Quick take:
- Holabird Sports is a family-owned Maryland shop that's been selling racquet sports gear and running shoes since 1981. Their specialty knowledge and in-house stringing service set them apart from big-box stores.
- You'll find competitive pricing on tennis, pickleball, squash, and badminton equipment, plus a solid selection of running shoes from top brands. Customer service is genuinely excellent (4.7 out of 5 on Trustpilot from over 10,000 reviews).
- The downsides? Limited apparel selection compared to bigger retailers, and the website could use a visual upgrade. But for racquets, shoes, and strings, they're hard to beat.
Who Is Holabird Sports, Exactly?
Holabird Sports isn't some faceless online mega-retailer. It's a family-run business out of Baltimore, Maryland, that started in 1981 when Jeff Holabird opened a small running store. Over four decades later, the Holabird family still runs the show. That matters because you're dealing with people who actually know their products, not a warehouse operation that just moves boxes.
The store started with running gear but expanded into racquet sports in a big way. Today, they're one of the top specialty retailers for tennis, pickleball, squash, and badminton equipment in the U.S. They also maintain a strong running shoe department with brands like Brooks, ASICS, New Balance, Saucony, and HOKA.
Their physical store in Baltimore is worth visiting if you're in the area. Staff can help you find the right racquet, get your feet measured for running shoes, or talk string tension for twenty minutes without getting bored. But most customers shop online at holabirdsports.com, and the experience there is solid if not flashy.
What They Sell (And What's Actually Good)
Racquets: The Main Event
This is where Holabird really shines. They stock tennis racquets from every major brand: Wilson, Babolat, Head, Yonex, Dunlop, and Prince. But it's not just about having inventory. Their product descriptions include actual performance notes, and their staff can talk you through the differences between, say, a Wilson Clash and a Babolat Pure Drive in a way that's genuinely helpful.
Pickleball has become a huge part of their business in recent years, and rightfully so. They carry paddles from Selkirk, Joola, HEAD, Franklin, and Onix, among others. Prices range from around $30 for beginner paddles to $200+ for high-end carbon fiber options. The selection is broader than what you'll find at Dick's or most general sporting goods stores.
Squash and badminton players will find a surprisingly deep inventory too. This is a category where most retailers barely try. Holabird actually stocks multiple Yonex badminton racquets, Tecnifibre squash racquets, and the accessories that go with them. If you play a niche racquet sport, this store probably has what you need.
Running Shoes: Solid But Not the Deepest
Holabird carries running shoes from the major players: Brooks, ASICS, New Balance, Saucony, HOKA, and Mizuno. The pricing is competitive, often matching or beating what you'll find on the brand's own website. They're particularly good at stocking previous-season models at a discount, which is where the real value lives.
That said, they don't carry every colorway or every niche model. If you want the latest limited-edition Nike running shoe, you'll need to look elsewhere. But for mainstream training shoes and racing flats from the big running brands, Holabird delivers.
Strings and Stringing Service
Here's something that sets Holabird apart from most online retailers: they offer an in-house stringing service. You can buy a racquet and have it strung before it ships, or send in your existing racquet for restringing. They carry strings from Luxilon, Babolat, Wilson, Solinco, and others.
The stringing service is priced fairly (typically $15-$20 for labor, plus the cost of string). And because their stringers actually play racquet sports, they can recommend string setups based on your playing style. That's a level of service you won't get from Amazon.
Shoes for Racquet Sports
Tennis shoes and court shoes are another strong category. They stock ASICS Gel-Resolution, Nike Court Air Zoom Vapor, adidas Barricade, New Balance Fresh Foam Lav, and K-Swiss options. Prices typically range from $60 for previous-season models to $160+ for the latest releases. The staff knows the difference between a shoe built for clay courts versus hard courts, which matters more than most casual players realize.
Accessories and Apparel
Grips, dampeners, bags, ball machines, and other accessories are well-covered. The apparel selection is decent but not deep. You'll find tennis skirts, shorts, and performance tops from major brands, but if fashion-forward athletic wear is your thing, you'll probably want to shop elsewhere. Holabird is about function, not fashion.
Pricing: How Do They Stack Up?
Holabird's pricing is competitive with other specialty retailers. On current-season racquets and shoes, you'll typically pay the same price as Tennis Warehouse or the manufacturer's website. Where Holabird gets interesting is their clearance and previous-season pricing. They often discount last year's models by 20-40%, which is where smart shoppers find the best deals.
A few examples of typical pricing:
- Tennis racquets: $150-$280 for current models, $80-$180 for previous season
- Pickleball paddles: $30-$220 depending on brand and material
- Running shoes: $90-$170 for current models, $60-$120 for clearance
- Tennis shoes: $70-$165 for current, $45-$100 for clearance
- Racquet strings: $5-$20 per set
- Stringing labor: $15-$20
They don't always have the absolute lowest price on every item. But they rarely overcharge, and the combination of fair pricing plus genuine expertise makes the overall value strong. You're paying for a store that knows what it's selling and can actually help you make the right choice.
Shipping and Returns
Shipping
Holabird offers free standard shipping on orders over $75 within the continental U.S. Standard shipping typically takes 3-7 business days. They also offer expedited options if you need gear fast, though you'll pay extra for those.
