How to Choose Tennis Shorts – Fit, Material, Length, Waist, Pockets

Men do not have as many choices with their tennis clothing as ladies, who can choose between skirts, skorts, or dresses. Tennis shorts are the golden standard of men’s tennis clothing.

For the record: This post contains affiliate links, and we will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking on these links.

Sergio Tacchini and Dunlop Tennis Shorts

Fit

In contrary to other sports (running or fitness), tennis shorts are usually loose. You need to have space for movement, so the elastic closure is not very popular in tennis.

The other reason for loose or regular fit is the need for a place to store the balls during the play. Pockets will do the service, and they do not look good on elastic shorts.

Pockets

The most important and probably only feature your tennis shorts have are pockets. Two side pockets are the standard. Some shorts also have one back pocket.

For me, side pockets are sufficient. They should be deep enough to hold at least two or three balls safely, so you will not lose them during the play.

I do not see any use for back pocket during the game, but some brands do have them.

Material

Tennis shorts are usually made of polyester or cotton.

Polyester shorts dry out quickly and take the sweat away from your body. Cotton shorts are not as good at handling the wet but are more comfortable and have a more pleasant touch on your skin.

I prefer polyester shorts during summer when playing outdoor. Cotton shorts time is during winters or when playing indoor.

Length

The ideal length of tennis shorts is a few centimeters above the knees. The exact length depends on your preference, however too short tennis shorts are out of fashion for several decades.

Waist

Elastic Waist with DrawString

The waist closure of tennis shorts can be either elastic or with a drawstring. Elastic waist closure is used more often, but I prefer shorts with drawstring.

Tennis shorts with drawstring will adapt easier when you lose or add weight, and flexibility increases their life span.


Posted in Reviews, Reviews and tagged .

Tennis Pro Guru

Simon is the leading editor of TennisProGuru.com from 2015. He is an avid tennis player from age of 5, however, he never reached the pro level. Still, he likes playing tennis on different courts, with different rackets, and against different opponents. In his free time, you can find him watching all possible tennis matches he can find on the web or tv. Challenger or Grand Slam? It does not matter, just tennis matters.

He currently plays with:
Racket: Wilson Shift 99 V1
Strings: Babolat RPM Blast
Grip: Head Xtreme Soft
Shoes: Asics Gel Dedicate 7 (for hard outdoor and indoor courts) & Asics Gel-Game 5 Clay (for clay courts),
Balls: Dunlop Fort All Courts and Head Championship
Bag: Axiom Backpack

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *