Spend or Save.

[J011yroger]

Most of us don't have unlimited resourses, and most of us want to do what is best for our game. So, I would like to start this thread on financial advice for players.

I have made a list of what I consider to be the main categories of tennis expenses in no particular order. I would like for you to take each item on the list, and choose spend or save with an explanation. And any hints as to how to save money.

1. Racquets.
2. String.
3. Shoes.
4. Apparel.
5. Accessories.
6. Lessons/Coaching.
7. Court Time.
8. Travel.
9. Tournament Fees.
10. Gym/Training
11. Playing Aids (Video camera, ball machine etc.)

Anything else you think of I will put on the list.

J

 

[J011yroger]

My go at it.

1. Racquets.

Save. Buy last years model, buy used, just make sure you have enough. I would rather have 2 of last years model, than 1 of this years, because really, we all know the technology is BS and it is really the dude behind the stick.

2. String.

Spend. Play with good string, restring often enough. String is more important than racquet.

3. Shoes.

Spend/Save

Nothing is more important than your feet. Buy good high quality shoes that fit you well. But sale, clearance, or last years model is a great place to save a buck or two.

4. Apparel.

Save. Clothing is a luxury, as long as you have something you are comfortable in, you are all set. Probably the least important thing.

5. Accessories.

Spend/Save. Most of the essential stuff is essential. Change your overgrips often enough (Probably more often than you do). But skimp on the unnessesary.

6. Lessons/Coaching.

Spend/Save. Spend for the best coach you can get. Whatever is within your budget, spend. I would rather have 1 lesson with a really good coach, than 5 lessons with an average one. Also spread out the lessons, better to take 1 good lesson a month, than 4 average ones. Make sure you are learning, not using the pro as a really expensive practice partner.

7. Court Time.

Save if possible. Look for parties, or other discounted times and free times. If you live somewhere with bad winters, court fees are a way of life, but if you hunt around you can usually find some good deals.

8. Travel.

Save. Play local events, get a partner to travel with you and split expenses, book fares on the internet. Really getting another person or two or three to split costs is stellar. If you have 3 friends, and all agree to play in the same events, and travel together, you can save a fortune on gas and hotels.

9. Tournament Fees.

Save. Make sure you really want to play these events, choose your battles, don't just enter them willy nilly. 50 bucks a week in tourney fees adds up.

10. Gym/Training

Spend for a good trainer, good instruction. Save on gym fees, shop around. You don't need all that fancy expensive stuff. Heck with a dumbell set and a swiss ball, a local track, a good hill, or a set of high bleachers, you can get in great shape on a low budget.

11. Playing Aids (Video camera, ball machine etc.)

Save. The wall is cheaper than a ball machine, borrow a video camera, Improvise on other aids. Tennis ball cans instead of cones and so forth.

J

 

[Rafa freak]

1st thing is what is your ntrp rating and 2nd if the new tech is BS then why do you have 4 k-90s 3rd free courts are not always nice!

 

[shwetty[tennis]balls]

Just take out a bunch of loans and get it all, and a lot of it! Spend spend spend. When you go pro, you'll look great!!!

 

[downdaline]

Yeah im a master at this part.

Of course, this doesnt mean im stingy all the time, just my take if i wanted to REALLY save money.

1. Racquets - Save. One racquet is all you need to start playing. I would just spend money ONCE to get one good racquet and stick with it. Just remember not to start throwing it around. Your racquet is your wife/husband.

2. String - Save. If you are financially restricted, you can forget abt new-tech hybrids and all. Choose something cheap and durable (PSGO or some cheap co-poly) and stick with it even if tension drops - you cant afford to be nitpicky.

3. Shoes - Save. There are some really durable shoes available out there at affordable prices. If you want your tennis shoes to stay alive, use them ONLY for tennis. If you eat shoes, then im sorry, but you got to spend then.

4. Apparel - Save. You can play tennis in anything. No Nike, Adidas stuff. A plain tee and a pair of shorts is all you need. And maybe a towel if you sweat.

5. Accessories - Save. Ok, maybe spend a little on a cheap wristband so that it'll make your overgrips last longer. If you have sweaty palms, then sorry, you will burn through overgrips, so buy in bulk one time and stick with them.

6. Lessons/Coaching - Save. I self-learned my tennis and i can beat a guy who received 2 years coaching and a friend of mine thought i was a team player or something. You just need to find an experienced friend to play with.

7. Court Time - Save. Look around for public courts and integrate yourself into the community that frequents these courts so that u'll have an easier time getting to use the courts. If you're studying, then you can also make use of school facilities. If all else fails, book courts as a group and share the cost.

8. Travel - Save. You're not a touring pro i assume? Take a bus and start your journey early so that u'll be there on time.

9. Tournament Fees - Spend. If you dont pay, you wont play. No choice here it think.

10. Gym/Training - Save. Running is free. Pushups are free. Pullups are free. Situps are free. Squats are free. Dips are free. Stick with these basic exercises and you'll be in tennis shape. You dont need arms like Rafa to play good tennis.

11. Playing Aids (Video camera, ball machine etc.) - A good pair of eyes from an experienced friend will be just as useful. There's actually an old coach who frequents my courts and i've developed a friendship with him. I can just approach him and ask a quick question abt my stroke and he'd help me. of course, nothing more than quick advice.

