photo credit: The Passive Dad
If you play tennis weekly or enjoy hitting hard top spin shots, you have probably had to have your rackets restrung several times. Tired of paying a club or someone else for a tennis restring? Instead of paying $20-40 to have someone string your tennis racket next time, now you can do it yourself. Wondering what type of tennis jobs are available in your city or town? Want to learn how to string tennis racquets and earn some income too? It’s much easier than you realize and you can teach yourself in a few hours time. Stringing tennis rackets can be a fantastic alternative income idea for tennis fans. How much can you make an hour? $20 and more. If you are looking for local tennis openings or tennis jobs near your home, you might want to consider stringing rackets for extra income.

I started playing tennis when I was 8 and it took me 5 years to break my first string. Once I started high school and began hitting the ball harder and with more topspin, the strings started to pop frequently. My high school racket was a Pro Kennex that cost $49.99 in 1990. The cost of a tennis restring with 16 gauge synthetic gut was $35. The true cost of the synthetic gut was actually closer to $3 or $4 and the rest was labor.

In 1990 I was not fortunate to have the internet or tools to research tennis string machines. The local pro shop at the country club was my only alternative for our high school team. In prior years, they had a student who would string rackets and offer a substantial savings for the team. Here’s where the business idea started. I subscribed to Tennis magazine and saw ads for several expensive string machines that would cost in excess of $1,000. At 14 years old, I was not about to have the $1,000 needed for a state of the art pro shop quality machine like a gamma stringer or prince stringer. I did see an ad for a Klippermate that cost less than $200 and was advertised as an easy to use, drop weight machine. A few days later I opened my package from Klipper and got to work stringing rackets for our high school team.

In 1990 I was not able to utilize YouTube videos teaching tennis stringing techniques, so I had to rely on the manual that came with the Klippermate. It took me 2 hours to string my first racket, as I had to learn about the string pattern and knot tie off points, tension, and the art of tying a knot. Tying knots is really not difficult, it just appears to be a little intimidating at first. My second racket took 45 minutes, and my fastest time is around 25 minutes using the Klippermate. I used to travel with my stringer in my car and take it down to the tennis courts to work on my friends rackets. What did I charge them? I was a nice guy, and covered my expense for the string and some of my time and charged $5. I know, the local pro shop charged $35, but these were my buddies.

Today I still have a Klippermate and love it. Tennis stringers like the Klippermate can be easy to use, doesn’t require a stand, it’s portable, inexpensive, and fun. Don’t feel overwhelmed by string tension or knots as they are easy to learn and you will quickly get the hang of it. After just a couple restrings you will know what tension you enjoy in your racket. It’s a blast saving money, and you can actually make a business out of your tennis stringer. I currently still string for friends and only charge for the string. Current rates for stringing are still $20+ at your local pro shop or retail store, so the opportunity to build a tennis stringing business is huge.

Where would I advertise if I wanted to create alternative income from stringing tennis rackets?

1. Craigslist You can advertise for your local area or if you commute to work, like San Francisco, you can offer to pickup rackets.

2. Business cards Create a business card and hand it out next time you play tennis. Leave some at you local park tennis courts or even Starbucks. Vista Print is a great resource for inexpensive business cards. Be creative and add some graphics to make your business stand out.

3. Word of mouth Offer to string some rackets at your local high school for free. This could be a great community outreach opportunity and gain some business from parents. Offer each student a free tennis stringing and show off your new talent.

Stringing tennis rackets might sound interesting, but are you still unsure of your ability? Don’t worry, it’s not rocket science. I have friends that come over and look at me stringing tennis rackets like I’m undergoing brain surgery. Yes, you do have a few parts like clamps, stringer awl, and pliers, but they are really easy to use. The hardest part about stringing tennis rackets can be reading the directions. You get so excited that you want to dive in and start stringing right away. Just take a few minutes to read the directions and you will save a lot of time.

Stringing tennis rackets can be a wonderful alternative income for yourself and your family. You can make $20+ an hour and your income potential is unlimited. If you attend college, you could string rackets in your dorm room for extra income. High school students can bring the stringer to the tennis courts and string after school for money. My favorite multitasking tip for tennis stringers is to watch tv and string at the same time. You can watch your favorite tv program and make money stringing tennis rackets. Lot’s of people are looking for the perfect work at home business and this could certainly allow you to start one for very little money. My total cost for the Klippermate and string was under $200. Add some business cards from Vista Print and a listing on Craigslist and you’re set. Remember to hand out those cards the next time you play singles or doubles tennis. If you currently string rackets, I would love to hear what your fastest time is and how much you charge your customers? Do you have a tennis business or stringing business already? How are you doing?

