Tennis Gifts for Men: 18 Ideas for Players and Fans

Terry cloth wristbands matter more in tennis than almost any sport, because a sweaty hand slips on the grip. This set pairs a headband with wristbands so he can wipe his face between points without a towel trip to the bench.

Hard courts beat up feet, and thin everyday socks lead to blisters on the lateral slides. These have a cushioned footbed and arch compression, and six pairs means one for every session in a busy week.

A dampener sits between the bottom strings and cuts the ping and buzz off every hit. These silicone ones come in three feel levels, so he can choose how muted he wants the racquet. An easy stocking stuffer.

A real tennis backpack keeps two racquets padded, his shoes in a separate vented pocket and his towel and bottle within reach. It is far easier to carry on a bike or a walk to public courts than a six-racquet duffle, and it hooks onto the fence.

Every player is always one can short of fresh balls. A dozen extra duty balls made for hard courts is unglamorous but guaranteed to be used, and it pairs well with the pressurizer below.

The blue overgrip that gets tackier as hands sweat, which is why so many club players will use nothing else. A 30-pack is a season of fresh grips for a man who rewraps every week or two.

A cap that weighs almost nothing and dries fast, so it does not feel heavy and soaked by the third set. It also keeps the sun out of his eyes when he tosses for a serve.

Polarized wraparounds that weigh 24 grams and stay put during quick changes of direction. Ideal for afternoon matches on courts that face straight into the sun.

Soak, wring and snap one of these and it stays cold for a good while around his neck on changeovers. A four-pack means he can hand one to his doubles partner and the other team on a July afternoon.

The gift that makes serve practice possible. He presses the basket onto balls to pick them up without bending, then flips the handles down into legs so it stands next to him at the baseline. Holds 75 balls, enough for a real bucket session.

A tethered ball on an elastic cord attached to a weighted base, so the ball comes back after every swing. Good for grooving groundstrokes in the driveway on days his partner cancels. Best for working on technique rather than match play.

Opened balls lose pressure within days. This canister pumps three of them back to about 14 PSI and keeps them there, so a can lasts for several sessions instead of one.

If he has complained about the outside of his elbow after playing, this counterforce strap is what physical therapists usually recommend first. It sits below the joint, adjusts to fit and is thin enough to wear through a full match.

Ten minutes on a foam roller after a match loosens calves, quads and the upper back that serving tightens. This firm, full-length roller is inexpensive and lasts for years.

The 1974 classic on the mental side of the game, about quieting the self-critical voice that makes players tighten up on big points. Coaches still hand it to students, and plenty of business readers love it too.

A short parable about a coach who learns five beliefs about confidence and grit. It reads in an evening and suits a competitive player who gets in his own head during tight matches.

An insulated tumbler with a tennis design that keeps his coffee hot on the drive to early-morning doubles or ice water cold courtside. A cheerful add-on for a birthday or Father's Day.

Agassi's memoir opens with the admission that he hates tennis, and only gets more candid from there: his father's ball machine, the wig, the rivalry with Sampras and his marriage to Steffi Graf. It is often named the best sports autobiography ever written, and it lands even with readers who do not play.