As a tennis coach who stands on the court for 8 hours every day, why am I increasingly unable to do without a truly practical tennis dress?
If you arrive at my court at 7 o'clock in the morning one day, you will most likely see this scene:
With one hand holding a bucket of balls and the other holding a cup of coffee, still not fully awake, I am already giving a warm-up demonstration for the first class.
By noon, I usually have:
- Hit hundreds of shots
- Ran back and forth for several kilometers
- Bent over to pick up the ball over two or three hundred times
- And still had to keep smiling, because the trainees were always watching you
This is the coach's daily routine.
Not glamorous, but very real.
So when I talk about tennis dresses, I'm not considering it from a fashion perspective, but rather from the standpoint of a profession that relies on physical performance.
If the equipment is uncomfortable, my job will become much more difficult.
If the equipment is stable, my day will be much more relaxed.
This article is not an evaluation, nor is it a list of recommendations.
Rather, it is more like a coach who has spent many years on the field sitting on the sidelines, chatting with you about truly useful experiences.
The job of a tennis coach is more "physical" than you might think.
Many people think that a coach's job is just to stand on the sidelines and give a couple of instructions.
I used to think so too, until I actually got into this profession.
The reality is:
The coach is the person who moves the most frequently.
In a standard 60-minute class, I usually accomplish the following:
- Continuous serve demonstration
- Fast lateral movement demonstration
- Simulated game rhythm
- Constantly bending over to pick up the ball
- Adjusting the positions of the trainees
And most of these actions were carried out in a high-temperature environment.
During summer, the temperature on the sports field often exceeds 30°C.
The ground also reflects heat.
The air hardly moves.
If you stand there for 10 minutes, you will feel the sweat running down your back.
So for our profession, clothing is not just decoration, but a tool.
Just like rackets and sports shoes.
The actual reasoning behind my choice of tennis dress in hot weather
If you have ever played ball in weather above 30°C, you surely know:
Heat is not merely a matter of body sensation; it is a problem of performance.
In a high-temperature environment, the body's energy consumption will significantly increase.
And clothing is one of the few factors that can directly affect body temperature regulation.
Over the years, I have developed a very simple method for making judgments.
Look at three areas:
Back
The back is the area where sweat tends to accumulate the most.
If the fabric is not breathable, you will start to feel stuffy within 20 minutes.
Waist
Here it is determined whether the heat can dissipate quickly.
Skirt hem
Moderate air circulation can significantly reduce the perceived temperature.
I once worked for 8 hours straight in a summer training camp.
That day, I wore a very lightweight and breathable tennis dress.
When the class was over, although I was very tired, I didn't have the feeling of being "completely enveloped" as I usually did.
This is the real difference that the equipment brings.
How to select tennis dresses for players of different levels
This question is one that I am asked almost every week.
The answer is actually quite simple:
Your training intensity determines your selection criteria.
If you are just starting out with playing (once or twice a week)
Focus on:
- Comfortable
- Easy to wear
- No need for frequent adjustments
There is no need to pursue complex designs.
What you need is a:
A dress that allows you to play ball with peace of mind.
If you are an advanced player (playing 3-4 times per week)
At this point, one should start to pay attention to:
- Supportiveness
- Durability
- Fabric recovery ability
Because you will clearly feel that:
Clothing begins to affect performance.
If you train frequently (at a level close to competition)
Then your standards should be even stricter:
- Stability
- Sweating efficiency
- Long-term comfort
During this stage, you will gradually develop your own preferences.
For instance, as for myself, at present I almost only choose those:
- Simple structure
- Reliable fabric
- Can withstand repeated washing
The style.
Why do I now prefer "fewer but better" tennis dresses?
Over the past few years, my closet was filled with various styles of sportswear.
There were many colors and designs, but the ones I actually wore regularly were only a few.
Later, I made a decision:
I would keep only those that I was willing to wear continuously for three hours.
The result is quite interesting.
I have noticed that the styles that actually remain popular usually share several common features:
- No complex decorations
- Stable fabric texture
- Clean cutting
- Resistant to repeated use
It was during this process that I first paid close attention to a brand like duskyonder.
Not because of the advertisements, but because several long-term training participants repeatedly wore the same dress on the court.
When a person repeatedly opts for the same piece of equipment during intense training, it usually indicates that it is indeed reliable.
To me, this is more convincing than any propaganda.
How to Determine Whether a Tennis Dress Is Worth Long-Term Use
This is the simplest method that I most frequently share with my students.
All you need to do is ask yourself 5 questions.
1.Will I forget its existence during the training?
If the answer is "yes", it indicates that it is comfortable enough.
2.Can I wear it continuously for 2 hours without adjusting it?
If possible, indicate that its structure is stable.
3.After being washed 10 times, will it still retain its shape?
If so, it indicates that the fabric quality is reliable.
4.Will I still feel relaxed in hot weather?
If so, it indicates that its breathability is adequate.
5.Am I willing to purchase the same item again?
This is the most genuine problem.
Because the body never lies.
A suggestion that I often overlooked but is actually very important.
Don't just buy one.
If you have already found a tennis dress that suits you perfectly, the wisest thing to do is to prepare at least one more as a backup.
The reason is quite straightforward:
- High training frequency
- Short washing cycle
- Fabric requires recovery time
When you use them alternately, they tend to be more durable.
This is also the practice of many professional players.
Conclusion: Equipment is never for show; it is to help you focus better.
Over the years, I have become increasingly certain of one thing:
Good equipment won't make you look more powerful; instead, it will make you feel more at ease.
When a tennis dress truly suits you, you will find:
You are no longer distracted.
Your movements are more natural.
Your rhythm is more stable.
You are more willing to stay on the court.
And this is precisely its true value.
If you are currently planning to update your sports equipment, I sincerely recommend that you take some time to carefully choose.
Don't rush, and don't just focus on the appearance.
Find that dress that you forget exists right after your first serve.
When you experience that sense of relaxation, you will understand the reason why I wrote these words today.