Do you have an extra income idea you would like to share? Maybe you sew, woodwork, or have a handy service you provide neighbors for extra income? Turning tennis basics into a lucrative tennis stringing business can provide you with some great spending money and pay for your tennis hobby, or it can provide some wonderful extra income for your savings account.

Some helpful videos on Youtube showing how to string tennis racquets:

Preparing the tennis string
Mounting the tennis racket
Stringing the mains

Racket stringing machines and tennis sports equipment:

Klipper USA
Tennis Gamma stringers
Prince tennis stringers
Eagnas stringing machines
Tennis liquidmetal Head string
Gut tennis string

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photo credit: Ben Fulton

When you think of playing tennis, you might think of grass courts or expensive country club memberships in exclusive gated communities. Tennis doesn’t have to be expensive to play and it can be a frugal or cheap sport for your family to enjoy for years. Public tennis courts are found in every community and offer local residents a free exercise option for families. Many resources can be found for discount tennis gear and you can even visit your local Salvation Army or Play It Again Sports for cheap tennis items. If you’re new to tennis, these stores will help you get a decent tennis racket for very little money. Tennis can be a cheap sport and $30 is all it takes to get started.

1. Tennis racket Expect to pay $20-100+ for a good racket. Your local Goodwill or Salvation Army will be a great source for sub $20 rackets. You might be surprised what you’ll find there. If you’re willing to pay $30+ you can find dozens of rackets to choose from at any local sporting goods store. I have purchased a Wilson N Code tennis racket from Costco for $49.99 and it’s light and plays just as good as a $100 racket. Also try Target, Walmart, Sport Authority, Big 5, and Dicks Sporting Goods for tennis rackets. A little know fact about tennis rackets that could save you money, most stores offer free trials. Before you buy a racket, you can ask for a demo. This can be very helpful if you have been playing tennis for a few years and are ready to upgrade your current racket.

2. Tennis Balls Free to $3.00 You will also need tennis balls and Wilson and Penn both range from $2-3 a can. My best deal for tennis balls are from Target. You can purchase a 4 pack for $7.99 If you are new to tennis, you might be lucky and find some slightly used tennis balls left at your local tennis court. Many players use one can and then either leave them or throw them away. Also look in the bushes around the tennis court and you could find some great tennis balls with plenty of life left in them. If you are new to the sport of tennis, a can of tennis balls will last for weeks or months depending on your playing style.

3. Tennis Shoes Free to $90 You might be able to play tennis with the current tennis shoes you already own. You want to look for a non-marking sole and be sure to stay away from using a running shoe. Many running shoes have a black marking sole that is soft and might make you slide while running on the court. Most tennis shoes are considered cross trainers and will let you play multiple sports safely. If you’re not sure, visit your local shoe store and ask. You don’t need to buy the latest Nike Air Vapor V Roger Federer shoe to play tennis. Save the $90. What you do need is a comfortable shoe with good support. I currently use a Wilson Advantage tennis shoe and paid $29.99 from Sports Authority.

4. Shirt and Shorts Free to $100 If you want to look stylish on the tennis court like Serena Williams or Maria Sharapova, you’ll need to spend at least $60-$100 for that Nike outfit. If you want matching Nike shoes and socks, and that could add up to $200 very quickly. Most recreational tennis players enjoy wearing a simple t-shirt and shorts. No need to go out and buy expensive clothes, as it won’t do anything for your tennis game. Save your money for a nicer racket and some new tennis balls.

5. Sunglasses $10+ Get a good pair of comfortable sunglasses that fit well. You’ll be running, jumping and serving and you want a pair that are snug on your face. The first time you try and serve into the blazing sun, you’ll be glad you brought your sunglasses.

6. Hat or sun visor $5+ Even if you already have sunglasses, you might want to keep your face covered from the suns rays. Be sure you have some good sunscreen as well when you play.

7. Tennis items and accessories $2-10 Tennis grips range from $2-5 and will help keep your racket handle dry and your hand from slipping. If you find that your hand sweats or you feel like you might throw your racket while hitting the ball, you might want to consider purchasing some grip.

Sweatband and headband $3-$10. Again if you are prone to sweat excessively or you don’t want to wipe your hand on your t-shirt, you might want to consider purchasing some sweatbands.

Additional tennis resources:
Tennis.com
ATP Tennis
US Open
Tennis How To Play
Wii Tennis
Scoring tennis and rules
Federer Tennis Official Site
Roddick Tennis Official Site
New Haven Tennis
Tennis Andy Murray Official Site
Pro Tennis Bag
Virtua tennis 3
Tennis Agassi
Tennis Blake James Blake official website.
Tennis Sharapova Maria’s official website

I’m looking for a tennis blog. If you have one or know of a tennis blog, please let me know. I would be interested to know what sport you enjoy playing as a family. Is it cheap and do you get a good workout?

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