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Babolat tennis polos are light, mobile and offer UPF50+ protection from the sun.
Babolat tennis polos are light, mobile and offer UPF50+ protection from the sun.
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Golf and tennis have more in common than being individual sports. A broader appeal demographically and ethnically in addition to being apparel trendsetters have linked the two and added colorful twists on fashion classics for looking good on and off the course or court.

Starting from the bottom, shoes for tennis are an important force when it comes to substance and style.

“Tennis is a very unique game in that the footwear is really function specific,” said Bryan Ogle, senior director of Global Sales and Marketing – Performance at K-Swiss. “Regular sneakers will not stand up to the game of tennis. Very high-end technical tennis shoes are not normally viewed as great alternatives as everyday shoes.”

Basically, Ogle said, there are three things to look for in tennis footwear: comfort, durability and consistency.

“Shoes can wear out quickly depending on level of play,” he said. “Companies need to be keenly aware that evolving shoes is much preferred to completely revolutionizing a shoe.” 

For shorts, length is the current focus, with older players favoring 7-inch inseams and younger players preferring longer lengths of at least 9 inches, said Sally Calongne, category manager for Footwear and Apparel at Babolat.

Ogle concurs, adding that the fluctuating lengths of men’s shorts and women’s skirts vary from year to year.

“You just never know,” he said. “While there have been a few players out there in 5-inch inseam shorts favored by players of days gone by, the overwhelming majority of players still seem to be in a short with an inseam length around 7 inches. The key here is complete freedom of movement.”

Tops allow for more expressiveness, with vivid colors and dazzling patterns making more appearances. But comfort remains the key to most selections.

“Tennis players are always looking for fabrics that not only wick but dry quickly,” Calongne said. “Cotton is a comfortable fabric that wicks but only spreads the moisture around. To stay comfortable, players need the fabric to dry too.”

Adds McPherson: “Tennis, like golf, is responding to the move to moisture management performance fabrics, both in polo styles and crew neck short sleeve styles.”

Just as in the competitive field of golf equipment, tennis manufacturers are always looking for the latest racquet technology to enhance a player’s game, no matter the skill level. How they get settings and market items sounds a lot like golf as well.

“The trend for racquets is advanced technology tied to connectivity,” said Allan Iverson, Southern California sales director for Babolat. “We’re seeing detailed software applications all integrated through the handle. For example, after you set up your profile the detailed feedback includes everything from the number of forehand versus backhand shots one takes during a match to percentages of times one hits the ball on the sweet spot of the racquet.”