For kids starting out in youth tennis, is it necessary to spend a lot of money on gear?

The two most important equipment items are the racquet and shoes. I suggest buying a good-quality racquet and a pair of high-quality shoes.

Apart from that, just wear basic shorts and T-shirts and save the rest of the money for the actual tennis lessons—which are big expenses.

You need a good racquet that feels good in your hand, hits a clean ball, and is neither too heavy nor too light. You also need good shoes to have a good grip on the court, for protection to your ankle, and for comfort when you play long matches.

Investing heavily in showy or “cool” attire is mostly due to peer pressure—we all want to look great wearing tennis clothes but it doesn’t actually when you any points!