT is one of the worst tennis schools in the conference and they have kids who are 3 stars who are benched...its all foreign now in D1 unless you are special or find a very very weak team in the rebuilding stages

I find it hard to believe that "weak" D1 schools all have average 5 star recruits in their top 3 and 4 spots; those are upper 5.5-low 6.0 players. I'll play B18s over the winter, and we'll see how I fare. I'll post my results in this thread after winter, and if I really stink it up, then I will consider your thoughts more. But that is my goal, and I will work myself to the bone to get it. It will take a lot to make me reconsider. Also, I think you're overestimating how hard it is to be a 1-star player. I know guys who play in my city who literally have one win in B18s and are 1-star recruits, and they are average #2 and #3 singles players. But like I said, I will play more B18s this summer, and we will see how things are in March before I make any financial commitments to any schools. Fair enough?
 
Im not overestimating thats the thing. Being a one star really is not impressive, being a good one start who actually has a winning average on the other hand is a little tougher. And being a #2 or #3 player in high school is not impressive either unless your team is stacked or has an amazing #1 player. What I'm trying to say is you cannot be average if you wanna play at a competitive school regardless of level, you have to be special
 

Falloutjr

Banned
Im not overestimating thats the thing. Being a one star really is not impressive, being a good one start who actually has a winning average on the other hand is a little tougher. And being a #2 or #3 player in high school is not impressive either unless your team is stacked or has an amazing #1 player. What I'm trying to say is you cannot be average if you wanna play at a competitive school regardless of level, you have to be special

I know, I was just proving that being a 1-star recruit isn't necessarily anything to brag about. Trust me, #3 HS singles is a joke, even I know that. That's where coaches put the pushers lol. I've seen #3 singles matches go a LOOOONG time when I was in high school o_O
 

okdude1992

Hall of Fame
^^ its true you can find a few d1 teams that have 1 stars playing for them. they are generally mediocre schools in the middle of nowhere. but you are seriously underestimating college tennis. even in d3 where im playing this year, its crazy. any ranked team is legit good. some have 4 or 5 star recruits at the top of the lineup

best way to do it is to look up colleges you are interested in on TR and see who they recruited in the past and then compare yourself to those recruits.
 

avengaar

New User
I play for a d2 school in the mid west where none of our players have any star recruit ratings. Also we aren't that amazing but we do win a fair share of matches. It can prove to a degree your good by having a good rating but it can't prove your bad.

On topic we don't get much of anything paid for though lol
 

okdude1992

Hall of Fame
^if none of the players have star ratings chances are your team is either comprised of all foreigners or not very good. no offense.

overall d2 is weaker than d3. besides the ranked schools who are often very good, there is a lot of "filler"
 
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