 

[J011yroger]

1st thing is what is your ntrp rating

Until I hurt my wrist and missed 5 months of tourneys I was in and out of the top 10 in my section in Men's open. I have 3 tourneys to play before the years end, and if I do well I could make it back into the top 10. My goal for 08 is top 5 in my section top 50 in the country.

In TW Boards rating, that makes me 2.5 give or take.

2nd if the new tech is BS then why do you have 4 k-90s

Because my N90s are getting soft, and I am switching. I have 20 more on the way. But I know that Hypercarbon, Nano Technology, and Karophite are all B.S. just like Intellifibers, Liquid Metal, Flexpoints, and Microgel.

I play just about as well with the N90s as the K90s. Very subtle differences. Heck I could play within about .5 of my level with pretty much any racquet on the market.

3rd free courts are not always nice!

Where I live certain clubs designate certain time blocks during the week as free for members to use. You just reserve 3 days in advance and you get the court for nothing. And if you book an hour adjacent to your free hour you get a nice 2 hour hit for 1/2 price.

Hope I have answered all of your questions in a satisfactory manner.

J

 

[Slazenger]

What category of player are you talking about?

What you choose to spend or save on will depend on that.

 

[J011yroger]

What category of player are you talking about?

What you choose to spend or save on will depend on that.

I was just looking to get everyone talking about what it is important to spend for, and what can be skimped on. And everyone who read could just take in peoples opinions and re-evaluate their budget. Maybe see that they were better served taking money out of one area and putting it into another.

I figured people would adjust according to thier own situation.

Example. I can't save on string. I know that, I will probably spend well over $5,000 on stringing in 08.

But I would be better served taking $1,000 out of what I spend on clothes, and spend it at saddlebrook.

Or if someone has been going around the country/world playing tournies, and has some advice on how to save, I want them to share it. If it doesn't apply to a guy who plays in a thursday night 3.0 league, then he can disreguard it.

You know stuff like that.

J

 

[Slazenger]

Oh ok. Don't you think replies should be prefaced with what kind of player the poster responding is.

For instance
Div III College player
Budget: bla bla bla

 

[Topaz]

Neat idea, Jolly...I will give this a go here...

Edited to add: I'm a former really crappy HS player (only two years in a HS that had no tennis program to speak of) who picked up the game again about 4 years ago. NTRP 3.0, singles and doubles, play lots of leagues and fewer tournaments, but looking to play more tournaments next year, and sitting on pins and needles until the new ratings coming out, hoping that an undefeated run at districts and one tournament win will get me bumped to 3.5.

1. Racquets.

Well, my current racquets only cost about 80 bucks each (Head LQ radical OS). However, I'm currently shopping, and only because trying something new made a huge difference in some of my strokes. Probably looking at 200 per racquet. If the differences stick, it will be well worth it.

2. String.

I have not educated myself very well about string, so for me this is very low on the totem pole.

3. Shoes.

Huge. Very important. I have plantar fasciitis in my right foot, and the wrong shoe will sideline me...I will spend the bucks for the right shoe. You only get two feet!

4. Apparel.

I can go either way here. What is most important to me is fit and whether or not I like it.

5. Accessories.

Not too important. It takes me quite a while to get through my Yonex supergrap...I change more often in the summer when I'm playing outside and getting sweaty.

6. Lessons/Coaching.

I will budget and spend the money for quality lessons, but I won't stick around if #1 - I'm not seeing improvement, or #2 - I'm not being worked hard. I currently play in three different clinics per week, plus one singles flight, plus a private lesson each week. The clinics range from 0 - 28 dollars, the flight is 15 per match, and the lesson is 65. When I'm feeling the pinch, I will actually pull back on lessons.

7. Court Time.

Fairly inexpensive, but important! Indoor matches are 15 per match. Outdoor (league) matches are 10. Regular court time at my club is 18 per hour, and my membership is free because I run singles flights. So, I have a sweet deal set up there.

8. Travel.

Up until now, it was only gas $. I am fortunate to live in a metropolitan area where I don't have to travel far to get to some tournaments. Leagues matches are anywhere from an hour away to ten minutes away. Next month's trip to FL will be the first time I've ever really traveled for tennis, and I'm looking forward to it.

9. Tournament Fees.

I've never thought that any fee for a tournament has been expensive, and I've never had a problem paying any of them, and I'm not exactly swimming in money. Again, tennis is something I budget for carefully.

10. Gym/Training

Again, I'm very lucky here. I live in a building with a free and renovated workout room. My gym membership is free in exchange for running singles flights. And, it is a nice gym! So, I'm taken care of here for next to nothing. Though, given my druthers, I'd rather put on the running shoes and head outside.

11. Playing Aids (Video camera, ball machine etc.)

I don't have much that would fit under this category. I have a ball hopper. It is filled with balls that were left over from matches this past season, which are included in the match fees.

[/QUOTE]

 

[SystemicAnomaly]

Yeah im a master at this part.

Of course, this doesnt mean im stingy all the time, just my take if i wanted to REALLY save money.

1. Racquets - Save. One racquet is all you need to start playing. I would just spend money ONCE to get one good racquet and stick with it. Just remember not to start throwing it around. Your racquet is your wife/husband.

