Ultimate Stocking Stuffer List for Tennis Players (2022 Edition)

Tis the season where it seems that every site on the planet publishes a list of stocking stuffer recommendations. Some of those lists are oriented around gifting for tennis players and enthusiasts. The vast majority of tennis-specific gift recommendation lists annoy me for a variety of reasons. 

My primary irritation centers around sites that publish “tennis specific” recommendations that make it clear that the author has absolutely no idea of what tennis players would actually want or need. I also have no patience with lists of “stocking stuffers” that don’t fit my criteria.

1. The item has to actually fit in a stocking. For example, a can of tennis balls isn’t a stocking stuffer because it genuinely won’t fit into the stocking.
2. It has to have a nominally inexpensive price. While a diamond-encrusted “tennis bracelet” will undoubtedly fit into a stocking, the cost of that item moves it firmly into the “gift” category. 

It is also traditional that from Black Friday through the end of the year that all proceeds from the affiliate links appearing on this site are donated with a 100% match. This year the National Women’s Tennis Organization (NWTO) has been designated as the beneficiary.

This year’s list has the most items ever carried on this annual traditional Black Friday Post. They are divided into categories for convenience.

Tennis Court Gear and Racquet Bag Accessories

The items in this list are tennis specific gear and accessories that should be most players will want to have in their tennis bag at all times.

	Combination Net Height Checker and Bottle Opener All tennis players should carry a device to measure the height of the net. This model hooks to the top of the net and has a weighted chain that hangs down to the appropriate length. This is the most efficient device when adjustments are needed. Additionally, this device pulls double duty as a bottle opener.
	Harrier Hardware 6-Foot Long Tape Measure Keychain, 2-Pack If the tennis ball net checker is a little too dainty for your tennis player, then I recommend a full up hardware tape measure. You need to make sure you get one that is longer than 36″ in case the net post height is questionable. I like this one because it comes with a keychain ring that can be clipped to the outside of your bag with a carabiner.
	Hook Hanger Fence Clip Peg for Towels Coming off a couple of recent clay court tournaments, I wish I would have had one of these in my bag. Also good for dusty courts or in case of ants.
	Racket Expressions Tennis Vibration Dampeners I am always a sucker for novelty vibration dampeners. And beer. And wine.
	Tennis Racket Grip Tape (6 Grips) Racquet overgrips are another area where a player might have a brand preference. I usually play with Yonex, but am willing to make an exception for the cute novelty prints offered by Alien Pros. Wilson is another overgrip brand that is a universally safe choice.
	Bottoms Up Tennis Racket Spin Stickers – Fiesta! Every time someone presents me with an unconventional racquet spin choice I inevitably smile. For anyone who has yet to encounter one of these, the normal racquet spin choices of up or down are replaced by something clever like… beer or wine? For 2022 I recommend the Fiesta edition.
	TriggerPoint Foam Massage Ball for Deep-Tissue Massage It doesn’t take a lot of space in the bag and literally works for trigger massage on any part of the body. The cover on this ball has some texture to it which grips most surfaces.
	Deodorizer Balls for Sneaker 6 Pack Have you ever hopped into the car with a tennis player and exclaimed that it smells good in there? Me neither. Sneaker balls deodorizers need to be scattered across every players world.
	Jumbo Carabiner I can explain this item in one word: ants. There is nothing like arriving on court only to realize that someone spilled a sugary sports drink under the bench area attracting every crawling insect in the zip code. A jumbo carabiner allows the racquet bag to be hung on the fence above all that mess. This is another clay court essential item.
	World Footbag Dirtbag Hacky Sack Footbag, Neon Yellow A small training device great for developing footwork. If you can successfully use one of these… I hate you.
	Silicone Jar Opener Gripper Pads (3 Pack) For tennis players that consume sports drinks or water out of manufacturer sealed bottles, this is a useful item to have hanging from the bag to assist in opening them. Essentially it provides a padded assist with the grip. When playing a match hands can be sweaty and it is also a dangerous combination with blisters.
	Travel Size Bottle Case Covid taught us to carry hand sanitizer with us at all times. You know what I really need on my bag? Sun block. These refillable bottles with carabiner sleeves can be filled with whatever lotion or gel you need on court.

Cold Weather Gear

It is tempting to advise that players who live in a part of the country where compulsory outdoor tennis in arctic conditions never happens to simply skip this and move onto the next section. However, those player probably pull this stuff out when the temperatures drop to 60 so maybe not.

I keep a small plastic box housing all three of these items in the back of my car year round. In Texas, you just never know on the weather.

