Functional Tennis

2024 Gift Guide

A list of my favourite tennis products that will help you serve a great gift, that won't be returned!!

RACKETS

BABOLAT PURE AERO

Functional Tennis Racket of the Year 2023 + 2024

SHOP PURE AERO

The Alcaraz racket broke Wilson’s long-standing hold on our Racket of the Year title. While I’ve never been a long-term user of Babolat rackets, this one had me seriously considering a switch. Straight out of the box, it offers an impressive combination of power, control, spin, and—most importantly for me—stability. I really enjoyed playing with it and almost made the full-time switch from my pro spec Radical, which I’ve been using thanks to my former pro friend James McGee, who got me hooked on his.

Wilson Blade 100

SHOP BLADE

I’ve always loved the idea of playing with a Blade—the sleek design and the fact that so many pros use them make it really appealing. But no matter how many times I tried, it just never clicked for me. That was until Jonas, aka The Tennis Nerd, recommended the 100 sq. in. version. He said it was the one to go for, and he was right. I finally found a Blade I could actually use. The version I played with was the previous model, which has the same specs as the new one—just with an updated, stunning paint job. If you like the Pure Aero, you’ll likely enjoy this one too. It offers a bit less power but more control, making it a great option to try alongside the Pure Aero!

SHOES

Asics Solution Speed FF3

Functional Tennis HQ shoe of choice

SHOP SOLUTION SPEED

I’ve always preferred a light shoe. Back in the early 2010s, Diadora had a light shoe that I liked, but once Asics released the Solution Speed in 2012, it completely won me over. I still remember that green color and the incredible lightness—I loved it. Since then, Asics has only made it better, improving the durability, stability, and comfort while maintaining its signature lightweight feel. I've been fortunate enough to try every model, and with Asics as our podcast sponsor. If you want to cover the court like Alex de Minaur, these are the shoes for you.

Asics Court FF3 Novak

2023 + 2024 Functional Tennis Shoe of the Year voted by our Instagram Followers

SHOP COURT FF3 NOVAK

Asics has been the undisputed Shoe of the Year champion for the past three years, and it's well-deserved. They consistently improve their shoe range, unlike some brands that seem to be moving backward.

The Court FF3 Novak is an exceptional shoe, designed with input from Novak Djokovic himself. (You can hear more about this in my chat with Renee, the product designer, where he shares the details of its development.) This shoe offers great stability and provides support in all the right areas, allowing you to get your body into those awkward positions needed to retrieve tough balls.

Personally, I find the shoe a bit too stiff for my liking, and I’m not a big fan of sleeves. But if it's good enough for world number one Novak, it’s hard to argue against it!

sock fillers

Solinco Hyper G

My go-to string is Solinco Hyper-G Soft—I’ve tested many, but I always come back to this one. It offers a great balance that suits my game, and while the soft version may not hold tension as well as the standard, it provides extra arm comfort. Solinco recently released a round version, ideal for flatter ball strikers or in a hybrid setup.

SHOP HYPER G

Tourna Grip Dry

You’re either a Tourna Dry or a Wilson Sticky player—it’s definitely polarizing! I’ve always been a Tourna Grip user. Even without playing in humid conditions, I find Tourna provides just the right amount of grip, while Wilson feels too sticky for my taste. For those who feel that Tourna grips wear out quickly, there’s now a Tuff version with greater durability. Plus, you can flip them after use—or even use them upside down—for up to four uses!

SHOP TOURNA

TENNIS BALLS

Tennis balls have been a hot topic in the pro game, with players noting they fluff up quickly, resembling furballs. Personally, I haven’t had issues—though I don’t hit with the same volume or pace as the pros.

I find Wilson US Open balls are great for indoor hard courts and tend to be faster than Dunlops. Dunlop balls, on the other hand, feel slightly heavier but respond well to topspin. Choosing between them often depends on what’s available.

One thing that’s improved my game is consistently sticking with one type of ball, so I usually buy a box and use them until they’re gone.

SHOP TENNIS BALLS
Functional Tennis

SABER

No gift guide is complete without mentioning our Saber! Used by thousands of players worldwide, the Saber is a one-of-a-kind on-court training aid. It plays just like a standard tennis racket but with a significantly smaller, 37 sq. inch head. This unique design pushes players to hone their ball-tracking skills, refine footwork, and execute a clean, efficient swing to hit the sweet spot every time.
SABER

Prototype Edition

Limited Edition Saber
SABER

TEAM WORLD
TEAM Europe

Limited Edition

Bags

Tecnifibre Duffel

My gym and practice court bag

BUY THIS BAG

Tecnifibre Backpack

My travel backpack.

BUY THIS BAG

This year, I’ve switched to a small duffel bag, and the Tecnifibre duffel (or shoulder bag) has become my go-to for both the gym and the court. Since I don’t play matches much anymore, I carry less, and this bag fits perfectly—and looks great, too!

For travel, I rely on the water-repellent Tecnifibre backpack. It holds my Sabers when needed, along with some filming gear, mics, a change of clothes, and other essentials. I never travel without it, and the easy-access opening makes grabbing items quick and simple.

ADV Bag Pro v3

For those who compete often and need additional space and organization while maintaining a clean design. They're built by a growing brand making a big impact in tennis and the team backs their gear with a 10-year warranty.

Check out the Bag

TECH

SwingVision

Great app for recording your tennis sessions, capturing data, and creating quick highlights! Watching yourself play is one of the best ways to improve, and adding data can really make a difference. Plus, the team at SwingVision keeps adding new features—it’s definitely worth a trial!

You’ll need a court camera mount to use it (we sell one, or you can get theirs which is called a Swing Stick).

They have some good offers right now with a Swing STick which you should check out here.

GET SWINGVISION

Oura Ring

I’ve been using the Oura Ring since the Gen 2 model, and now they’re on Gen 4! It’s fantastic for tracking sleep patterns, and I usually keep it in airplane mode. It’s comfortable for tennis, gym workouts, and daily wear—definitely one of my favorite devices. Be sure to get the sizing kit to find your perfect fit!

Use the link below for 10% off.

10% OFF OURA RING

WHOOP

Whoop is now an official partner of the WTA! I started using Whoop back in 2018, though I initially found the strap and battery lacking. Now, they’ve improved all that, and it’s great for tracking fitness and recovery stats. If sleep tracking isn’t your main focus (Whoop does that too!), it’s definitely worth a try.

Use the link below to get a free month.

GET WHOOP
Hi!

I'm Fabio, founder of Functional Tennis. I hope my gift list gives you a few ideas and if you've any questions you can contact me below.

Contact me

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