So yeah, figuring out tennis club shirts turned out to be way trickier than I thought. Started simple – grabbed a couple of cheap cotton tees from a big store nearby. Figured hey, it’s just a shirt, right? Bad move. One Saturday match, seriously hot day, I sweated buckets. Those shirts? Felt like I was wearing a wet towel after like 15 minutes. Heavy, sticky, just awful. Plus, damn thing rode up constantly. Kept having to tug it down mid-point. Total distraction.
The Experiment Phase
Alright, needed better options. Hit up a proper sports shop. Found the “performance” section. Wow, shelves full! Polyester this, blends that, mesh panels. Felt kinda overwhelmed. Grabbed three different ones based mostly on feel:
- Option A: Super thin, almost see-through polyester. Felt super light.
- Option B: Thicker polyester blend, felt sturdy.
- Option C: Had big mesh panels under the arms and on the back.
Putting Them to the Test
Made myself wear each one for a full practice session, even if it sucked. Learned a bunch fast.
- Option A (Thin Polyester): Breathable? Yeah. But flimsy! Slightest tussle at the net, felt like it might rip. Also, weirdly, it held onto BO smell way too well after. Not cool.
- Option B (Thick Blend): Sturdy, yeah. Didn’t feel like ripping. But man, it trapped heat. Played one set, felt like an oven. Sweat didn’t evaporate, just sat there feeling clammy. Collar felt stiff too, rubbed my neck raw.
- Option C (Mesh Panels): Oh, now we’re talking. Air flowing under the arms and back? Huge difference. Lighter sweat patches. Collar was soft, didn’t chafe. This one got points instantly.
Bonus Headaches
Fit became a biggie too. That super thick shirt? Felt like it restricted my swing sometimes. Tried serving big? Just felt… constrained. Needed room up top! Also, realized some collars are sewn weirdly, scratchy tags everywhere. Had to cut one off mid-session it was so annoying.
What Actually Stuck?
After burning through those test runs, here’s what I look for now every single time:
- Material Matters Most: Must be lightweight, breathable polyester or a smart blend. Cotton is dead to me now.
- Vents or Mesh is Non-Negotiable: Seriously. Mesh panels under arms, back vents – gotta have airflow spots. Sweat management jumps tenfold.
- Fit for Fighting: Needs a slightly relaxed cut around shoulders/back. Can’t feel tight when reaching for overheads. Not like a bag though! Shoulder seams shouldn’t cut into you.
- Soft & Simple Construction: Collars need to be soft fabric, sewn flat. Tags? Seamless or printed only. Any scratchiness is a deal-breaker.
- Think Long-Term: Grabbed a dark blue one? Shows sweat less. White looks crisp but stains easier. Durability – thicker blends hold shape wash after wash.
So yeah, not rocket science, but not grab-and-go either. Testing real shirts in actual match conditions? Best way to separate the champs from the chumps.