Choosing a tennis towel that survives the season
Notes from the counter at Mason's Tennis in New York, NY.
Microfibre versus cotton
Microfibre absorbs more per gram and dries far faster, which matters if the towel lives in a bag. Cotton feels better on the face and holds up to hot washing.
Most players end up carrying microfibre for on-court and cotton for after.
A clip is the difference
A towel that clips to the bag or the fence is available at the change of ends. One that lives inside the bag gets used half as often.
Carabiner clips are more durable than plastic hooks, which snap in cold weather.
Size for purpose
A large towel is for after the match. On court, a small towel that dries hands quickly and stows fast is more useful than a beach-sized one.
Two smaller towels usually beat one large one.
Washing without ruining absorbency
Fabric softener coats fibres and destroys absorbency, particularly in microfibre. Wash without it, and avoid washing microfibre with cotton lint.
This single mistake ruins more sports towels than wear does.
Colour and staining
Clay stains permanently and sunscreen bleaches. Darker towels age better on clay; white towels look better for about three weeks.
Buy for the surface you actually play on.
Keeping a spare in the bag
Humid days go through towels faster than expected. A dry spare is the difference between a comfortable third set and a slipping grip.
It is also what you lend to an opponent who forgot theirs, which is never wasted.
Where this sits in the shop
Mason's Tennis groups its stock into 4 categories, so most of what is discussed above lives in one or two of them:
- Court and Garage Accessories — 3 items
- Grips and Overgrips — 10 items
- Hair Accessories and Gifts — 11 items
- Towels and Sweatbands — 3 items
Browsing by category is usually quicker than searching, because the groups follow how the goods are actually used rather than how a supplier lists them.
The largest group at the moment is Court and Garage Accessories with 3 items, and the smallest is Towels and Sweatbands with 3. Those counts move as stock comes in and goes out, so they are worth checking rather than assuming.
From our shelves
A few items currently in stock that relate to this article:
- VitalCozy 4 Pcs Tennis Towel with Clip Funny Embroidered | 16 x 24 Inch, Hand Sweat Towels with Carabiner Clip, Tennis Gift for Women Men Team Sports Players Gym Court Accessories
- AUHOKY 18/12/6Pcs Mini Tennis Racket Keychain Key Ring, Fashionable Alloy Tennis Ball Split Ring for Sport Team(6 Colors)
- Evoonlyn Tennis Hair Clip Stainless Tennis Hair Barrettes for Women 4-PACK Sports Hairclips Tennis Gifts for Girls Players, Matches, Training & Daily Wear (Green)
- 5 Pack Colorful Elastic Bands with Mini Racquet Charms – Cute Tennis Hair Ties & Accessories for Women, Tennis Players
Across the whole catalogue prices currently run from $1.11 to $27.44, with most of the range clustered around the middle of that span. Stock and prices on the product pages are live, so they are the figures to trust rather than anything quoted in an article.
Ordering, delivery and returns
Free US shipping on orders over $59; a flat $5.50 below that. Orders are picked and packed at the New York store on business days, and a tracking number follows by email once the carrier scans the parcel.
If something is not right, there are 30 days from delivery to send it back unused and in its packaging. The full detail is on the Shipping Policy and Returns and Refunds pages, and the FAQ covers the questions that come up most.
How we decide what to stock
Mason's Tennis carries tennis grips, towels and court accessories, and the range is deliberately narrower than a warehouse catalogue. A line earns its place by being asked for repeatedly at the counter in New York and by coming back without complaints — not by having the widest margin.
When something stops meeting that bar it comes off the shelf rather than being discounted until it moves. That is why the catalogue on this site changes slowly and why the specification tables on the product pages quote the maker rather than our own marketing.
Quick answers
What is the difference between tacky and dry grips?
Tacky grips stick to the hand and suit dry conditions. Dry-feel grips wick moisture and suit sweaty hands. We stock both, and each listing states which finish it is.
Do you stock pickleball and padel grips too?
Yes. Several of the overgrips on the shelf are sold for tennis, pickleball, padel and squash — the listing names every racquet sport it fits.
Related reading
Other notes from the same shelf that pick up where this one stops:
- Overgrip versus replacement grip: which one you actually need
- Why your grip slips, and the fixes that work
- Vibration dampeners: what they do and do not do
Coming to the store
Mason's Tennis is at 56 E 53rd St, New York, NY 10022. Opening hours are Mon-Fri 10:00-18:00 | Sat 11:00-18:00 | Sun 12:00-18:00, and it is worth calling ahead on +1 212-755-5805 if you are travelling specifically for one item, because stock on the shop floor and stock listed online are the same pool.
Anything discussed in this article can be looked at in person before buying. If you would rather order online, the same stock ships from this address — nothing is drop-shipped from a third party warehouse, which is why the despatch address on your parcel matches the shop.
Ask us directly
If this has not answered your question, the counter is open Mon-Fri 10:00-18:00 | Sat 11:00-18:00 | Sun 12:00-18:00. Call +1 212-755-5805 or use the contact page — a person reads it, and you will get an answer within a business day.