....

For someone serious about tournaments, one racket doesn't cut it at all. You need at least 2 identical frames with string tensions that are similar. If your strings break during a tournament, you don't want to switch to a racket/string combo that has noticeably different playing characteristics.

 

[Federer's pet goat Leanne]

1. Racquets - get the right number of the same racquets that you need for your level.
2. String - necessity, buy the best strings that you play best with.
3. Shoes - buy high quality shoes that you feel confident playing with.
4. Apparel - Buy enough, don't overspend.
5. Accessories - Overgrips and wristbands should be enough.
6. Lessons/Coaching - Good coaching will help speed up your game, get some.
7. Court Time - save, there are always free courts some place. (Texas!)
8. Travel - Traveling costs build up fast.
9. Tournament Fees - choose wisely.
10. Gym/Training - necessary if you want those tight buns
11. Playing Aids (Video camera, ball machine, etc.) - if you have extra cash, get a video camera. Not a ball machine.

 

[shojun25]

I would like to add...

Racquets: Buy the most racquets you will need. Don't go crazy with buying 5 totally different racquets from each other, but atleast buy 2 identical racquets if you are somewhat serious of the game.

Stringing machine: A total investment. A must for string breakers or players experimenting with different strings. Instead of spending $10-$20 for stringing labor for each racquet, you can just buy a $150-$500 stringing machine that will practically last for a lifetime.

Strings/Accessories: Always try to buy in bulks/reels. You will most likely save some money and you will be set for a good amount of time.


Also, I totally agree with the borrowing a video camera from a friend. Another good thread JJ.

 

[stormholloway]

Dude, this is America. You don't save money.

Get real.

 

[tennisace432]

low budget guide

1. Racquets.

2 or 3 quality ones are enough. dont obsess over the frames too much

2. String.

save don't obsess. if you have friend who strings or some kid who knows how to string for cheap go for it

3. Shoes.

save. nothing special here. wear it until the soles wear out
4. Apparel.

t-shirt and shorts. lots of tournaments give free t shirts (usta)

5. Accessories.

???
6. Lessons/Coaching.

private lessons every once in awhile

7. Court Time.

if cold weather, try to play outside anyway.. try other excersises like running etc good for tennis. take an indoor private, court time and still learning

8. Travel.

play local tournaments/ get ride from a friend who is playing the same one if pos.

9. Tournament Fees.

2 times a month is good enough
10. Gym/Training

go to your nearest park for fitness

11. Playing Aids (Video camera, ball machine etc.)

try to find a hitting partner instead, better than a ball machine..

 

[SystemicAnomaly]

Strings:

You don't really need expensive strings. To my mind, proper string tension and suitable string gauge are more important considerations than spending a lot on high-tech strings. Determine the optimum tension that suits your frame, the type of string you use, and your playing style (& needs).

Consider a thinner string, particularly for your mains, to improve spin & control. You might wanna go with a thin gauge Luxilonstring for your mains. Luxilon strings (and a few other polyester strings) are worthy of consideration since they can last 3x longer than conventional nylons.

Note that these types of strings are very stiff, so many players use it only for the mains and also decrease their string tension by 10-15%. For the cross strings, you could go with a softer, cheaper nylon (synthetic gut) so that the stringbed will not be too stiff. Many pros have switched to a mix of polyester (Luxilon) and gut.

Another way to greatly improve string life is the use of string savers (or string-a-lings). Before I discovered these string life extenders, I would break strings every 10 days or so. When I started using the string savers, my strings lasted for 4-6 months. String savers can also improve spin & control on your shots by reducing slippage & adding texture to the stringbed. They also allow you to use thinner string gauges w/o fear of frequent breakage. Pretty sure that Roger Federer, Pete Sampras, Lleyton Hewitt, Michael Chang and numerous other pros have used these devices.

As an alternative to investing in buying reels of strings, buy packages of strings online. You can probably find a shop or qualified stringer to string your racket for $15 or less if you provide your own strings. With the cost of the online-bought strings and the stringing labor, you should be able to save a fair amt of $$$.

Shoes:

Some, but certainly not all, cross-trainer shoes are often suitable for tennis. I have found that Nike Air Monarch & 1 model of New Balance suited me & my feet better than any tennis shoe that I've tried. The Nike Air Monarch x-trainer can sometimes be found on sale for $35-50. The support & cushioning in this shoe is far superior to all others that I've tried.

Lessons/Coaching:

Once (or 2x) per month could suffice. Supplement the coaching by watching videos online, particularly slow-motion videos, of top players on YouTube and some of the instruction videos on various tennis sites.

Check here for some free instruction sites. You might also try a pay site for a month or 2. It will undoubtedly be cheaper than taking extra private lessons. You can always check out their free samples as well.

 

[J011yroger]

Oh ok. Don't you think replies should be prefaced with what kind of player the poster responding is.

For instance
Div III College player
Budget: bla bla bla

Sure, good idea.

J

 

[J011yroger]

For someone serious about tournaments, one racket doesn't cut it at all. You need at least 2 identical frames with string tensions that are similar. If your strings break during a tournament, you don't want to switch to a racket/string combo that has noticeably different playing characteristics.

