Whether you are a novice who is new to tennis or a perennial enthusiast, a suitable tennis suit is not only “sports equipment”, but also the key to improving performance, taking into account comfort and style. Have you ever been sticky in the scorching sun because your clothes are not breathable? Are you bound by fabrics when moving quickly? This article will help you thoroughly understand the purchasing logic of tennis clothing from eight dimensions such as professional functions, item selection, and scene adaptation, and avoid those pitfalls that “look professional but are tasteless”.
1. Let’s look at the core functions first: these technologies are really needed
Tennis involves a lot of running, jumping, swinging, and often in an outdoor environment, and the “functionality” of tennis clothing is far better than that of ordinary sportswear. Which of those technical terms that have been mentioned repeatedly are worth paying for?
I once took a teenage player who always wore a cotton T-shirt during summer training, but every time he practiced, he was soaked, cold, and prone to colds. After switching to a professional jersey with cooling yarn and breathable quick-drying technology, he reported that “it was like carrying a ‘little fan’ on my back, and I was no longer close to my body after sweating.” This is the core value of functional fabrics – solving practical pain points in sports.
Core features: | Principle of action | Applicable scenarios |
|---|---|---|
Breathable and quick-drying | The surface of the fiber has a hollow or grooved structure, which accelerates the evaporation of sweat and dries 3-5 times faster than cotton | All venues, especially high temperature environments |
Four-way elasticity | With the addition of elastic fibers such as lycra, it can be stretched horizontally and vertically, with a recovery rate of more than 95% | Competition scenes that require large swings and strides |
UPF50+ sun protection | The fabric is treated with a special coating that blocks more than 98% of UVA and UVB rays | Outdoor hard and grass training |
Antibacterial and deodorant | The fiber has built-in antibacterial ingredients that inhibit the growth of bacteria in sweat and reduce odor residue | Many consecutive games and long training |
Chlorine anti-technology | The fabric is resistant to chlorine corrosion, reducing the damage of pool water to color and elasticity | beach tennis, water tennis activities |
Details such as laser punching and seamless processes are also practical – laser punching can accurately increase breathability holes in sweat-prone areas such as the armpits and back, and the seamless process avoids abrasion caused by stitches rubbing against the skin, which are the dividing line between professional and ordinary.
2. Choose items according to needs: the optimal solution for different body types and scenes
The richness of tennis suits is far beyond imagination, and choosing the right items can double the comfort and sports performance. Here is organized according to “core items + adaptation suggestions” to help you quickly match your needs.
- Tennis POLO shirt: Classic, the neckline is mostly ribbed and not easy to deform, suitable for daily training and amateur leagues. It is recommended to choose a loose fit for a fat body to avoid tight necklines; slim models are more suitable for professional tours and can reduce wind resistance.
- Tennis skirt/culottes: A must-have for girls, the length of the skirt is recommended to be 5-10cm above the knee, which does not affect the stride and avoids the light. Culottes have built-in safety pants, which are more suitable for high-intensity training than pure short skirts; pleated skirts are both beautiful and flexible, and are a popular choice for French wear.
- Tennis bottom leggings: suitable for layering in spring and autumn, or in an air-conditioned room to keep warm. Focus on the moisture-wicking coating to avoid sticking to the legs after sweating; The high waistline design can better wrap the waist and abdomen and improve exercise stability.
- Tennis jacket/windproof vest: A must-have for outdoor early autumn training, windproof fabric can resist the cool while being light and not weighing down. It is recommended to choose a style with reflective strips for night training to improve safety; in high-altitude areas, prefer fleece models to take into account warmth and breathability.
3. Scene subdivision: Wearing the right clothes is more important than wearing expensive clothes
Tennis courts and scenes are very different, and the friction of hard courts, the mud of clay, and the tradition of Wimbledon all have special requirements for tennis suits. The following is the dressing formula for different scenes, which are directly applied without stepping on thunder.
Hard ground training clothes: Give preference to lightweight and wear-resistant fabrics to avoid being scratched by gravel on the site; It is recommended to choose light colors to reflect sunlight and reduce the perceived temperature.
Red clay competition uniform: The fabric should be anti-stick and easy to clean, and the dark color is more resistant to dirt (the red clay color is easy to stain on light-colored clothing); It is recommended to choose a drawstring design at the hem of the trousers to prevent staining.
Grass Wimbledon All White Suit: Following Wimbledon’s “All White Rule”, everything from the inner layer to the jacket needs to be white, and only a small amount of color decoration is allowed. The fabric is mostly made of breathable cotton blend, which takes into account tradition and comfort.
Youth school uniform: Priority should be given to customizable styles with group logos, and the fabric should be washable and wearable, in line with the unified image of the school team; It is recommended to choose one size larger to reserve room for growth.
4. Material technology: understand the “black technology” on the label
Many people only look at the brand when buying, but ignore the “key information” on the fabric label – those professional materials are the core that determines the performance of clothing. The following is a comparison of mainstream materials to help you understand the “technological content”.
Material Name | Core strengths | Represents brand/application |
|---|---|---|
Recycled polyester | Eco-friendly (made from recycled plastic bottles), breathable and quick-drying | Adidas Tennis、Nike Court |
DuPont ™Sorona® | Bio-based material, long-lasting elasticity and good wrinkle resistance | Lacoste Sport、Wilson |
INVISTA COOLMAX® | Four-groove fiber, industry-leading sweat wicking speed | Babolat、Yonex |
Graphene blend | Outstanding antibacterial effect and good thermal conductivity (warm in winter and cool in summer) | Commonly used fabrics for professional competition uniforms |
Yonex VERYCOOL | The coolness is obvious, suitable for high-temperature environments | Yonex exclusive fabric |
Here is a tip: look at the washing label when purchasing, if it is marked with “50% recycled polyester + 30% COOLMAX® + 20% lycra”, this combination is the golden ratio of “quick-drying + sweat wicking + stretch”, which is suitable for most scenarios.
