What you actually need
A racket is the main investment. Size by age: 21 inches for under-9, 23 inches for ages 10-12, and full size (27 inches) at 13 and up. A quality starter racket runs $60-120. Don’t buy an adult racket for a small child—improper size leads to bad habits and injuries.
Tennis shoes matter more than most parents realize. Court shoes have soles designed to grip clay, hard courts, and grass without sliding. Running shoes on a tennis court are slippery and dangerous. Expect to spend $70-120 on decent court shoes.
A tube of balls ($5-10) is standard. Use orange dot (slower) for younger kids under 12, and regular yellow balls for older players. Stringing tension is crucial: a factory-strung racket loses tension within three months, and a loose-strung racket plays dead. Budget a restringing every two to three months at $30-50 each.
Sizing notes
Need to know what size? See our Tennis sizing guide.
Used gear notes
Play It Again Sports stocks used rackets. For used shoes, check the soles for uneven wear—heavy wear on one spot means the shoe is compensating for a swing flaw. Facebook Marketplace works too. Make sure any used racket has been recently restrung or is due for it.
What you can skip
Skip designer tennis outfits. Plain athletic clothes work. Skip string savers and expensive dampeners—gimmicks. Skip premium ball pressurization cans. Balls are cheap enough to replace when they go dead.