Storing Your Tennis Equipment

As I'm writing this, it's sleeting, the temperature is below freezing, and my thoughts wander to all the tennis balls and tennis racquets being stored in their owner's cars, outside in the elements.  I would venture to guess that 50% of you reading this have your car outside, and your racket (or bag) and balls sit on the car seat or in the trunk.

Extreme temperatures, be it cold or heat, adversely affect your equipment.  Let's begin with tennis balls.  If you leave your tennis balls, even a new can, in extremely cold temperatures like the ones Tallahassee is experiencing today, they will not perform as well as you would like when you attempt to play your match.  The reason is the cold temperature slow the pressurized molecules inside the balls, which reduces the pressure inside the ball, and causes them to bounce lower than normal.

The extreme cold also negatively impacts both your frame and the strings inside.  The extreme cold deadens the frame's responsiveness and also reduces the elasticity of your strings, causing them to feel unduly stiff.  Even the softest, most elastic string will feel like a brick wall after a night in the car or garage with freezing temperature.  The most flexible racquet will also feel stiffer than normal in the same circumstances.  Even for the most novice of players, this will affect your play negatively.

Extreme heat, as Tallahassee sees in the summer, is also bad for your equipment.  The balls, will be more lively if left in the heat and will play faster and bounce higher.  This is because the heat excites the molecules inside the ball, which increases the pressure. 

The extreme heat is kryptonite for your frame and strings.  Left in the heat and sun, your strings will get looser faster, causing you to hit with more depth and spray balls long.  The integrity of your racquet's frame is compromised by being left in the heat and sun.  The two elements break down the materials and causes the frame to lose responsiveness.  If left in the car in the heat too long, your racquet will effectively "die,"  Most frames that are used by regular players die in two-three years (less if you are a tournament junior) - this is if they are store properly.  If they are store improperly in the car with high temps and constant sun, their life expectancy can be reduced by one year or more.

The proper place to store all your equipment when you aren't playing is inside your home under temperature control.  Most homes stay between 65-75 year round, so this will suffice for storage.  Keep your equipment away from windows that let in sunlight.  A dark closet is best.

Keeping your equipment stored properly will help ensure you play to your potential each time you play.  Take the five seconds it takes to remove your equipment from your car when you come home and take it inside the house.  Your equipment, your pocketbook, and your match results will thank you.