Fitness meets Fashion: Ultimate Guide for Female Players to look Sporty

Here’s everything you need to know about what female players should wear to tennis/badminton games, practice or gym,

Tennis and badminton are two physically and mentally intensive games that call for agility, flexibility, and comfort. You need to wear something that plays out well in these aspects of the game.



 While there are technically no strict rules about what is right and what is wrong as attire for female players, you want to make sure that you’re wearing an outfit that’s comfy, lightweight yet strong and not too restrictive.

This guide will take you through everything you need to know about women's clothing. We’ll show you what to wear and what not to train, matchday or gym.

Let’s get started, shall we?

(1) Shirts

Badminton and tennis female players have a unique dressing style from their male counterparts. Whether during periods of hot or cold weather, it is apparent that your choice of clothing you be designed to keep perspiration to a minimum and boost comfort.

What to Wear: You should wear lightweight shirts that provide ample freedom of movement, flexibility, and comfort, especially when it comes to vest shirts or dress-like shirts. They should ideally be made from polyester combined with a soft yet strong sweat-absorbing material. In any case, polyester shirts dry quickly and are light.

In cold weather or during winter, your aim is to make sure that you are comfortably warm. That’s why you should wear a long-sleeved t-shirt underneath a jacket (more on this ahead).

What Not to Wear: Avoid cotton t-shirts at all costs. They may be absorbent and soft, but they tend to maintain heat and sweat, becoming heavy with every minute of play. More often than not, cotton t-shirts will do more harm than good to your game in badminton and tennis.

During hot weather, stay away from black or dark-coloured t-shirts. They tend to absorb more heat, leaving you panting on the field. If you must wear black, it should be made from a super soft and light material like polyester.


(2) Sports Bra

Having a well-fitting sports bra is very important when playing tennis or badminton. They'll also come in especially useful when you go to the gym. They help make your training or exercise comfortable and contribute to the long-term wellness of your breasts.

There are several factors that go into choosing the picture-perfect sports bra for racket sports. These include breast size, support, extra features (like back closure adjustable/non-adjustable straps, clasps, etc.) impact, and durability.

What to wear: comfortable encapsulation sports bra that matches your cup size.

What not to wear: Too loose or too tight sports bra that can chafe your nipples. Not everyday bras, of course.


(3) Skirts

Tennis/badminton skirts are quite chic, fashionable and comfortable, particularly if you wear tight or short under them. That’s why the term skirts have become quite popular in the world of racket sports. They provide the same flair and support as shorts but come in all shapes, sizes, and designs. These days the top look is of the skirt and below you have the comfort of Shorts, such skirts are available and very popular.

When picking the right skirt or shorts for tennis, here are some factors to keep top of mind:

Quality - the fabric should be high-quality and built to last and withstand lots of movement.
Comfort level - Obviously, your choice of skort should be comfortable to wear on the court or when practising.
Fit - does the short/skirt stay true to size?
Pockets - how large are the pockets? Are they big enough to hold the tennis/shuttlecocks you need?
What to wear: the perfect length skirt or skort that drapes well, stays true to your size and has plenty of space in the pockets for your tennis balls.
What not to wear: A too long or uncomfortably too short skirt that has no pockets and sticks to your legs when it comes into contact with sweat.



(4) Footwear

Like water, badminton/tennis footwear isn’t something you need to wait until you need it. Right from day 1, you need to invest in the right shoes for playing, training and practising tennis/badminton.

The wrong shoes can lead to injuries, not to mention that your game will suffer. If you don’t get the necessary comfort and traction from your shoes, after playing you will likely feel more pain, spasm, and soreness in your knees, joints, ankles, and lower back.

However you look at it, you need proper kicks to take your tennis/badminton game to the next level. What makes the right shoes for two popular sports?

Plenty of grip on the sole: That’s right. The soles should be designed to offer enough grip and traction to prevent slips, falls and trips on the court. This is particularly the case if you intend to play badminton on a PU/PVC composite or wooden court because it tends to be slippery.

More flat: Tennis and badminton involve a ton of sudden starts and stops, which require a special kind of shoe. Typically, badminton shoes are lightweight, tend to be flat, and the sole feature designed patterns to provide traction.

Sturdy: Regular shoes have heels that are softer and thicker. Tennis shoes are designed to be sturdier.

Think about your playing style: If you're a baseline player, you need shoes that offer more lateral support. That means the sole should be durable. The serve & Volley player, on the other hand, needs more reinforcement in the toe cap.

Consider the type of the court surface: Canvas shoes are great for concrete-type courts, but won’t do well on a wooden/PVC court.

Don’t forget your shoe fi t and foot type: Wet tests will reveal that your foot belongs to one of the three common types - under pronation, neutral and overpronation. If you have got under pronated feet, you need shoes that are flexible. As you might expect, neutral feet can fit any type of badminton/tennis shoe. Overpronation feet need stabilizing badminton shoes.