Did you see my groovy guide to how many racquets you need?

http://tt.tennis-warehouse.com/showthread.php?t=127992

J

 

[goober]

Personally I think you can save for all these categories and have very good stuff for most club players

1. Racquets. I bought 3 brand new volkls on close out 3 years ago for a total of $220. I am still using them

2. String. Buy your own stringer (a must if you want to save). IMO a dropweight is good enough if you string for yourself. Buy reels of string. You can get very good strings syn gut and polys if you do your research that will come out to under $3/string job.

3. Shoes.: Again get high end shoes but get last years or even 2 years ago models on close out. I have paid less than $50 for Barricade IIs, IIIs, BF IIs, IIIs.

4. Apparel and Accessories. Same deal and much easier to save money here if you are so inclined since it won't affect your performance like tennis shoes.

6. Lessons/Coaching.: People learn differently. For me I found the just studying different learning materials- website, books, DVD and thinking about it and trying to apply it more cost effective than lessons.

7. Court Time.: Public courts at tennis centers are the best for the cost ($2-3) and it comes pretty close to private tennis clubs. Regular public community courts are second best. High school courts I am not too fond of.

8. Travel. If something is not in driving distance I am not going. I am not that crazy about tennis.

9. Tournament Fees. Most I ever paid was $33. I think they are somewhat expensive, but I agree just play in the ones you really want to play in.
10. Gym/Training I work out on my own at home- light weights, running. swimming, bicycle. I am at least in as good shape or better than the vast majority of club players that I come across.

11. Playing Aids (Video camera, ball machine etc.) I don't spend any money on these.

 

[ananda]

excellent posts Jolly and others.
Please mention something about tennis balls, too.
Praps the cost is negligible in the US, but not here.
Is buying the best and changing regularly necessary.
Or use balls till they are dead, or change monthly/weekly etc

 

[rosenstar]

This list is in order of what I think is most important:

1. Racquets.

2. String.

3. Lessons/Coaching

4. Fitness/working out

5. Court Time (only in winter of course)

6. Shoes.

7. Tournament Fees.

8. Apparel and Accessories.

9. Travel.

10. Playing Aids

I happened to agree with a lot of J011yroger's thoughts, I just quoted them and added a little twist if necessary

1. Racquets.

Save. Buy last years model, buy used, just make sure you have enough. I would rather have 2 of last years model, than 1 of this years, because really, we all know the technology is BS and it is really the dude behind the stick.

agreed. just like to add to spend time and money (if necessary) demoing frames. find a frame that you really like, and really enjoy playing with. don't settle for something that's so-so because it's convinient

2. String.

Spend. Play with good string, restring often enough. String is more important than racquet.

Depends on the level of play. if 3.5/4.0+, strings are very important, however, many players below that level can bearly tell the difference between strings.

3. Shoes.

Spend/Save

Nothing is more important than your feet. Buy good high quality shoes that fit you well. But sale, clearance, or last years model is a great place to save a buck or two.

also depends on style of play. For me, duribility is important. I was going through a pair of shoes every week. they were prince vipor high tops, cost ~$60. I tossed in about $110 for a pair of barricade IV's, and those have lasted me 4 months thus far. (that's a record!!!)

4. Apparel.

Save. Clothing is a luxury, as long as you have something you are comfortable in, you are all set. Probably the least important thing.

100% agree.

5. Accessories.

Spend/Save. Most of the essential stuff is essential. Change your overgrips often enough (Probably more often than you do). But skimp on the unnessesary.

again, I agree mostly. If you have the money, spend it, otherwise, not too big a deal.

6. Lessons/Coaching.

Spend/Save. Spend for the best coach you can get. Whatever is within your budget, spend. I would rather have 1 lesson with a really good coach, than 5 lessons with an average one. Also spread out the lessons, better to take 1 good lesson a month, than 4 average ones. Make sure you are learning, not using the pro as a really expensive practice partner.

Coaching depends on your goals in tennis. If you just want to have fun and play casually, I agree with what you said, however, if you want to play competitively, (tournaments, college tennis, etc) coaching is an absolute must. IMO, for a competitive player, coaching is the third most important thing, next to racquets and strings.

also like to mention that finding a good pro, and spliting a lesson 2 or 3 ways, makes it cheaper and nearly as effective.

7. Court Time.

Save if possible. Look for parties, or other discounted times and free times. If you live somewhere with bad winters, court fees are a way of life, but if you hunt around you can usually find some good deals.

Again, I agree.

8. Travel.

Save. Play local events, get a partner to travel with you and split expenses, book fares on the internet. Really getting another person or two or three to split costs is stellar. If you have 3 friends, and all agree to play in the same events, and travel together, you can save a fortune on gas and hotels.

once again, I agree. but I do feel that this type of travel really only applies to the competitive players who travel on a regular basis. If your traveling to one tournament a month, unless your traveling long distance, this shouldn't be too expensive.

also, to save money, book tourney's near someone you know (close friend or family) and see if you can crash at their house. of course, don't pressure them or be too intruding.

9. Tournament Fees.

Save. Make sure you really want to play these events, choose your battles, don't just enter them willy nilly. 50 bucks a week in tourney fees adds up.

agreed.