	Tourna Hot Glove Mitt for Tennis I found a vintage version of this device in my childhood home over Thanksgiving a couple of years ago. When I was a kid, we would cut the toe out of a tube sock just large enough for the racquet handle to fit through which worked well enough. The commercial version works even better. Once upon a time, I had to chip ice off the court at the Junior Cotton Bowl tournament and played using one of these.
	TrailHeads Women’s Running Gloves (Touchscreen) One of my kids received a pair of these gloves for Christmas a few years ago. I borrowed them from her for a Tri-Level tournament match and made the discovery that the silicon palm grips are perfect for gripping the tennis racquet. I can legitimately play tennis in these gloves. The same company also makes a mens version. TrailHeads Men’s Running Gloves
	Ear Warmer Headband – Winter Fleece Running Ear Band Covers for Cold Weather These ear warmers work for a player that doesn’t usually wear a hat when playing, but are also flexible enough to use in combination with most caps used by tennis players. I personally wear one of these over my tennis cap when playing in extremely cold conditions.
	Nike Dri-Fit Running Wrap Tennis in cold weather is all about layers. This this Drive-Fit gaiter is much more flexible and practical than a full turtleneck. When it gets really cold, it can be pulled up to protect the face.

Tennis Lifestyle Accessories

These items are the answer to the social media prompt, “Tell me you play tennis without telling me you play tennis.” This list contains both subtle and not so subtle items.

	Tennis Novelty Pens Tennis ball themed pens are perfect for those moments when you are writing out a check for a team captain or tennis event that doesn’t take electronic payment. Please try to not exclaim “What year is this?!?!” as you do so.
	Desktop Tennis Notepad Set This set comes with a notebook featuring tennis court markings on its cover, as well as a pencil, an eraser, and a mini tennis racket. A great conversation piece for the office.
	Novelty Crew Socks Please Do Not Disturb I’m Watching Tennis These are are an integral part of my post match routine as icing my ankles after playing has become compulsory. In related news, that is a revolting development of my now advanced age.
	Tennis Woven Ankle Socks If you wear ankle socks, these are a cute option.
	Tennis Dress Socks A few years ago in a fit of frustration in the office setting, I decided that I was going to exert full control over the one area of my life where I enjoyed full empowerment. I have worn obnoxious novelty dress socks ever since. This year, this is actually a tasteful pair.
	Tennis Necktie If ties are in your life as the world returns to the office, here is a way to send a subtle message about where you would rather be.
	Multi Compartmented Tennis Case I carry a lot of zippered pouches in my bag for organizing my gear. This one has multiple compartments which is even better. Any small zippered bag is a great idea for a tennis player. You can never have too many of these.
	Tennis Stickers I use stickers on the lid of my laptop computers to distinguish mine from my co-workers in the corporate environment where our laptops all tend to be the same make and model. It is the computer geek cultural “flair.” If you are in an environment that also embraces stickers… these are the ones for tennis enthusiasts.
	Tennis Luggage Tag A distinctive luggage tag is great in a sea of similar black bags. Don’t be that person that can’t correctly identify your luggage on the carousel.
	You Got Served – Tennis Wine Bottle Label Stickers What a great captain’s gift or other wine gifting occasion. I would also consider repurposing these for the cover of paper notebooks.
	Tennis Ball Bottle Opener Keychain Something else that a player might want to hang on the outside of their bag.
	Pewter Tennis Racquet Wine Glass Charms A brand new set of wine charms for this season. This one is all tennis balls, all the time. I call the purple one.
	Tennis Ball Bath Bombs – 4 pack Bath bombs for after tennis.
	Womens Dangle Tennis Ball Earrings A tasteful demonstration of tennis enthusiasm.
	Tennis Earrings in Silver Pewter For women that prefer an even more understated look.

Tennis Accessories for… People that are Crazy about Tennis

Gifts for those players that wear their enthusiasm for the sport on their sleeves. It is a gift that explains them to the world.

	I Play Tennis to Burn Off The Crazy Pot Holder I have the coasters with this logo and am absolutely delighted that it is now available in a pot-holder. Chances are your tennis enthusiast will love it as well.
	I Play Tennis to Burn Off The Crazy Coasters I have a set of these coasters. I keep one permanently installed at my desk in the office. It… generates a lot of observations that it might not actually be working.

Tennis Medical and Health Accessories

These are small everyday non-tennis specific items that every tennis player needs. Additionally, these items are consumed which means that Santa can literally stuff the same item into the players stocking every year.

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