5. Brand echelon: the best choice for different budgets
There are many tennis wear brands, from high-end to affordable, covering a wide range of brands, and the positioning of different brands is obviously different, so there is no need to blindly pursue big names.
The first echelon (professional high-end): Nike Court, Adidas Tennis, with large investment in science and technology, mostly exclusive fabrics for competition uniforms, suitable for professional players or enthusiasts with sufficient budgets. For example, Nike’s “Dri-FIT ADV” technology has a quick-drying effect of 40% higher than ordinary fabrics, but the price is higher, about 500-800 yuan for a POLO shirt.
The second echelon (cost-effective choice): Wilson, Babolat, Uniqlo+J series, which take into account professionalism and price, suitable for amateur leagues and daily training. Uniqlo’s tennis uniforms are often made of COOLMAX® fabric, and the price is only 200-300 yuan, which is extremely cost-effective; Babolat’s culottes are designed to fit women’s figures and are loved by enthusiasts.
The third echelon (entry-level parity): Lotto, Prince, the price is affordable (100-200 yuan), with complete basic functions and suitable for novices. However, the durability of the fabric is slightly poor, and it is recommended to choose a higher echelon brand for long-term high-intensity training.
6. Dressing aesthetics: Sports can also be worn with a sense of luxury
Tennis suits have long jumped out of the category of “pure sports” and incorporated more fashion elements. Master these dressing skills, and the training ground can also become your “show”.
For example, a French college V-neck tennis shirt, paired with pleated culottes, and a white empty hat, instantly get Wimbledon elegance; American retro contrasting colors are suitable for street style, choose a polo shirt with red and black, blue and white contrasting colors, paired with loose shorts, full of vitality.
In terms of details, contrasting piping and metal LOGO buckles can enhance the sense of single quality; Japanese minimalist solid colors are suitable for those who like to be low-key, and the basic colors of black, white and gray can never be mistaken. Remember “sports first, fashion as a supplement”, and don’t choose a style that is too tight or has a complex design for aesthetics, which will affect the performance of the action.
7. Accessory extension: small objects enhance the big experience
Many people ignore the importance of accessories, in fact, a suitable hat and a pair of professional socks can greatly improve sports comfort.
- Tennis cap/empty hat: a must-have for outdoors, the empty hat is more breathable than the full hat, suitable for long-haired girls; choose a style with the UPF50+ logo and take into account sun protection.
- Tennis socks: Choose high-top models that wrap around the ankles to reduce friction, and styles with anti-slip patterns on the soles of the feet can improve grip and avoid slipping during exercise.
- Sunscreen veil/ice sleeves: Essential for training at high altitudes or under the scorching sun, ice sleeves should be made of cool yarn material, which is both sunscreen and not stuffy; sunscreen veil should be breathable and not stuffy.
8. Procurement decision-making: a guide to avoiding pitfalls in enterprise/team procurement
If it is a school team, club or corporate procurement, the focus shifts from “personal experience” to “cost-effectiveness and compliance”. Here are the core points of procurement:
First, give priority to factories that can provide OEM/ODM services, support customized logos and colors, and meet the unified needs of the team; secondly, factories with small orders and quick returns (MOQ from 300, delivery time of about 45 days) are more suitable for small and medium-sized teams to avoid inventory backlog.
In terms of compliance, EU REACH certification (hazardous substance testing) and BSCI factory inspection (social responsibility compliance) are necessary conditions, especially when exporting procurement; In terms of logistics, FOB Shenzhen is a common term, and the freight and delivery time should be clarified when purchasing.
Sourcing Agent Perspective: Yigu’s Procurement Advice
As a Sourcing Agent who has been deeply involved in sportswear procurement for many years, I have found that many teams tend to fall into the misunderstanding of “only looking at the price” when purchasing. In fact, the “hidden cost” of tennis clothing is more worthy of attention – for example, the fabric does not meet the standard and deforms after a few wears, which increases the cost of repeated procurement. It is recommended to ask the factory to provide 3D proofing before purchasing to intuitively see the finished product effect; at the same time, it is required to provide fabric test reports to verify whether UPF50+, antibacterial and other functions are true. For customization needs, heat transfer printing is more suitable for large-area logos than embroidery, with lower cost and less likely to fall off. In addition, environmental protection is a trend now, and choosing a factory with degradable packaging bags can not only enhance the brand image, but also meet environmental protection requirements.
FAQ: 5 most common questions asked by newbies
- Q: Can tennis clothes be washed in a washing machine? A: Yes, but you should wash them inside out, use neutral detergent, avoid drying at high temperatures (which will damage the elastane fibers), and dry them naturally.
- Q: Will it be hotter to wear a long-sleeved tennis suit in summer? A: No. The professional long-sleeved tennis suit with UPF50+ sun protection and cooling technology can block direct sunlight and feel more comfortable than wearing short sleeves.
- Q: Should youth tennis wear be loose or slim? A: The loose fit reserves room for growth, but it should not be too wide (to avoid affecting movements); over 12 years old can try slim fitting models to cultivate athletic posture.
- Q: Are the size standards the same for different brands? A: Not the same. European and American brands (such as Nike, Adidas) tend to be one size larger, while Asian brands (such as Yonex, Uniqlo) are more suitable for Asian body shapes.
- Q: What type of tennis clothing should I prioritize investing in with limited budget? A: Prioritize buying core items (POLO shirts, short skirts/shorts), choose styles with quick-drying + stretch basic functions, and choose affordable alternatives for accessories.