Summer Tennis Bag Contents

DEODORANT. Be respectful of your fellow players. If you're gonna stink it up on court, please don't do it literally!

If the various -ade drinks don't agree with you, consider some electrolyte or glucose tablets to offset what is lost through profuse sweating. I use the glucose tabs when I feel my brain starting to get fuzzy. Use common sense and use only with adult permission. Juniors, you may get the same benefit from a cold juicy snack such as frozen grapes or orange slices.

Warm weather means sweat, sweat means friction, friction means blisters. Keep some Band-Aids handy just in case.

Personally I prefer a hat. But hats/visors are not for everyone. If you prefer sunglasses, you will be so glad you remembered to bring them along on a hot sunny day at the courts. Especially when it is your turn to serve on the 'sunny' side.

Many male players change shirts multiple times during a match. You may not want to go that far, but believe me nothing is more refreshing than dry non-tennis clothes to change into for the ride home after a hot, sweaty match. Do you really want to be sitting in an over-air-conditioned restaurant for a post-match nosh in wet, clingy, smelly tennis duds?

this is one of the most-used item in my bag, so I am mentioning it again. Sweaty hands are murder on maintaining a grip, so wipe your hands as well as your grip often if you are a sweaty beast like me. Dampen the towel with some cool water and refresh your face and neck on the switch. Also consider one of those spongy towel thingies that you get wet and refrigerate. Stays cool pretty long and feels great re-wet.

Sometimes the best part of my day is approximately 10 seconds after the final handshake when I strip off the tennis shoes and socks and slip into my flips. Heaven! p.s. this also keeps the miles low on the tennis sneaks.