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- An individual from Reddit says that polo shirts are more appropriate as an indoor clothes and most of them are made of 100% polyester or a blending of polyester and cotton. Polo has a collar and cuffs slightly piped, with the collar and no chest pocket
- Golf shirts, on the other hand, are usually made of 50% cotton and the other 50% is polyester or just plain 100% polyester. They let perspiration leave the skin and to enter the outer layer of the jersey
- Another person from Reddit also said that the form fitting of golf polos should be loose enough through the stomach and the arms
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One person also said that what makes golf polos lighter and able to quickly move moisture and get rid of sweat from your body are wholly or partially made of a moisture wicking cloth which is polyester. It is a type of material that does not fade, does not shrink and does not wrinkle
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On the other hand, regular polos are usually made of cotton with little to no polyester in the product. A natural fiber and usually very soft and comfortable is cotton. However, not like the polyester, cotton tends to shrink, fade, and wrinkle
- There is also one golfer from Quora that said, standard polo shirts are usually made of cotton, sometimes cotton blends or Merino wool and even silk.
- But golf shirts tend to be made with synthetic materials as they let sweat leave the body much better than cotton. But keep in mind that for those who prefer to wear natural materials on the golf course, they can also use Merino wool golf polo shirts.
My friend has always been a bit of a clothes snob. He’s never been content to just wear any old thing, and he’s always been willing to spend a bit more for the perfect garment. So, when he started playing golf, it was only natural that he would want to dress the part.
The problem is, my friend has always been a bit unsure about the difference between golf shirts and polo shirts. He’s read online that golf shirts are made of a special moisture-wicking material that helps keep you cool and dry on the course, while polo shirts are made of 100% cotton and are better suited for indoor wear. But he’s not sure if that’s true, or if there’s really any difference at all.
To make matters worse, my friend can never seem to make up his mind about what style of shirt he wants to wear. He likes the look of both golf shirts and polo shirts, and he’s not sure which one will be more comfortable or perform better on the course.
Hopefully, by reading this article, my friend will be able to finally make up his mind about what type of shirt to wear when he plays golf. And who knows? Maybe after reading this article, he’ll even decide to switch from polos to golf shirts altogether!
In recent years, the athletic industry has gone through a variety of different changes. This is especially true when it comes to the apparel that golfers wear today. Some of the most notable include the types of materials used, more room in the chest area, larger armholes, longer sleeves, and longer shirt tails.
With these oversized clothing styles, golfers automatically have more freedom to move around, particularly when players are in the midst of swinging the golf club in the direction of the next hole in one.
Polo Shirts vs Golf Shirts
Similar to golfers, polo players have their own shirts, too. And, they tend to look very similar to one another. Yet, there are some key differences that you may want to know about.
Polo Shirt
As the name implies, the polo shirt was initially designed for anyone who played the game of polo. Most men would make sure to wear this shirt whenever they played someone else competitively. It was made available in the year 1876.
The original design of these shirts, however, were short sleeves instead of mid to long lengths. The primary reason for this particular design was because the shorter length could not gett caught on any object. Nor, could it cause an accident or injury while playing these games.
Golf shirt
On the flip side, the golf shirt was designed with a collar. And, these shirts were made with a fit that was slightly relaxed. Here are some of the key features that people would look for.
- Button-down shirt
- Breathable Materials
- Moisture wicking fabric
- Cotton or polyester materials
The Collar
The collar on each shirt is specially designed. Therefore, if you own at least one of these two shirts, you may be able to tell the difference between each easily. For instance, the collars on golf shirts are made with double seams.
Though the collar can be worn in more than one way (up or down), golf players usually wear their collars folded down neatly and completely flat.
The polo shirt, however, is made with single stitch seams so it also relatively easy for anyone to take note of the difference. The collars on the polo shirt is always made of material that is knit.
Therefore, the collar of a polo shirt will match well with the body of the shirt.
Golf Shirt versus Polo Shirt – Material Differences
One of the primary differences between both the polo shirt and the golf shirt is the type of material that they are made of. Golf shirts are normally made of 50-50 polyester and cotton mix.
Or, the manufacturer may make their golf shirts out of 100% polyester materials only. The primary goal of using these types of materials is to keep the player cool and moisture free, partially in the hot summer season.
Inversely, polo shirts are usually made of a wide variety of different materials including the following:
- pique knit material
- Silk
- Cotton
- Synthetic Fibers
- Merino Wool
- Polyester (100%)
- Polyester and cotton blend
As you can see, the polo should be made of a large variety of different materials, while the golf shirt is only made of the best quality materials.
The Pocket
You can also tell the difference between a golf shirt and a polo shirt by the design of the pockets on each of these shirts. There is a distinct difference between each that everyone should pay close attention to.
For example, if you see a breast pocket on the left side of the shirt, you are more than likely looking at a golf shirt. Or, if there is no pocket on the shirt at all or the breast pocket is located on the right side, you are usually looking at a polo shirt.
Conclusion
The golf shirt and the polo shirt may look very similar whenever you see them. However, there are some distinct differences between each.
Therefore, if you really want to know which one is which, you can compare the type of materials used, which side of the shirt that the breast pocket is located on, and seam types (i.e. single or double seams).
Hi, I’m Amber Bruson. I’m a late twenties writer who competed in some local tournaments in Los Angeles while attending college. After graduating, I worked as a teaching pro at two different golf clubs out in California.
In 2016, I won the Club Championship at my home club in L.A. I love golf and I’m a passionate advocate for the sport- I think everyone should give it a try.