Orders usually ship from their Maryland warehouse within 1-2 business days. Because they're on the East Coast, customers in the eastern half of the country tend to get deliveries faster. West Coast shoppers might wait a day or two longer. Nothing unusual there.
Returns
Their return policy is 30 days for unused items in original packaging. For shoes, you can try them on indoors, but once they hit pavement or a court, they're yours. Racquets that have been strung with custom strings may have restrictions on returns, so check the details before you commit to a custom string job on a racquet you're not sure about.
Returns are processed within a few business days of receiving the item, and customers generally report smooth experiences. No restocking fees on standard returns, which is a plus.
Customer Service: Where They Really Win
This is Holabird's secret weapon. With a 4.7 out of 5 rating on Trustpilot from over 10,000 reviews, their customer service is genuinely excellent. And these aren't the kind of generic five-star reviews you see on some retail sites. Customers consistently mention specific employees by name who helped them pick the right racquet or resolve a shipping issue.
You can reach them by phone, email, or live chat. The phone support is particularly good because you'll talk to someone who actually plays the sport. Try calling Dick's Sporting Goods and asking about string tension for a squash racquet. You'll get crickets. Call Holabird and you'll get a real conversation.
The common theme in positive reviews: fast shipping, accurate product descriptions, helpful recommendations, and a willingness to fix problems quickly. Negative reviews are rare but tend to focus on occasional stock issues or shipping delays during peak seasons.
Demo Racquets: Try Before You Buy
One of the smartest things Holabird does is their demo racquet program. If you're not sure which tennis or pickleball racquet to buy (and let's be honest, dropping $200+ on a racquet without swinging it first is a gamble), you can rent demo racquets to try them out.
The demo program works like this: you pay a rental fee, play with the racquet for a set period, and return it. If you decide to buy that racquet, the demo fee usually applies toward your purchase. It's a no-brainer if you're debating between two or three options, and it saves you from the hassle of buying, returning, buying again.
Not every retailer offers this. It's the kind of thing a specialty shop can do because they understand that a $250 racquet is a personal decision, not an impulse buy.
What Holabird Gets Right
- Specialty knowledge that's hard to match. The staff plays these sports. They know what they're talking about.
- In-house stringing service. Buy a racquet and have it strung to your specs before it ships. That's convenient.
- Strong pickleball selection. They've leaned into the pickleball boom without abandoning their tennis and squash roots.
- Previous-season discounts. Last year's racquet plays just as well as this year's. Holabird prices them accordingly.
- Customer service that people rave about. 4.7 stars from 10,000+ reviews doesn't happen by accident.
- Demo racquet program. Try before you buy. Simple concept, rare execution.
- Family-owned feel. You're supporting a real business, not just feeding another algorithm.
What Holabird Gets Wrong
No store is perfect, and Holabird has its weak spots. Here's where they fall short:
- The website looks dated. It works fine, but the design feels like it's a few years behind competitors. Product photos could be better, and the search function isn't always intuitive.
- Limited apparel selection. If you want a big range of tennis dresses or running tops, you'll probably need to shop somewhere else too.
- No Nike tennis racquets or court shoes (Nike doesn't sell through most specialty retailers anymore). This isn't unique to Holabird, but it's worth knowing.
- East Coast shipping bias. West Coast customers will wait longer for deliveries. There's no West Coast warehouse.
- Inventory gaps on popular items. Being smaller means they sometimes run out of hot items faster than big retailers.
- 30-day return window is standard, not generous. Some competitors offer 60 or even 90 days.
Who Should Shop at Holabird Sports?
Racquet sports players. If you play tennis, pickleball, squash, or badminton, Holabird should be your first stop. The selection, knowledge, and stringing service make them one of the best specialty shops in the country for racquet sports gear.
Runners looking for deals. If you already know which shoe you want and you're hunting for a previous-season discount, check Holabird before paying full price elsewhere. Their clearance section often has great running shoe deals.
People who value expertise over convenience. If you want someone who can actually advise you on which racquet, which strings, which tension, Holabird delivers that. If you just want the cheapest price and don't need help, Amazon might be faster.
Who Should Skip Holabird?
Fashion-first shoppers. If you're after the latest Nike or Lululemon athletic fashion, Holabird isn't your store. They're about performance gear, not style.
Team sports buyers. Need soccer cleats, basketball shoes, or baseball gloves? Look elsewhere. Holabird sticks to racquet sports and running.
People who need same-day pickup. With only one physical location in Maryland, most customers are ordering online. If you need gear today, your local sporting goods store is your best bet.
The Bottom Line
Holabird Sports is the kind of retailer that earns loyalty. They're not the cheapest on every item, and they're not the biggest. But they know racquet sports and running better than almost any online competitor, and their customer service backs it up. For over 40 years, the Holabird family has been building a business around actually helping people find the right gear, and that shows in everything from their product recommendations to their stringing service to their demo program.
If you play a racquet sport, Holabird should be in your regular rotation of shops. The pricing is fair, the expertise is real, and the service is consistently excellent. The website could use a facelift and the apparel selection is thin, but those are minor complaints for a store that nails the stuff that actually matters.
For racquet sports equipment and running shoes from people who genuinely know the gear, Holabird Sports is one of the best specialty retailers in the game. Give them your money with confidence.
