Quick take:
- Holabird Sports runs regular sales, stocks clearance gear at steep discounts, and offers a demo racquet program that can save you from expensive buyer's remorse. Most shoppers miss at least half of these savings opportunities.
- Previous-season running shoes and racquets are the best-kept deals on the site. Last year's model performs identically to this year's, often for 30-40% less.
- Their loyalty program, free shipping threshold, and email-only coupons add up fast if you buy gear more than once a year.
1. Buy Previous-Season Models (Same Gear, Way Less Money)
This is the single best way to save at Holabird Sports, and most shoppers ignore it. When a new version of a tennis racquet or running shoe drops, the previous model gets marked down 20-40%. Sometimes more. And here's the thing: a 2024 Wilson Blade plays exactly the same as a 2025 Wilson Blade. The cosmetic update and minor tweaks don't justify paying full price.
Running shoes work the same way. The Brooks Ghost 15 and Ghost 16 are nearly identical in ride and cushioning. But the Ghost 15 might be sitting in Holabird's clearance section at $85 instead of $140. That's $55 saved on functionally the same shoe.
The trick is timing. When new models start showing up on the site (usually spring and fall for most brands), that's when previous-season prices drop hardest. Check the clearance section weekly during those windows. The best sizes go fast.
2. Use the Demo Racquet Program Before Dropping $200+
Buying a racquet online without hitting with it first is like buying a car without a test drive. Holabird's demo program fixes this. You pay a small rental fee to borrow a racquet, play with it for a trial period, and return it. If you buy that racquet afterward, the demo fee applies toward your purchase.
Here's why this is a bigger deal than it sounds. The difference between a $220 Babolat Pure Aero and a $250 Head Speed Pro isn't visible in product specs. It's in how the racquet feels in your hand, how it responds to your swing, how the weight distribution works with your playing style. The demo program lets you figure that out on a real court instead of guessing based on reviews.
Pro tip: demo two or three racquets at once. You'll save time, save on shipping, and you'll have a clear winner after a week of play. This is especially smart for pickleball paddles, where the feel differences between brands can be dramatic.
3. Sign Up for Emails (The Coupons Are Actually Worth It)
Most retail email lists are pure spam. Holabird's is different. They send targeted coupons that actually save money, usually 10-20% off, sometimes with free shipping codes that stack on top of sales. The signup discount alone (typically 10-15% off your first order) pays for itself on almost any purchase over $50.
They also send early access to sales and clearance events through email. If you wait until a sale shows up on the homepage, the best sizes and colorways are already picked over. Email subscribers get a head start, sometimes by a day or two.
One thing to watch: their coupons often have exclusions on certain brands or new releases. Read the fine print before loading up your cart. Most current-season racquets from Wilson and Babolat are excluded from percentage-off coupons, but you can still use free shipping codes on those items.
4. Hit the Free Shipping Threshold Every Time
Holabird offers free standard shipping on orders over $75. That sounds obvious, but here's where shoppers waste money: they'll order a $60 pair of shoes, pay $8 in shipping, and then order a $12 pack of overgrips two weeks later with another $5 in shipping. That's $13 in shipping you didn't need to pay.
Instead, batch your orders. Keep a running list of things you need (grips, strings, dampeners, socks, balls) and add them to your cart when you're buying something bigger. A can of tennis balls ($3-4) or a pack of overgrips ($6-8) is an easy way to bump a $65 order past the $75 threshold and save yourself the shipping cost.
And if you're right at the threshold? Check their accessories section for small items you'd buy eventually anyway. An extra dampener or a wristband costs less than shipping.
5. Shop the Clearance Section Like It's Your Job
Holabird's clearance section is where the real deals live. We're talking 30-60% off racquets, shoes, bags, and accessories. The catch: inventory moves fast and sizes are limited. You're not going to find every color of the ASICS Gel-Resolution in your exact size. But if you're flexible on color and patient enough to check regularly, you'll find serious bargains.
The best clearance finds tend to be:
- Previous-season tennis shoes (often 40-50% off)
- Discontinued racquet models (same quality, fraction of the price)
- Running shoes in less popular colorways (same shoe, ugly color, big discount)
- Bags and accessories (tennis bags especially get steep markdowns)
Bookmark the clearance page and check it every week or two. New items rotate in regularly, especially during seasonal transitions in spring and fall.
6. Take Advantage of Their Loyalty Rewards Program
Holabird runs a rewards program that gives you points on every purchase. Points accumulate and can be redeemed for discounts on future orders. It's not the most exciting loyalty program in retail, but for frequent buyers, it adds up.
If you're a competitive player who buys strings, grips, and shoes multiple times a year, the rewards program essentially gives you a free accessory or a nice discount on your third or fourth order. It costs nothing to join, so there's zero reason not to sign up before your first purchase.
The key is to create your account before you place your first order. Points from guest checkouts don't always get added retroactively, and chasing customer service for missing points isn't worth the hassle.
7. Buy Discontinued Running Shoes in Bulk
This one is for runners who know their shoe. If you've found your perfect running shoe and you know the model, size, and fit inside out, buy multiples when it hits clearance. Running shoes have a shelf life of about 300-500 miles regardless of when you buy them, so stocking up on a discontinued model at 40% off is smart economics.
Holabird regularly stocks previous-generation running shoes from Brooks, Saucony, ASICS, and New Balance at deep discounts. A $140 shoe for $85 is a common find. Buy two or three pairs and you've saved $165 over buying the current model at full price. That's basically a free pair of shoes.
The window is short, though. Once a popular size in a clearance shoe sells out, it's gone for good. If you see your shoe in your size at a steep discount, don't overthink it. Add to cart.
Bonus Tips That Regulars Know
Call Them for Advice (Seriously)
Holabird's phone support isn't a call center. It's people who play these sports. If you're torn between two racquets or unsure about shoe sizing, call and ask. They'll give you an honest recommendation, not a sales pitch. This is one of the biggest advantages of shopping at a family-owned specialty store versus a big-box retailer.
Watch for Holiday Sales
Black Friday, Memorial Day, and Labor Day weekends typically bring site-wide sales of 15-25% off. These are the rare occasions when even current-season gear goes on sale. If you've been eyeing a new racquet at full price, these weekends are your best shot at a discount.
Check Their Stringing Deals
Holabird sometimes bundles string with racquet purchases at a discount. Instead of buying the racquet and string separately, look for combo deals where you get the racquet strung with your choice of string for a few dollars less than buying each piece individually. It saves money and saves you a trip to your local stringer.
Don't Ignore “Less Popular” Brands
Everyone wants Wilson and Babolat. But brands like Tecnifibre, Volkl, and Prince make excellent racquets that often sit in clearance longer because they don't have the same name recognition. The Tecnifibre TF-X1, for example, is a phenomenal racquet that frequently goes on sale because it doesn't have Wilson's marketing budget. Your wallet benefits from other people's brand loyalty.
The Bottom Line
Shopping smart at Holabird Sports isn't complicated. The biggest savings come from buying previous-season models, using the clearance section, and signing up for email coupons before your first order. Stack those three habits together and you'll consistently pay 20-40% less than shoppers who just buy whatever's newest at full price.
The demo racquet program and phone support are the underrated extras. Most online retailers can't offer either one. Using both means you'll buy the right gear the first time instead of going through the returns dance that wastes time and sometimes money.
Holabird rewards shoppers who pay attention. Sign up for the loyalty program, bookmark the clearance page, and stop paying full price for last year's gear with a new paint job. Your game won't know the difference, but your bank account will.
