Club Chopin Announcement: Poly Shirts Suck

C

Chopin

Legend
Attention all posters:

After collecting several Roger Federer apparel items and owning a modest collection of top of the line "synthetic" shirts (Tacchini, Nike, Addidas, ect.), I will no longer be buying polyester tennis shirts.

For me, they are less comfortable than a light, high-quality cotton shirt. They also get sticky and stinky quite easily.

I'm returning to the old ways: cotton. If a shirt gets too wet after a set, I'll just change my shirt.

Henceforth, cotton is the official fabric of Club Chopin.

Best,
Chopin
 
I love poly. I love poly & spandex mix even more. I will never wear cotton on the court. I wont buy a full cotton shirt for playing. I do have cotton poly mix shirts which are ok but not my favorites. I wash my shirts after I play so I've never had a problem with them getting "stinky". Poly is easy to take care of. Wash and put in the dryer for a few minutes and hang. No need to iron. I dont fully dry them in the dryer. Just enough time to steam them a bit and hang dry the rest of the way.

The only think I dont like about poly shirts and shorts is that it's hard to get the packing creases out of them and the cost.
 
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Lucy Brown said:
I love poly. I love poly & spandex mix even more. I will never wear cotton on the court. I wont buy a full cotton shirt for playing. I do have cotton poly mix shirts which are ok but not my favorites. I wash my shirts after I play so I've never had a problem with them getting "stinky". Poly is easy to take care of. Wash and put in the dryer for a few minutes and hang. No need to iron. I dont fully dry them in the dryer. Just enough time to steam them a bit and hang dry the rest of the way.

The only think I dont like about poly shirts and shorts is that it's hard to get the packing creases out of them and the cost.
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I wash my shirts after I play, too, in case all you fans out there were wondering. And while I do have moments of artistry on the court, tennis is a physical contest that I play as a Man of Sport. Given my lifestyle, a tennis match is never simply a tennis match. For example, when I win the third set tie-breaker with an ace down the line, falling on the clay, taking in that moment of glory, I want to smell the scent of Victory, not the scent of a smelly polyester shirt. And then, after I've grasped my opponents hand and told him that his day will come, too, when the pretty young woman, her hair in french bun, embraces me and whispers something in my ear, I want to feel her next to me through my Egyptian cotton shirt.
 
I agree. I barely sweat when I play first of all. Polyester doesn't breathe too much so makes me feel hotter since it does not breathe as well.

I do own several Adidas + Federer/Nadal shirts and only a few actually feel good to play in.
 
Chopin said:
Attention all posters:

After collecting several Roger Federer apparel items and owning a modest collection of top of the line "synthetic" shirts (Tacchini, Nike, Addidas, ect.), I will no longer be buying polyester tennis shirts.

For me, they are less comfortable than a light, high-quality cotton shirt. They also get sticky and stinky quite easily.

I'm returning to the old ways: cotton. If a shirt gets too wet after a set, I'll just change my shirt.
Click to expand...
I agree with you. Maybe I'm just old school and don't like the slimy, plastic feel of most nylon/poly tops. I have a couple of Federer polos which feel a lot more cotton-like than others though (the light blue 2010 US Open polo for example).

I'd just as rather buy some vintage (or vintage style) Tacchini top from the bay for $15 and be a bit different.
 
Cotton

I am with you, OP.

Nothing looks and feels better in the court than a classic Lacoste L1212 white polo!!
 
They are not all the same. Nike has no consistency. I have some Nike polys that are super light and breathable. Others are like plastic wrap that cling to you and don't breathe. Adidas seem to be heavier shirts, but breathe pretty well. A couple of my Fila crew shirts are horrible. Under Armour seems to be the best bet in terms of lightness and breathability.

Poly underwear are horrible. They pinch my goods and the sweat runs down your leg.
 
Chopin said:
Attention all posters:

After collecting several Roger Federer apparel items and owning a modest collection of top of the line "synthetic" shirts (Tacchini, Nike, Addidas, ect.), I will no longer be buying polyester tennis shirts.

For me, they are less comfortable than a light, high-quality cotton shirt. They also get sticky and stinky quite easily.

I'm returning to the old ways: cotton. If a shirt gets too wet after a set, I'll just change my shirt.

Henceforth, cotton is the official fabric of Club Chopin.

