Custom tennis uniforms: fabric, print and ordering guide

Custom tennis uniforms have to do two jobs at once. They need to look sharp on a club noticeboard photo, and they need to stay light and dry through a three-set match in the sun. Most of that comes down to the fabric, the cut and how the design is printed. This guide covers what we use for tennis kit at New You Sports, which print method suits which part of the uniform, and what to sort out before you order for a club or academy.

What a tennis uniform is made of

Our tennis uniforms use 100% polyester interlock or a polyester mesh blend at 140 to 160 GSM. That is a light weight. It moves with the arm on a serve and doesn't cling once the player starts to sweat.

The fabric has mechanical stretch, so it gives in every direction without spandex in the shorts and jersey. Mesh zones under the arms and down the back let air through. For women's dresses and skorts we switch to a polyester-spandex blend, which holds its shape better on a fitted bodice and a flared skirt.

Sets, dresses and how they are cut

Most club orders are a jersey and shorts set. The gradient mesh tennis uniform set is a good example: a polyester interlock jersey with a sublimated mesh-look gradient and plain matching shorts.

Women's squads often want a dress as well as a set. The women's mauve performance tennis dress is sleeveless, cut in stretch polyester-spandex, with a flared skirt that doesn't restrict a lunge. You can order dresses and sets on the same order in the same colours.

Printing methods for tennis uniforms

Sublimation is the method we recommend for the main design. The dye goes into the polyester itself, so full colour gradients and patterns won't crack, peel or fade in the wash. It also adds no weight, which matters on a light tennis shirt.

Heat transfer works for player names, numbers and small sponsor logos added after printing. Screen printing suits a single solid logo on a plain shirt in larger runs. For anything with a fade or more than two colours, stay with sublimation.

What to send us with a tennis kit enquiry

• Club colours. Pantone references or a clear photo of your current kit in daylight.
• Logo files. Vector (AI, EPS, PDF or SVG) for clean edges.
• The pieces you need. Sets, dresses, skorts, or a mix.
• Names and numbers. A list per player if you want them printed.

A tennis shirt should feel like nothing after the first game. That starts with the GSM. From the cutting room