10. Gym/Training

Spend for a good trainer, good instruction. Save on gym fees, shop around. You don't need all that fancy expensive stuff. Heck with a dumbell set and a swiss ball, a local track, a good hill, or a set of high bleachers, you can get in great shape on a low budget.

I think this too depends on level of play. the more competitive you are, the more important fitness is. for me, fitness is fourth most important. I also really enjoy this stuff, and almost consider it another sport I participate in next to tennis.

11. Playing Aids (Video camera, ball machine etc.)

Save. The wall is cheaper than a ball machine, borrow a video camera, Improvise on other aids. Tennis ball cans instead of cones and so forth.

yeah, don't waste your money, most of this stuff is completely worthless, especially ball machines and cones. video camaras are very helpful, but that's something you can borrow from a friend for a couple of hours.

 

[LuckyR]

It seems about half of the posts recommend saving on everything. OK...

IMO, I would spend on string for certain. If you are a person with problem feet and can't wear any old shoe then I would definitely spend on shoes (of course by saying "spend" I mean get exactly what you want, which if you are sticking with a shoe after it has dropped in popularity, could mean spending way less than the newer model.

Racquets- I would spend what ever it took to get exactly what you want, but I would not respend to get this year's model in a repetitive way.

The rest of the stuff can be obtained in a cost effective way.

 

[J011yroger]

excellent posts Jolly and others.
Please mention something about tennis balls, too.
Praps the cost is negligible in the US, but not here.
Is buying the best and changing regularly necessary.
Or use balls till they are dead, or change monthly/weekly etc

If you are playing for fun, it isn't as important.

But if you are a competition player, you don't want to be grooving your strokes hitting dead balls, and have to adjust to new ones for matches.

J

 

[dennis10is]

Dude, this is America. You don't save money.

Get real.

Agreed!

Jolly, I'm against what you are doing! We are heading for a recession in the US if Americans start to hold back on the spending, it will be a disaster!

For those of you who are not about to default on your mortgage, please, please, take a good look at all of your credit cards, and put them to good use. If you start hearing that one industry is not doing well, support it by spending on that industry.

Here are some pointers. If tech goes sour, upgrade to higher speed internet, buy a router, buy a new computer, buy software to edit your videos of you playing tennis.

If Best Buy is slipping, buy one or two video camera, buy a DSLR, with lots of fast lenses.

If clothing is taking a dive during the holidays, buy all the Dri-fit, Clima-fit that you can.

Go to Home Depot, build your own tennis courts, help the housing construction slump.

Buy a new SUV so that you can lug all of your tennis gear to tennis tournaments. Fly to far away tennis resort destinations. When you switch sides, open a new can of balls.


Be Patriotic, help spend our way out of the impending recession. Only the consumer can save America. We've done it before, we will continue to be victorious in our Global War on Economic Slowdown.

 

[raiden031]

Excluding open-level tournament players, I would say save on everything except court time. With court time you have no choice and you need to keep playing in the winter. But skip clinics because they are too expensive and you don't get much instruction compared to a private lesson. There are plenty of good racquets for under $100. I buy string that costs me $3 per string job and can't imagine how buying good strings would actually help my game. Except maybe string that doesn't break so often might be a little nice.

 

[The Watchman]

I'm writing these as a league player who plays 3-4 times a week:

1. buy a restringing machine. It allows you to get away with less racquets (you can restring more often, and restring the evening that you break a string)

2. buy things that are relevant to hitting a tennis ball well:

- tennis specific shoes for good grip and to take care of your feet

- overgrips for a good grip on the racquet

- a racquet that allows you to hit deep consistent shots (there is no difference between new and old racquets apart from colours). If you get a restringing machine, you'll only need two.

- decent strings. For most, a thin synth gut will be fine and saves your arm and shoulder. Even those these break often, if you have a restringing machine, that's not a problem.

- new balls. You have to replicate match play as much as possible - this means new balls.

* Whatever court time that best allows you to improve. For some this will mean more lessons, for some more tournaments/match play, for others more drills with tennis buddies.

Things involved in the 'look' aren't important - apparel, tennis bags, new season racquets and shoes where you're buying them for their appearance only.

Training is very important, but you can get more than fit with your bodyweight, a chin up bar, a hill and a resistance band (for shoulder stability work) - dumbells would also be nice. A world of squats, 1 leg squats, lunges, hill sprints, chin ups, push ups, burpees, one arm snatches, cleans, presses, dumbell swings, and external rotation exercises awaits!

 

[NickOlsen]

Ok. I'm based in the Land of Oz, so the ratings are prolly a bit blurred. I'm prolly somewhere in 4.0-4.5. Just started playing after 6-7 years off (stopped playing at end of high school).

When I started playing again (about 2 months ago) this is what I bought and how I bought it.

Racquets - used to play with Head PC600, found it has minor cracks. Couldnt purchase any more, so I looked around and demo'd a heap of frames (very hard to find demo "player" sticks). Ended up loving the K90, so I bought 3 at wholesale through Wilson and they made sure they were 3 that were fairly close in Weight, HL and SW(my tennis centre is wilson sponsored). Also got a nice super-six wilson bag at cost.