Gym shoes: when it comes to going to the gym, you need durable, sturdy and fitting shoes that can handle your workouts, whether cardio, CrossFit, strength training or hitting the weights.

What Not to Wear: Don’t wear shoes with high heels, heavy soles, slippery soles, no cushioning inside, leathery ones that cause too much sweating, etc. Some courts might dictate that you wear white-coloured soles to protect their surfaces.

(5) Head Gear

What to Wear: Sweatbands on the forehead or say headbands can help drench heavy sweating. Some female players can also wear caps, hats or visors to protect against low sun and prevent long hair from impeding their vision.

Most of these headgear items are quite inexpensive, and they can be found aplenty in most online stores and brick-and-mortar sports shops.

What not Wear: You might not want to obstruct your vision with a hat, visor or cap when playing badminton. After all, this is an indoor game where the sun may not be an issue. Even still, some badminton players may need to wear sweatbands. They come in handy when you need to wipe off drops of sweat before reaching your eyes.

(6) Socks

Most tennis/badminton socks for women are spandex-type. This helps them to flatter the shape of the foot and support sudden, jerky moves. No matter the age or foot size, the right racket sports socks should be cushioned to increase comfort and support while you play. Remember these are high-impact sports that take a toll on the ankles and feet.

You should bring an extra pair of socks to practice and matchday. You never know when you’ll need to replace it. After all, uncushioned and sweaty socks can up the chances of you developing blisters and soreness after play.

What to consider when buying women’s tennis/badminton socks :

The form fit - they should fit snugly around your feet, all while providing enough support

Material - While there are many types of tennis socks, cotton and polyester socks take the cake. There are some differences between the two. For example, cotton is absorbent and breathable but can wick away lots of sweat to become thick and bulky. Polyester socks, on their side, are thinner and lighter but can become slippery when you sweat. There’s a subtle trade-off you have to make.

Colour - does the colour of the socks matter? It could it’ll affect your game. tennis/badminton socks are usually black or white, but there are multi-coloured ones. If appearances are crucial to you, pick a colour that tickles your fancy.

Design - the design of your socks matters more than you think. Generally, the best women’s socks should have the following features: shape to the foot, sweat-absorbent, and cushioned to offer protection against high impact.

What to wear: Socks designed especially for female tennis players. They should be cushioned at the heels, offer a seamless close from heel to toe, and be form-fitting.

What not to wear: any socks that will impact your movement. Tall-length socks are a big no-no.


(7) Shorts
Although the so-called skorts are quite the rage, you can still wear shorts. This is very important for indoor racket sports like badminton during hot weather. Shorts can be worn under a skirt or shorts to prevent unwanted exposure when the wind blows. Shorts are also pleasantly sexy and cooler than other bottom garments.

What to wear: Comfortable shorts that fit comfortably and unrestricted.

What not to wear: Shorts with the ability to absorb sweat are not a good idea because they’ll become bulky and thick when they are drenched in perspiration. Also, avoid too-tight shorts or ones that go beyond the knees in length.

(8) Tights

Long tights or leggings are meant for playing tennis/badminton and training during cold weather. They should help keep you warm and provide great freedom of movement. They can be worn under a skirt, shorts, trousers, pants, and so forth.

Some female players prefer to work out and exercise in tights in solo or at-home gyms. On game day, you can wear them during warm-ups and take them off easily when you are sufficiently warm. These compression-wear leggings are super comfortable, but you should consider tight fit, length, opacity, waistband, visibility, and price before you buy one. Sportsuncle has very good half tights and full tights available which are liked by many female buyers.

(9) Jackets
Jackets and trousers are great for pre-game warm-ups and outdoor training. Female players can wear them until they are warm and prepped up enough before removing them. They offer comfort and can help keep you warm when you’re subbed or right after the game.


(10) Gym Wear

Badminton and tennis female players need to wear something to the gym that is well-fitting and yet allow them to move about freely without chafing, binding or pinching. Go for stretchy clothing that is breathable. It should be made from a natural fabric or sweat-wicking synthetic fabric.

What to wear:

1. You should wear a soft-padded sports bra to support your jugs. It can be encapsulated or compressed bra, depending on your breast size.
2. Socks that are made from breathable fabric like wool or cotton. It can be sweat-absorbing synthetic fabric like polyester or acrylic, too. Ensure your socks are sufficiently tall to prevent shoes from bruising your skin.
3. Pants and shirts, which could be tank tops or regular cotton t-shirts. If you intend to do spinning, invest in a couple of quality shorts that fit snugly without causing chafes to your skin.
4. Shoes. You should wear cross-trainers that can do well on the treadmill and when you are hitting the weights.
5. Accessories. Wear sweatbands gloves, and headbands, and bring a water bottle to ensure maximum results at the gym.

What not to wear: by all means, avoid wearing jewellery, unnecessary makeup, perfumes, and garments that are tight in the chest or neck. You might also want to leave your ring at home or remove it as soon as you start working out at the gym.

Hope these tips will help our female buyers to choose the right product for themselves.