I call this BS. Try to bring a golf club driver with you onto an airplane without having to check in.
I believe the subject was tennis not golf...
I am down in Texas now. Carried on my racquets no issue. Note: My checked luggage got lost and arrived 2 days later. Had that been racquets I would have been SOL.
My son carried his 12 racquet bag with 6 racquets and all his other stuff down here with his team with no issue. His team all did the same on same trip down here with a transfer without issue.
We flew for a week of training at academy down in Florida and to see the Miami open this time last year. My son carried on the same racquet bag no issue.
We flew for national tournament last January and my son carried on his 12 racquet bag no issue.
We flew the same schedule / events the prior year. All carried on. All no issue.
We flew the prior year to this prior year to all the same events. All carried on. All no issue.
I can go back further if you like.
We have spoken with multiple tournament kids families who travel all do this without issue.
Again, the worst that can happen is at the gate they make you check it at the gate (which has never happened to us) and then you know at least it is on the airplane with you.
Again, I am on a trip right this minute in my hotel looking at my tennis bag that I carried on to get down here.