Strings - Still fiddling round with this. Currently loving the ALU Rough, going to try these on crosses with gut in the mains for feel. When I decide on the right string, I will buy a reel, until then I buy sets and half-sets. With Tension, you need to be able to play with different tensions. Work out for the racquet you are using the high and low (+- 5lbs), and flow from there. I'm deciding what different tensions to have my 3 racquets at. Whether 2 at the one tension and one at another, or have them spaced, or all at the same tension.

Shoes - Settled on the Adidas Barricade 4's, mainly cause of support. I find myself wearing these 24/7 atm. But when I decided on them, I bought from a direct factory outlet, paying about half price.\

Apparel - bought nike and adidas. I got the good stuff because it doesnt stick to you with sweat and feels really light when they are full of sweat. I bought direct factory again, saving a ton. And only got 2 sets (2 shirts, 2 shorts, hat). I inveseted into a pair of sunnies aswell because it was a tax-deduction for me.

Balls - There is no way you can judge your game, and make adjustments with dud balls. And they go dead before they look dead. As soon as they loose a little bit of pressure, its time to add them to the pile and sell them to a kiddie coach. I find a new set of balls every 3 sets is about right (or 3 hours of solid ball-crushing hitting)

String Machine - I have one that an ex- satellite player friend gave to me, but I much prefer paying the $15AUS it costs for my club stringer to string it. He does it quicker, is on hand, and I trust him (ex Davis Cup Stringer). Can't say the same for myself. I have a family of my own and prefer spending time with them rather than stringing. However, if you are travelling, and cost-conscious then get your own portable machine. My time is worth more than $15 per hour.

Grips - Much like string, once you settle on what you like, purchase by the roll. I find myself changing grips every 1-2 weeks depending on play. If i'm playing a tournament, fresh grips and string.

Training Aids - I don't have any of these things. I hire a ball machine from time to time from my tennis centre. But the BEST thing to have is the last two points...

Coach - INVEST in a good coach. The best advice to give. Research your coach more than your racquet. I spend about 6-7 weeks looking at different coaches training before I decided on the one I use. And he is only available during the school holidays because he is booked solid. So I get 2-3 lessons every 2-3 months

Hitting Partner - Extremely important. If you cant find a hitting partner thats BETTER than you, then play more fixtures! Don't just rally! Unless you are specifically working on something and there is a purpose to it. If you find yourself mindlessly hitting rally balls, play a set! Practice as though its war, and war will become as practice!

Fitness - The best thing to focus on here is balance, footwork and flexibility. There is nothing more powerful than the combination of balance, technique and flexibility. Do what you need to do, but I have always found freeweights and bodyweight excercises more than enough. Interval Running, Skipping Ropes, Home weight bench, Tennis court. All you need.

 

[Cindysphinx]

Here's a perspective on this from a Total Newbie who is now just a 3.0:

1. Racquets.

Save. Get a used racket. After about a year, demo your head off until you find the right one for you. Use your new good one as the main one, and the crummy one as the back-up.

2. String.

Save. Get something good enough to avoid tennis elbow, but that's it.

3. Shoes.

Depends on your age. Middle-aged? Spend. Young? Save.

4. Apparel.

Save. Buy a couple of things that make you comfortable, then stop.

5. Accessories.

Save. If you use them at all.

6. Lessons/Coaching.

Pay now or pay later. If you develop a lot of bad habits, they will cost a fortune in lessons to undo later. Better to get coaching to do it right the first time.

7. Court Time.

Spend. You can't improve if you can't play/practice, and if the weather doesn't allow it, you're stuck.

8. Travel.

Save. Stay home and work on your serve.

9. Tournament Fees.

Huh? Save.

10. Gym/Training

Save. Run. Run hills. Run sprints. Do ab work. These things are free.

11. Playing Aids (Video camera, ball machine etc.)

. Save.

 

[Pusher]

Most of us don't have unlimited resourses, and most of us want to do what is best for our game. So, I would like to start this thread on financial advice for players.

I have made a list of what I consider to be the main categories of tennis expenses in no particular order. I would like for you to take each item on the list, and choose spend or save with an explanation. And any hints as to how to save money.

1. Racquets.
2. String.
3. Shoes.
4. Apparel.
5. Accessories.
6. Lessons/Coaching.
7. Court Time.
8. Travel.
9. Tournament Fees.
10. Gym/Training
11. Playing Aids (Video camera, ball machine etc.)

Anything else you think of I will put on the list.

J

Good thread and topic.

This may be an entirely different topic but I will approach it from the standpoint of the costs of training a junior player. Maybe a very different animal than that of playing and training as an adult.

1. Racquets: Best to keep it simple with this glorified tool. Forget brand loyalty and new technology. A racquet is a frame that you put strings on so the important point here is getting the right weight. Make sure it is fairly stiff and understand that long term committments to a frame are not possible. Junior players change too quickly in regards to strength and playing level. Expect to change frames every six months. Forget used frames especially when the junior reaches 16 or so. Hitting thousands of balls every week will tear down the best of frames and used ones won't last very long.

2. String: I've never heard a junior player say he lost a match because of poor strings. Almost any string can be made to work at the right gauge and tension. Cheap synguts until they start to break at the two hour mark and then a durable poly thereafter. Forget Luxillion and other high cost polys-string cheap and string often.

