Sports equipment explained
Clear, plain-English guides to the gear used across sport — what each piece is for and which sports it belongs to.
Browse equipment
Each entry is cross-linked to the sports it belongs to and the terms around it.
Badminton racket
A lightweight strung racket used to hit the shuttlecock in badminton, built for quick, whippy swings rather than heavy power.
Barbell
A long bar loaded with weight plates for heavy strength training lifts.
Baseball bat
A smooth, rounded club used by batters to hit the pitched ball in baseball and softball.
Basketball
A large, inflated ball with a dimpled surface used to play basketball.
Bike helmet
A hard-shelled head covering worn while cycling, built to absorb a single significant impact and be replaced afterwards.
Boxing gloves
Padded gloves worn to cover the hands when punching in boxing and striking sports.
Climbing shoes
Close-fitting rubber-soled shoes that grip small holds in climbing and bouldering.
Cricket bat
A flat-fronted wooden bat used by batters to hit the ball in cricket, with a curved back that concentrates weight behind the hitting area.
Cycling shoes
Stiff-soled shoes that clip onto pedals to transfer power efficiently while riding.
Dumbbell
A short handheld weight used for strength and fitness training, worked one in each hand so each side has to hold its own load.
Football (soccer ball)
A round, inflated ball used to play association football and futsal. Futsal uses a smaller, heavier ball that bounces far less on a hard court.
Football boots (cleats)
Studded footwear that grips the pitch for football and other field sports.
Gi (martial arts uniform)
A durable jacket-and-trouser uniform worn in several grappling and striking martial arts.
Golf bag
The bag that carries a golfer’s clubs, balls and accessories around the course for a full round.
Golf ball
A small, firm, dimpled ball struck with a club and played toward the hole on a golf course.
Golf club
A shafted club with a specialised head used to strike the ball around a golf course.
Golf glove
A thin leather or synthetic glove worn on the lead hand to steady the grip.
Golf tee
A small peg pushed into the ground to raise the ball for the first shot on a hole.
Hockey stick
A curved-headed stick used to control, pass and shoot the ball or puck in hockey.
Kettlebell
A cast weight with a looped handle used for swinging and strength exercises.
Mountain bike
A rugged bicycle built for rough, off-road terrain, with wide knobbly tyres, low gearing and suspension to absorb uneven ground.
Mouthguard
A moulded guard worn over the teeth in contact and combat sports, cushioning the teeth and jaw against impact. Fit is what makes it work.
Padel racket
A solid, stringless racket perforated with holes, used to play padel. The lack of strings gives padel its distinctive shorter, flatter shots.
Pickleball paddle
A solid, flat paddle used to hit the perforated plastic ball in pickleball.
Resistance band
A stretchy elastic band that provides resistance for strength and mobility work.
Road bike
A lightweight bicycle built for speed and efficiency on paved surfaces.
Running shoes
Cushioned footwear designed for the repetitive forward motion of running.
Shin guards
Protective pads worn over the shins in football and other field sports.
Shuttlecock
A lightweight, feathered or plastic projectile hit back and forth in badminton.
Ski boots
Stiff moulded boots that lock into ski bindings and transmit the rider’s movements to the skis.
Ski goggles
Sealed eyewear that protects the eyes from wind, snow and glare and keeps the slope visible.
Ski helmet
A hard-shelled helmet worn on the slopes to reduce head-impact risk in a fall or collision.
Ski poles
Paired lightweight poles used for timing, balance and pushing along on flat ground.
Skis
Paired shaped boards attached to boots that let a rider glide and turn on snow.
Sports bag
A roomy bag for carrying kit, footwear and gear to and from training, usually with a separate compartment for wet or muddy items.
Squash racquet
A slim strung racquet used to hit the ball against the walls in squash.
Swim fins
Foot blades that increase propulsion when swimming, snorkelling or diving.
Swimming goggles
Sealed eyewear that lets swimmers see clearly and keep water out of the eyes.
Table tennis bat
A small wooden blade covered with rubber used to hit the ball in table tennis.
Tennis ball
A hollow rubber ball covered in felt used in tennis and related racquet sports.
Tennis ball types and specifications
The four ITF ball types and what separates them — mass, size, rebound and deformation — plus the counterintuitive rule that fast balls are for slow courts.
Tennis racquet
A strung frame with a handle, used to hit the ball in tennis. Head size, weight and balance vary to suit different playing styles.
The cricket ball
What a cricket ball weighs and measures in men's, women's and junior cricket, who controls the ball during a match, and the rules on taking a new ball after 80 overs.
The goal and the crease
The net a hockey team defends and the protected area in front of it — the exact goal dimensions, what the crease area includes, and why goaltender contact so often disallows a goal.
The padel ball
The padel ball's own specification — diameter, weight, bounce and internal pressure — and the separate altitude ball the rules provide for above 1,000 metres.
The padel net
The net that divides a padel court — its two different heights, the maximum post height, the white strip that tops it, and why the posts sit at the lateral limits.
The padel racket
What the FIP rules fix about a padel racket — the maximum length, width and thickness, the mandatory cord, and the perforation limits that define the hitting surface.
The puck
The vulcanised rubber disc ice hockey is played with — its exact diameter, thickness and weight under IIHF rules, and the limits on what may be printed on it.
The racket, blade and rubber
What the Laws actually regulate about a table tennis bat — the 85% wood rule, the exact thickness limits for pimpled and sandwich rubber, and the pimple density range.
The rugby union ball
The oval ball that shapes how rugby union is passed and kicked — its weight, air pressure, construction and the provision that lets younger players use a smaller one.
The table tennis ball
The 40 mm plastic ball the modern game is played with — its exact diameter, weight and colour, and the two separate rule changes that people routinely merge into one.
The table tennis net assembly
The net, its posts and its suspension — the one height that governs both the net and the posts, and why that number appears twice in the Laws.
The tennis net, posts and singles sticks
The net's two heights and the hardware that holds them — post height and position, the singles sticks that convert a doubles net, and the strap and band that finish it.
Volleyball
A soft, inflated ball struck with the hands and arms in volleyball, light enough to be played off the forearms without hurting.
Water bottle
A refillable bottle for carrying drinks and staying hydrated during sport.
Wetsuit
A close-fitting neoprene suit that keeps the wearer warm in cold water.
What the Rules regulate about a tennis racket
The surprisingly short list of things the ITF fixes about a racket — a flat, uniform stringing pattern and no energy sources — and the two decided cases that settle what players may use.
Wickets, stumps and bails
The three stumps and two bails a bowler aims at and a batter defends — their exact height, width and shape, and what the Laws say about when bails may be dispensed with.
Yoga mat
A thin, cushioned non-slip mat used for floor-based exercise and stretching.
Find a sport and put it into practice
Pick a sport, read the guide and take the first step — it's free to explore.