Tennis Apparel Sizing Guide: Order Club Kits That Fit the First Time

Athletic performance fabrics are cut for movement, not for modesty. A performance tee is designed to sit closer to the body so it does not catch air during a serve or bunch at the waist during a split step. That means the cut is slimmer than a standard retail tee at the same stated size.

The practical effect: a player who wears a large in everyday t-shirts often needs an XL in a sport-fit performance tee. Women who wear a Medium in a relaxed cotton tee often size up to a Large in a racerback tank.

Fabric composition also changes fit. A 100% cotton tee relaxes and stretches slightly after washing. A polyester moisture-wicking tee holds its shape but does not give. Triblend (cotton/polyester/rayon mix) is the most forgiving — it has some stretch and drapes without clinging.

These differences matter more for club kits than individual purchases. When 40 players order the same tee, the club director needs to communicate sizing guidance ahead of time or expect 20% of orders to come back as "it does not fit."

Performance tees (Sport-Tek, Men's Moisture-Wicking). Athletic cut. Runs slim through the chest and shoulders. Players with broader builds should go up one size. Standard sizing works for lean athletic builds.

Triblend tees (Next Level Men's Premium Triblend, Women's Premium Triblend). Semi-fitted with slight stretch. Most players can order their usual size. The triblend drapes well and does not cling like a pure poly tee. Best option for clubs that want comfort and on-court performance in one piece.

Women's racerback tanks (Next Level Ladies Racerback, Bella+Canvas Performance Workout Tank). These consistently run small. Women should order one full size up from their standard t-shirt size. A woman who typically wears a Medium tee should order a Large racerback.

Women's flowy tanks (Bella+Canvas Women's Flowy Scoop Muscle Tank). Cut intentionally relaxed. Order true to size or one size down if you prefer a more fitted look.

Quarter-zips and pullovers (Sport-Tek). Standard athletic sizing. Fits true to size in the chest; the cut is trim but not restrictive. Players who layer underneath should go up one size.

Hoodies (Bear Grips Comfort Soft, Gildan Youth, Bella+Canvas Cropped). Pullover hoodies from Bear Grips and Gildan run true to size with a slightly relaxed fit. Bella+Canvas cropped hoodies are intentionally short in the body — order based on your crop preference, not your standard sweatshirt size.

The most practical approach: include sizing guidance in the shop announcement email with a simple table.

This table dramatically reduces sizing complaints without requiring members to read detailed fit notes. Two clicks: check your normal size, find the corresponding order size, done.

For clubs on Done-For-You VIP, the shop advisor can add sizing guidance directly to each product description in the shop so the information is visible at the point of purchase.

Before launching a full club kit, order one sample of each key product style in the primary sizes your membership will order. This costs $60-$120 for three products in two sizes each and prevents a club-wide sizing disaster.

Bring the samples to a club event — a match day, a league night, an open clinic. Let members try them on. Note which size they end up ordering and add that to your pre-launch sizing guidance. Members who tried on a sample are far more likely to order the correct size and far less likely to request a return.

The sample order also serves as a quality check. You confirm the print quality, color accuracy, and fabric feel before the full membership sees the product. Any issues surface in the sample round, not after 80 members have ordered.

Print-on-demand with no minimums makes this financially painless. Ordering three samples costs what a single Lululemon tee costs. The price comparison makes the sample-first approach obvious.

Junior tennis programs that include youth sizes in the club kit face an additional complexity: youth sizing is age-based but body-type variable. A 12-year-old athlete and a 12-year-old who is still growing into their frame will wear different sizes despite the same age label.

Youth sizing guidance for the catalog items most commonly used in junior kits:

• Youth Airlume Cotton Athletic Tee — runs slim. Junior players with athletic builds should go by chest measurement rather than age.
• Youth Moisture-Wicking Performance Tee (Sport-Tek) — athletic cut, runs slim. Go up one size for average builds.
• Youth Athletic Mesh Shorts — standard youth sizing, waistband adjustable. True to size for most juniors.
• Youth Hoodie (Gildan) — slightly relaxed fit, true to size. A good base layer piece for cold-weather tournaments.

For junior programs, consider having parents measure chest and height and providing a simple chart rather than asking them to guess age-based sizes. Chest measurement is the most reliable predictor of youth apparel fit.

Adding parent apparel to the shop alongside the junior kit lets families order everything in one session. The convenience increases average order value per family significantly.