Best,
Chopin
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qftqftqftq
 
Chopin said:
I wash my shirts after I play, too, in case all you fans out there were wondering. And while I do have moments of artistry on the court, tennis is a physical contest that I play as a Man of Sport. Given my lifestyle, a tennis match is never simply a tennis match. For example, when I win the third set tie-breaker with an ace down the line, falling on the clay, taking in that moment of glory, I want to smell the scent of Victory, not the scent of a smelly polyester shirt. And then, after I've grasped my opponents hand and told him that his day will come, too, when the pretty young woman, her hair in french bun, embraces me and whispers something in my ear, I want to feel her next to me through my Egyptian cotton shirt.
Click to expand...
I doubt the comely lass in the bun will be terribly interested in cozying up next to you and/or your dripping, clinging, sagging cotton shirt. (And does one actually hit an ace "down the line"? That sounds wrong to me. "Down the middle" or "down the center," yes, but "down the line"? That phrase seems reserved for groundstrokes, in my opinion. But maybe that's just because I can't think clearly due to the stench of my hideously odorous poly shirt.)
 
Have to disagree, cotton shirts soak up all my sweat and makes the shirt stick to me. This bothers me when I'm serving.
 
adidasman said:
I doubt the comely lass in the bun will be terribly interested in cozying up next to you and/or your dripping, clinging, sagging cotton shirt. (And does one actually hit an ace "down the line"? That sounds wrong to me. "Down the middle" or "down the center," yes, but "down the line"? That phrase seems reserved for groundstrokes, in my opinion. But maybe that's just because I can't think clearly due to the stench of my hideously odorous poly shirt.)
Click to expand...

Yes, I agree. Of course, I'm capable of winning a point either way and I thank you for bringing that to the attention of the Boards.
 
OldFedIsOld said:
I have the utmost respect for Borg, but I'm just not into the cotton shirts. Poly/cotton hybrid blends however I can deal with, but full poly for tournaments and important matches.
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I'm in full accord with you. The Poly/Cotton blends are ok, much better than full cotton but full poly and poly spandex blends are where its at.
 
OP must have some crazy body odor, I never got that stinky or musty smell during or right after practice or matches (maybe if I stay in my sweaty clothes). I wear cotton and poly and poly is just better.
 
USERNAME said:
OP must have some crazy body odor, I never got that stinky or musty smell during or right after practice or matches (maybe if I stay in my sweaty clothes). I wear cotton and poly and poly is just better.
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My poly clothes also don't smell that bad after a week after practice, if they do sort of smell a good portion of laundry detergent and a warm/hot wash does the trick. I never use the dryer on my poly polos, keeps it in it's original condition.
 
Best poly shirts:

Underarmour new updated tech tee - really light and comfortable. The charged cotton is also really nice.

Adidas - flex 360 crew - super soft and breatheable.

Stop buying for the design and look for the no chafing, light, breatheable shirts.
 
The only two shirts of mine that smell, one Nike one Adidas, are 100% poly. The other poly ones are fine.

None of my poly/spandex or nylon/spandex blend shirts smell.
 
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mjl78 said:
Best poly shirts:

Underarmour new updated tech tee - really light and comfortable. The charged cotton is also really nice.
Click to expand...

Totally agree with regards to the tech tee. This is a great update, and took away all of the scratchiness of the previous model. Charged cotton is great, too. But the new tech tee almost feels like cotton.
 
I'm with you as well, OP. For me, poly shirts are not as comfortable and definitely give off an odor...hence the manufacturers incorporating various antimicrobial properties into their garments. From a performance perspective, I wish the poly shirts worked better for me, as I tend to perspire quite easily. Nonetheless, I will sacrifice performance for the comfort and non-aromatic qualities of 100% cotton.
 
Chopin said:
Attention all posters:

After collecting several Roger Federer apparel items and owning a modest collection of top of the line "synthetic" shirts (Tacchini, Nike, Addidas, ect.), I will no longer be buying polyester tennis shirts.

For me, they are less comfortable than a light, high-quality cotton shirt. They also get sticky and stinky quite easily.

I'm returning to the old ways: cotton. If a shirt gets too wet after a set, I'll just change my shirt.

Henceforth, cotton is the official fabric of Club Chopin.

Best,
Chopin
Click to expand...

You should definitely try the Yonex ones, impossible to have something more comfortable, I bought 3 of the FO collection and 2 shorts, I only wear polos, so whenever they come up with it I buy, much better than Nike/Adidas and better than Tachinni too.

