Part of being an athlete is having the right attire to perform at a high level within your sport. In most cases, clothing designed for sports is mainly performance-based and doesn’t serve any other purpose.

However, tennis is different. 

Depending on where you’re going to be playing tennis, you may have some other factors to consider when choosing your attire. 

We’re here to help. Here’s what you need to know about proper tennis attire.

Does Tennis Have a Dress Code?

Tennis can be played just about anywhere, from a makeshift court to the most prestigious of country clubs. 

If you choose to play tennis at a local park, there won’t be any sort of dress code. You’re free to wear whatever you like. In these cases, it’s best to wear comfortable and flexible athletic clothing, from tops down to a pair of tennis shoes. 

However, one important thing to note is that your choice of footwear needs to be appropriate to keep the courts in pristine condition.

Playing at certain clubs means that there will be a dress code. Be sure to read the dress code in advance to prepare yourself with proper attire.

Headwear

You’ve probably seen tennis players sporting different types of headgear while playing on TV or at the local courts.

There are three common types of headwear for tennis players: Hats, visors, and headbands. 

When playing on outdoor courts, wearing a hat or a visor can come in handy to keep the brightness of the sun at bay. When you’re in the thick of a competitive match, the sun can be a hindrance. It’ll also protect your head and face from powerful sun rays to a certain degree.

A headband is a great choice for keeping sweat from running down into your eyes. Tennis is one of the most physically demanding sports, so there’s a good chance you’ll work up a powerful sweat. 

Tops

Tennis shirts are similar for both men and women for the most part. Both genders commonly wear a tennis polo shirt. 

However, some clubs permit collarless, sleeveless shirts that are designed specifically for tennis as well. At these places, you can pick whichever option is most comfortable for you. 

Women are also known to wear tank tops when playing tennis. If a tank top is to be worn to a tennis club, it will need to be a designated tank top for tennis, similar to the sleeveless and collarless shirts.

Bottoms

As far as bottoms are concerned, men will typically wear shorts of varying lengths, depending on their preference. Most private courts and clubs do not permit long pants of any kind. The important thing is that the shorts selected are designed specifically for tennis. Pockets on the shorts are typically permitted and can be useful for storing balls, but they’re not necessary. 

For women, there are a few options. If you choose to wear a shirt or a tank top, then an appropriate pair of tennis shorts are the perfect choice for bottoms. 

There’s also the option of wearing a tennis dress, which is a shorter dress designed specifically for women playing tennis. If a dress is chosen, it’s usually paired with some compression shorts underneath. 

Although there was some controversy surrounding leggings at tournaments, leggings were the primary choice of bottoms for women at the 2020 French Open. At this tournament, they were typically paired with a skort. 

Shoes 

Both men and women should be wearing an appropriate pair of tennis shoes. The shoes should be comfortable and offer a considerable amount of stability considering the quick stop-and-go movements in the sport.

One of the main factors to consider is the type of court. Hard courts, clay courts, and grass courts all call for a different type of outsole on your tennis shoes. 

Get Your Tennis Attire From Lotto 

Looking to get your start in tennis? Lotto’s collection of tennis apparel is the perfect place to get everything you need. Our collection of tennis apparel has everything from tennis shirts to comfortable shoes for every type of court. Shop our collection today.

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