Less Obvious Gifts for Tennis Players

It is an annual tradition of this site to spend the post-Thanksgiving weekend sharing ideas on great gifts for tennis players. Today’s post is a list of items that are perfect to give to tennis players that are not obviously tennis specific. In fact, they might not be recognized as tennis related at all by most people.

	EGO Power+ Stick Leaf Blower In addition to yard work, this is the most effective and portable method for drying tennis courts. The lithium ion battery means that your player doesn’t have to fuss with gas cans or put wet court drying equipment in their vehicle.
	YETI Roadie 48 Wheeled Cooler Tennis players require both hydration and food. Some of the healthier options are also perishable, so it is helpful to have a cooler that can stand up to the heat of summer tennis. I like this version of the YETI cooler because the wheels make it a viable on-court option where it can also double up as a place to sit during the changeovers. That works for spectating as well, though the beverages might change.
	Apple Watch Series 8 If the tennis player in your life has never taken the plunge into a smart watch, or has been making do with a Series 1 or 2 model, it is now time to upgrade. The improved health monitoring features such as on demand heart diagnostics and sleep monitoring have moved the Apple Watch into the essential category for serious tennis players.
	GoPro HERO8 Black Retail Bundle Competitive tennis players will invest some time analyzing video of their technique and matches. They need a camera to capture the action. This bundle has almost everything you need including a spare battery and SD card. The only thing I would add to make this gift complete is the Joby GripTight Smartphone/Action Camera Flexible Tripod Stand Kit which works with most fences.
	Schwinn Fitness Indoor Cycling Exercise Bike While I love my elliptical trainer, the Schwinn IC4 bike is my favorite piece of cardio equipment. This is the poor man’s Peloton, which I prefer because DIY programming enables tennis specific interval training. “Low-Impact Interval Training” breaks down how to design your own custom routine.
	Goal Zero Sherpa 100 AC Portable Power Bank Long days at tennis events can deplete the battery on mobile devices. It is reassuring to have ample power on demand and this device delivers.
	JBL Flip 5 Waterproof Portable Wireless Bluetooth Speaker  I like to listen to music during my training sessions including on court. Depending on the play list, it can really help amp up the energy or keep things chill. It is also useful for marking out a sense of time. My JBL Flip 5 stays in my bag at all times. This bundle comes with a protective case.
	Apple AirPods Pro (2nd Generation)  Noise cancelling headphones are essential for getting your head right with tennis before the big match. Have you ever noticed how the pros have headphones on during their walkout? Any noise cancelling headphones paired with a playlist of what really needs to be in your head will work. AirPods are space efficient in the bag when compared with over-the-ear models.
	Apple AirTag 4 Pack As unimaginable as it seems, I know a lot of players that have left their racquet bag at a tennis center on at least one occasion. I am convinced that everybody should activate an AirTag and leave it in the bottom of their bag.
	Travel Jewelry Roll Storage Case I carry a jewelry roll in my tennis bag because it is the absolute best way to quickly lay hands on smaller essential items while on court. The post “My Tennis Essentials Kit” provides more details of what should be carried. Assembling one of these for the tennis player in your life is a very thoughtful thing to do.
	MIKO Foot Massager Machine with Deep-Kneading, Compression, Shiatsu, and Heat Tennis is hard on your feet. A compression massager that has built in heat really helps. I have this model and use it every day.

This holiday season, remember that a thoughtful gift for the player in your life doesn’t necessarily have to be tennis-specific. There are a lot of non-obvious items that support their competitive level that will be valued and appreciated.

I would love to hear about other ideas for gifts that fall in this category.