3.Shoes: More important than many realize. Bad shoes can cause injury and that is the bear in the closet for tennis players. A decent pair of shoes will last maybe one month. Like tires, soft rubber is best but cost more. Get shoes that can double for school or leisure wear as walking doesn't do much damage to these shoes. If you find a good deal buy 4 or 5 pair.

4.Apparel: Again, buy apparel that is suitable for other activities. Cheap is not necessarily better.

5.Accessories: No cameras or ball machines or weird training devices. Get a decent stringer and a quality bag that will last. Make sure the stringer is portable so you can take it on trips. Relying on tourney stringers is asking for trouble.

6. Lessons/coaching: This is the high ticket item. Deciding on a training regimen is difficult particuarly for a non teching pro parent. If you rely on coaches to do this for you then it is at your own risk. Parents have to stay involved and make decisions. A lot of mistakes are made here and the ideal regimen changes all the time. Use more than one coach. Use time wisely and stay away from clinics where there is a lot of joking around and little work being done. Training to be a player is work-the fun comes in competing and winning. Being around other serious players is crucial. Expect to pay $500 per month at a minimum. Much more can be justified.

7. Court time: Not all courts are created equal. Ideally you would join a club with a serious junior program. If possible, use courts where other players train such as college teams. You can learn a lot just being around other players and you may just find a good hitting partner. Public courts are a last resort. Casual players are a distraction you don't need.

8. Travel/tourneys: Unavoidable expense. Points and ranking are at stake. You have to go to the competetion and you can't make it into a camping trip. Decent hotels and food are required. Staying in a dump and eating crappy food will drag down even the most committed player.

9. Gym: Not necessary. Unless you are a full time pro this is a luxury you don't have time for. Gym time takes away from court time and you have to prioritize. Get a jumprope and use it. Get a 2.5 lb dumbell and use it on your wrists. Avoid anything that may harm flexibility.

I've made a lot of mistakes in the training of my son and some of them have stunted his development. Staying with bad coaches too long, wasting money on useless equipment including racquets and string. But maybe my biggest mistake has been in not listening to what he is telling me about his training, his equipment and his coaches. I could write much,much more about this topic but I suspect I would bore most people.

Thanks

 

[J011yroger]

8. Travel/tourneys: Unavoidable expense. You have to go to the competetion and you can't make it into a camping trip. Decent hotels and food are required. Staying in a dump and eating crappy food will drag down even the most committed player.

The buddy system can be a huge asset to this. You can cut a good amount of your expenses in half.

J

 

[Pusher]

The buddy system can be a huge asset to this. You can cut a good amount of your expenses in half.

J

Sometimes thats possible but usually not. For example, If I live in S.C and I want to play a southern sectional tournament in Atlanta whats the chances of finding someone to share expenses? Most of the time it just can't be worked out.

 

[J011yroger]

Sometimes thats possible but usually not. For example, If I live in S.C and I want to play a southern sectional tournament in Atlanta whats the chances of finding someone to share expenses? Most of the time it just can't be worked out.

Are you friendly with other parents of highly ranked juniors locally? You have to know the kids your son regularly competes against. Never hurts to throw it out there. Especially if they can play dubs together.

Tennis is about three things.

1. Who you know.
2. How much money you have.
3. How good you are.

In that order. Unfortunate, but true.

J

 

[TENNIS_99]

Tennis is about three things.
1. Who you know.
2. How much money you have.
3. How good you are.
In that order. Unfortunate, but true.
J

#2 can only helps #1, and yes it's unfortunate.

Good thread. For me,

1. Racquets.
SAVE
After experimenting many racquets, I stick with my old I. radical. Bought three at $58 each, spent a couple of months customerizing them, love it now. They will be the racquets for me for the next 2 years. Save me time and money looking at new gimmicks.
2. String.
SPEND on string machine and SAVE later.
bought a cheap Gamma 2 allow me to try different strings at minimum costs. Find my favorite set up - PSGD 58/Challenger 62. Now I can afford money and time to string after every 4-5 hours of playing.

3. Shoes.
SPEND
Very,Very important. I had bad ankle problem. I was very surprised the first time I tried Barricade II. It really pretects my ankle well, but after 6 months it worn out and felt hollow. This is the money I have to spend though.

4. Apparel.
SPEND SMARTLY
4 YEARS ago, I bought a couple of Nike dry fit t shirt at some sales(maybe $25 dollars each). They are very comfortable and last forever. After 4 years, the lingo on the t-shirt was washed out blurred but the quality is still there. Don't go for cheap t-shirt.

5. Accessories.
LOOK FOR FREE.
For 2-3 months in this summer I bought Wilson US open 4 canned package each week and it comes with free head band and wrist band - there are enough for me for a couple of years - there are always deals like that if you look for it.

6. Lessons/Coaching.
SPEND SMARTLY
It's too much money completely committed to private lessons. I personally don't feel I got too much from group lessons since they are just work out for me. With very limited budget to spend, I learn to make the best of each private lesson. I know exactly what I need to work on before I step into the court - mostly from thoughts after tourny matches. Before I hate to waste every second in private lesson because it's so expensive but i found spend just 2 miunutes before the lesson and some quick chats during really help to stay on the right direction. And you know what, instructors like that too. I guess they quite fed up doing the same routine 6-8 hours a day every day. 3-4 lessons a month.