I'm staying with these, and I'll probably buy more, some beautiful shirts as well, specially the green one and the Wimbledon model.

Cut above the rest surprisingly.
 
I like a nice XL cotton T. Much more comfortable to wipe the sweat from your forehead with your shoulder.

I play in a play where the air is usually dry in the summer, so the shirt never gets too wet.
 
Lucy Brown said:
I'm in full accord with you. The Poly/Cotton blends are ok, much better than full cotton but full poly and poly spandex blends are where its at.
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For the masses, perhaps. For Club Chopin, no.

P.S. Your use of accord as an intransitive verb meaning "agreement" is a bit archaic.
 
Question: If I took my fine collection of tennis shirts and divided them into two piles--polyester and cotton--and then set them both ablaze, which pile would burn with a more natural smell, the kind of smell that could be made into a woody, if somewhat acrid smelling cologne?

We all know the answer to this one.

Say no to poly, kids.
 
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Chopin said:
Question: If I took my fine collection of tennis shirts and divided them into two piles--polyester and cotton--and then set them both ablaze, which pile would burn with a more natural smell, the kind of smell that could be made into a woody, if somewhat acrid smelling cologne?

We all know the answer to this one.

Say no to poly, kids.
Click to expand...

Answer the question! Jerk!
 
Forgive me for not wanting that slapping sensation and waterlogged feeling while I hit. Come to think of it, the times I recall getting a slightly musty smell was when I was in cotton Ts and didn't change every hour or so. Poly/poly blend>>>cotton!
 
Chopin said:
Question: If I took my fine collection of tennis shirts and divided them into two piles--polyester and cotton--and then set them both ablaze, which pile would burn with a more natural smell, the kind of smell that could be made into a woody, if somewhat acrid smelling cologne?

We all know the answer to this one.

Say no to poly, kids.
Click to expand...
I think that experiment would have even greater validity were you to put on one of each kind of shirt before setting it ablaze. You'll be far better able to give us an accurate report if you experience each shirt's flammability from within, as it were. ;)
 
Lucy Brown said:
I love poly. I love poly & spandex mix even more. I will never wear cotton on the court. I wont buy a full cotton shirt for playing. I do have cotton poly mix shirts which are ok but not my favorites. I wash my shirts after I play so I've never had a problem with them getting "stinky". Poly is easy to take care of. Wash and put in the dryer for a few minutes and hang. No need to iron. I dont fully dry them in the dryer. Just enough time to steam them a bit and hang dry the rest of the way.
Click to expand...

Agreed.

The only thing I prefer about cotton is that the material is softer and warmer, but then I recently found an Adidas poly polo that feels just like cotton, and is made from a very soft material (even though its 100% polyester) though the material itself is a bit thin:

http://www.adidas.co.uk/Men's-Official-Emblem-Polo-Shirt/X12514_400,en_GB,pd.html?cgid=WISHLIST
 
The one where George convinces the Yankees to change their uniforms from polyester to cotton, and it doesn't work out so well.

I agree that some poly shirts (like the adidas Spezial polo and crew from W'11), are a little heavy, and any organic cotton tee would feel better. The best cotton tee may be better than the worst poly shirt, but the best poly shirt will always be greater than the best cotton. Shirt in point (imo) - the adidas adipure Traditional Henley/Polo. That shirt is light, soft, breathes amazingly, and dries fast. Plus, it looks bada$$.
 
Playing in a dry place like LA in the summer, reg cotton shirts are OK. But I am telling you guys if you ever play in a humid place poly shirts are the only way to go!

I personally am not crazy about 100% poly because they grind on the straps of my backpack and the shirt will be ruined. Also the $80 Fed "no stitch seams" shirts are very washer unfriendly. You can't wash them in hot water and you can't use strong detergent and no fabric softener. I ended up just hand washing them in cold water and then hang dry. No driers if you want your shirt to last. It's a lot of work!
 
Racquet Daddy said:
The one where George convinces the Yankees to change their uniforms from polyester to cotton, and it doesn't work out so well.

I agree that some poly shirts (like the adidas Spezial polo and crew from W'11), are a little heavy, and any organic cotton tee would feel better. The best cotton tee may be better than the worst poly shirt, but the best poly shirt will always be greater than the best cotton. Shirt in point (imo) - the adidas adipure Traditional Henley/Polo. That shirt is light, soft, breathes amazingly, and dries fast. Plus, it looks bada$$.
Click to expand...

It only failed because of shrinkage though.
 
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