Never Let Them See You Sweat

EVER WONDER WHAT the talk about performance wear was all about? They are on TV all the time: Poised, professional golfers in loose-fitting polo shirts tucked neatly into khakis. There is never evidence of the unsightly underarm sweat ring or the icky shirt-stuck-to-back-and-belly disease often plaguing the rest of the population. Save for an occasional swipe of the brow, these golfers appear dry and comfortable all the time, even in the 90-degree Floridian sun. It is precisely for those reasons that there is so much talk about performance wear, and why it so important to know what is being said. With all the new technological features now available in golf apparel, the garments literally help wearers maintain their cool in the heat of the game.

DEFINING MOMENTS

It is important to note that not all performance technologies are created equal, so said Dan Guthrie, inside sales manager at Peoria, Arizona-based Antigua Sportswear. “There are a lot of people using the term ‘performance’ as a blanket description without knowing what the specific properties can include,” he noted. For example, Guthrie said an anti-bacterial fabric falls under the category of performance, but it has nothing to do with moisture-wicking. “[Shirts with anti-bacterial treatment] would be ideal for a customer that is wanting the benefits of using a synthetic fabric, but is concerned with the odor problems that are associated with these fabrics,” he explained.

To get distributors up to par on the topic, defining the various performance features found in golf apparel is in order, no pun intended. According to Sean Gregg, director of product development at Antigua, the most common technologies available in shirts include: moisture wicking, UV protection, anti-bacterial and stretch fabrics. For outerwear, the most popular features are water resistant and breathable fabrics, as well as waterproof and seam-sealed technologies.