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Tennis Apparel

You've got the racquet, the court space, the balls and a partner whose butt you're going to whoop. How about everything else? Don't show up empty handed. That's so amateur! Be Andy and Serena-prepared. Here's how.

Find the Right Fit for your Feet

Know Your Foot Type

* Supinators generally wear out the outside part of the bottom of the shoe before the big-toe side. They tend to have wide feet. ** Shoes with extra room in the forefront and around the toes are best, as are shoes with extra cushioning to compensate for high arches. * Pronators often have flat feet and the medial part of the bottom of the shoe wears out first. ** A mid-cut model with extra support in the medial area is best. * Neutral feet are the most efficient and versatile type lucky for you! These players can sport just about any shoe.

Know the Goods

* '''Upper:''' Top portion of the shoe. Typically made of leather, synthetic leather or a combo of the two. * '''Insole:''' The part of the shoe your foot rests on. If you wear orthodics, be sure the insole is removable so you can replace them when worn out. * '''Midsole:''' The section between the shoe bottom and insole. Typically made with a foam and is often times supplemented with air or gel inserts. It's the shoe's cushioning. * '''Outsole''': Where the rubber meets the road. It affects the traction you'll get on hard and clay courts. * '''Heavy vs. Light? '''The lighter the shoe, the faster you can move around. The heavier the shoe, generally, the more cushioning (something much needed for the stopstart action of tennis players).

Tips For a Perfect Fit

* Buy your shoes after you've played a game or late in the day (your feet swell as the day goes on). * Try them on with the same socks you'll play with. * Be sure the salesperson measures the length and width of your foot. Often times, two feet are not the same exact size. If that's the case, buy the size to fit the larger foot. * Bring your old shoes. It will help the salesperson determine what kind of support you need by seeing what area is most worn out.

Top Shoe Picks

(from the editors at ''Tennis Magazine'')

Clothing

What to Look For

Cotton will absorb sweat and weigh you down. You'll want to choose apparel with "wicking" ability. Wicking is a term used to describe the way a fabric will wick (or pull) away sweat from your body and push it through the fabric to evaporate at the surface. It's called wicking because that's what a candle wick does: It absorbs fluid and draws it upward. Try to stick with polyester blends, rather than nylon, as it is hydrophobic (it hates water). Both will pull water away from your skin, but polyester does a better job. Whether you choose long sleeves or short sleeves, crew neck or v warming up. Pulled muscles and strains can happen in cooler weather if your body isn't sufficiently warmed up.  Remember, as with most fitness apparel, there are no rights and wrongs. It's simply a matter of what suits you best and allows you to perform to the best of your ability.

What's Out There

Take a look at some popular styles and manufacturers below.

Accessories

Related Buying Guides

* Tennis Ball Machines * Tennis Racquets * Tennis Balls * Tennis Racquet Strings