If your dad is anything like mine, every Father’s Day you must endure phrases such as, “You don’t need to get me anything,” and “I’ll buy what I want when I see something I like, don’t waste your money.” Statements like these are widespread phenomena that leave wives and children helpless. We have advice for you:
Whether they like to admit it or not, fathers love getting things that are useful for them. Sure, they know what they like, and they sometimes feel obligated to wear or use things that are gifted to them that they may not exactly have ever purchased for themselves (we’re looking at you, wives). To help you find the perfect gift, our content team at Tennis Express has compiled this list of 2018 Father’s Day gifts for your one and only tennis dad.
Dads Are Old
By definition, your father is older than you. Also by definition, he loves old-time stars and classics. The nuances vary from household to household, but we’re talking about iconic actors like Clint Eastwood and Tom Hanks, musicians like Michael Jackson and Neil Diamond, and television shows like M*A*S*H and the Andy Griffith Show. When it comes to tennis, names like Andre Agassi, John McEnroe, and Pete Sampras come to mind.
At left, Andre Agassi talks with Novak Djokovic before the 2018 Australian Open (Jan. 13, 2018 – Source: Michael Dodge/Getty Images AsiaPac). In the center, John McEnroe and Patrick McEnroe play in a Legends Match at the 2018 Australian Open (Jan. 20, 2018 – Source: Quinn Rooney/Getty Images AsiaPac). At right, Pete Sampras attends a Nike NYC Street tennis event (Aug. 23, 2013 – Source: Brad Barket/Getty Images North America).
Functionality
So what does this all mean? In essence, think about what your father could use in his life right now. What’s functional and has the type of style he’s interested in?
For example, when asked, our play tester Sam said, “I would get my dad a really nice tennis polo that he could also wear on the golf course. Dads love cross-functionality, it’s in their DNA.”
Above is the Nike Men’s Court Heritage Tennis Polo in Gym Red
In my case, my dad is simply a casual tennis fan. He knows the main players, can’t play anymore, and doesn’t really follow the season or tournaments too closely. I got him nice running shoes because he loves to walk and stay active as much as he can.
Above is the Under Armour Men’s HOVR Sonic Running Shoe in Black and Ivory
Special Edition Gear
Dads also tend to enjoy things that look timeless and official. You’ll be hard pressed to go wrong with something that looks classy. This can often be found through special edition gear, where quality products meet customized designs for special occasions and players. Some of our favorites include the following:
Click on the images above to learn more.
Monetary Savings
To help combat your father’s initial reaction of, “Why on Earth did you spend this much money on me?,” we recommend finding items that you can get at a solid price point. At Tennis Express, we have a number of deals that you can take advantage of:
Click on the images above to learn more.
