Quick answer: to start playing tennis, you need a racket, tennis balls, proper tennis shoes and comfortable sportswear. Everything beyond that — bags, grips, overgrips, dampeners — is useful but optional as you get going.
The essentials
- Racket: a lightweight, forgiving frame (260g-285g strung, 100-105 sq in head) is the easiest starting point for a beginner, giving a bigger sweet spot and more built-in power.
- Tennis balls: a standard tube covers your first few sessions. Beginners don't need pressureless or specialist balls — regular pressurised balls are fine.
- Tennis shoes: proper tennis shoes with lateral support matter far more than most beginners expect — running shoes are not built for the sideways movement tennis demands and increase your risk of a rolled ankle.
- Comfortable sportswear: anything breathable that allows full range of movement works. You don't need dedicated tennis clothing to get started.
Useful but not essential
- Overgrip: most rackets come with a basic grip, but adding an overgrip improves comfort and sweat absorption — cheap and easy to replace as it wears.
- Racket bag: not essential for one racket, but useful once you're carrying spare balls, a water bottle, and other kit to sessions regularly.
- Vibration dampener: a small, optional add-on that changes the sound and feel of ball contact — personal preference rather than a performance necessity.
- Sun protection: a cap and sunscreen if you're playing outdoors — easy to forget but genuinely useful for regular players.
What you don't need yet
Skip premium strings, multiple rackets, or specialist court-specific shoes until you know how often and where you'll be playing. Beginners are far better served spending on a comfortable, forgiving racket and proper shoes than on marginal upgrades they won't yet notice the benefit of.
Our recommendation
Start simple: one forgiving racket, a tube of balls, proper tennis shoes and comfortable kit. Add extras like an overgrip, bag or dampener once you know how often you'll be playing and what you actually find yourself wanting.
Next steps for new players
- Control vs power vs spin rackets: which type suits you?
- Tennis racket stiffness explained: RA rating and arm comfort
- How to hold a tennis racket: grip types explained
- Junior tennis racket size guide: what size by age and height