7. Court Time.
Public courts. Winter sucks.

8. Travel.
too luxury for me.

9. Tournament Fees.
USTA tornament fees get more and more expensive. But there is little I can do because that's all those money and efforts are for and there are not many local tennis tournament.

10. Gym/Training
Like someone says you can do without it, I run 2 miles a day, 5 days a week and some weight training at home. But look for good deal too - I might go for a gym for $8 a month recently offerred.

11. Playing Aids (Video camera, ball machine etc.)
Nothing left when comes here

 

[ZPTennis]

I go through strings fast. My $400 stringing machine has probably already saved me $2000. So if you break strings, meaning you hit the ball hard enough, get yourself a stringing machine and learn to string correctly.

 

[johnny ballgame]

Tennis is about three things.

1. Who you know.
2. How much money you have.
3. How good you are.

In that order. Unfortunate, but true.

Eh? Tell that to Venus and Serena, Richard didn't know anybody.

It's still largely about how good you are. If you're good enough, the people and money FIND YOU.

 

[Pusher]

Are you friendly with other parents of highly ranked juniors locally? You have to know the kids your son regularly competes against. Never hurts to throw it out there. Especially if they can play dubs together.

Tennis is about three things.

1. Who you know.
2. How much money you have.
3. How good you are.

In that order. Unfortunate, but true.

J

Money is the root of all tennis.

Any aspiring junior player that is not at a full time academy or home-schooled is at a big disadvantage.

Talent is somewhat of an equalizer but talent plus resources equals a very good player.

 

[Pusher]

Eh? Tell that to Venus and Serena, Richard didn't know anybody.

It's still largely about how good you are. If you're good enough, the people and money FIND YOU.

I disagree. Venus and Serena are extraordinary talents that Richard did a good job training-at least until they became known in the tennis community.

You're saying that if you are one in 100 million you can make it, i.e. no chance.

 

[tzinc]

1. Racquets.
Spend within reason. Look for a good deal on the racquet you like but maybe get it used. If you change racquets sell your old ones.

2. String.
You have to spend to get the string you like. Shopping around is an option.

3. Shoes.
Need to spend and get a good quality shoe. Bad shoes equal too much wear and tear on the body. Can wait for sales.

4. Apparel.
Do Not Spend. Use clothes you already have.

5. Accessories.
Cheap accessories are fine but only necessary ones like say a dampener.

6. Lessons/Coaching.
Depends on your level and where you want to go. I play for fun so I don't need these.

7. Court Time.
In the winter you have to spend. But in the summer you can find public courts and play for free. At least where I live.

8. Travel.
Only applies to higher echeleon players.

9. Tournament Fees.
Only applies to higher echeleon players.

10. Gym/Training
Depends how serious you are.

11. Playing Aids (Video camera, ball machine etc.)
Depends how serious you are.

 

[johnny ballgame]

I disagree. Venus and Serena are extraordinary talents that Richard did a good job training-at least until they became known in the tennis community.

You're saying that if you are one in 100 million you can make it, i.e. no chance.

But he ranks "who you know" as #1 and "money" as #2. Those are worthless without talent (if we're talking about making it to the pro tour). Money and connections cannot buy talent. The absolute prerequisite to success is talent. Not money and connections.

 

[ZPTennis]

But he ranks "who you know" as #1 and "money" as #2. Those are worthless without talent (if we're talking about making it to the pro tour). Money and connections cannot buy talent. The absolute prerequisite to success is talent. Not money and connections.

Do you have to be athletic, yes. But being extremely talented i'd have to disagree.

A player who starts at a young age who has better work ethic than 99.99% of the other players out there are the ones who have a chance.

If you look at a guy like Todd Martin, I think he's a perfect example.

When I watched him play, I don't think I ever saw anything that he did that I would regard as talented. I did see great shots he would hit from time to time that would be due to his very good robotic like strokes but you never really saw anything special from him. He was a smart player who played the percentages better than most. And it was said, that he trained harder than anyone on tour at the time.

Work ethic is the key, combined with good athleticism.

 

[meowmix]

Really crappy player, about 3.0, doing a bit of improvement and aiming for 4th Doubles Varsity on my HS team.

My costs
Racquet: you really only need 2. I picked up both of mine for under 100 bucks.
Sting: I don't string until the string breaks. That's only happened once this year
Shoes: I just wear whatever happens to be on my feet at the time.
Apparel: If it fit, is comfortable and has a pocket or two, then its fine.
Accessories: other than the necessary overgrips (I change every 2 months or so), lead tape and a dampener, what else do you need? I really don't get it. Does a handband with a Nike symbol on it make you play that much better?
Lessons/coaching: I do two clinics. It runs up to about 70 bucks a week. However, I'm planning on dropping a clinic and substituting half an hour of private a week.
Fitness/working out: I just work out at my HS gym. They've got more equipment there than at the tennis club.
Court time: just hit on the public courts. I don't see why people insist on paying 30 bucks when the weather's perfect for tennis
Tournaments: at my level, what tournaments? : ) (no really, just play in the ones you really want to. The most I pay is 15 bucks)
Travel: never traveled anywhere for tennis in my life