The Everygirl’s product selections are curated by the editorial team. If you buy something through our links, we may earn an affiliate commission, at no cost to you. We only recommend products we genuinely love.
When I first walked onto a tennis court, I was fresh out of a breakup and launching my own full-time business. I was looking for a healthy way to deal with the stress and emotion of it all, so on a whim, I took a flyer and signed myself up for tennis lessons. I’ve always been very active, and as a kid, I tried pretty much every sport under the sun—except for tennis. Much to my delight, slamming a tennis ball across a court was exactly what I needed. badminton training machine
Now, tennis is one of the greatest silver linings that came from that trying period. I’m completely obsessed with the sport and take every chance I can get to improve my game. The cherry on top is that the benefits of playing tennis are vast—it’s social, active, and both mentally and physically challenging. It’s also a life-long activity that you can keep up with at any age.
Whether you’re ready to pick up a racket or you need some motivation to dive into something new, these are a few reasons why you should consider playing tennis as a new hobby:
Because I had no experience playing tennis, I felt that the best option for getting started was to sign up for private lessons. The cost for lessons will vary depending on where you live, but the one-on-one attention I received quickly helped me learn how to control the ball, establish my groundstrokes, and ultimately build confidence.
However, if private lessons aren’t something you can swing, there are plenty of more budget-friendly ways to learn. Group lessons are typically more affordable (and they’re a fun way to meet new people!). Check your local tennis clubs for group classes, open play events, and clinics—or simply ask a friend to play with you at a park.
After I learned how to not send every ball sailing into the parking lot, I found that using a ball machine was highly therapeutic. In between my lessons, I would go once or twice a week to just play solo. Most tennis facilities have ball machines that allow you to customize the height, spin, and feed rate of the ball, meaning you can control exactly how much of a workout you get. It can be a bit intimidating at first, but the more often you go, the more comfortable you’ll be.
I would have never thought I would feel confident enough to play alone, but now I go multiple times a week to hit the ball by myself. I’m all for playing a match with other people, but going to the court alone will give you a golden opportunity to reset.
If I’m having a particularly stressful day at work and I need to let off some steam, you better believe I’m heading to the tennis court. My coach always tells me to think about something that makes me mad, and that’s when I hit the ball best.
It might seem counterintuitive to think about a stressor in order to relieve it, but I swear that something happens when you channel that energy into a strong, powerful swing. By the end of a lesson, I’ve not only gotten through a great workout, but I’ve also surely let some stress go.
There is no better way to snap yourself out of a funk than by getting outside, and playing tennis is my new favorite way to do that. As a born-and-raised California girl, I love being in the sun, and we all know that spending time in nature offers major benefits to our mental health.
I’ve also enjoyed using tennis as a way to break up my work days. If you have a flexible schedule and can sneak out for a quick match between meetings, go for it. You’ll feel so much more energized if you spend even 30 minutes outside rather than being slumped over your desk all day.
I’ll be the first to admit that my initial interest in learning how to play tennis was solely based on the cute outfits. As a kid, if there was a sport that involved a skirt, I begged my mom to sign me up. There’s just something about slipping into a tennis skirt or dress that makes me feel more like myself than putting on yoga pants. I’ve always been a girly girl and everything about tennis style hits home on that.
When I first signed up for lessons, I splurged on a classic tennis wardrobe, snagging all the preppy skorts, scrunchies, and racket bags I could find. Now that tennis and pickleball seem to be trending, there are tons of outfits worth adding to your cart. Hey, you gotta look the part!
alo Charmed Tennis Dress 2 colors available Shop it now lululemon Align Tank Top 10+ colors available Shop it now alo Grand Slam Tennis Skirt 7 colors available Shop it now lululemon Water-Repellent Stretch Tennis Jacket 2 colors available Shop it now Amazon Women's Athletic Tennis Skort 10+ colors available Shop it now lululemon Pace Rival Mid-Rise Skirt 10+ colors available Shop it now Vuori One Shot Tennis Dress 2 colors available Shop it now FP Movement Little Bit Of Love Skort 3 colors available Shop it now Revolve Cape Tennis Skirt Shop it now Mark & Graham Sporty Stripe Tennis Racket Cover 2 colors available Shop it now Mark & Graham Raffia Tennis Tote Shop it now Wilson Sportswear Classic Visor 2 colors available Shop it now FP Movement Victory Claw Clip 6 colors available Shop it now alo Oversized Scrunchie 6 colors available Shop it now FP Movement Women's Classic Ruffle Socks 4 colors available Shop it now Asics Women's Tennis Shoes 10+ colors available Shop it now
Fastest Tennis Ball Machine 20 Summer Hobbies That Are Perfect for Warmer Weather READ NOW