Best Badminton Clothing: I Played A Tournament In Cotton (Big Mistake)
Showed up to my first tournament in a regular cotton gym shirt. Figured it didn't matter much—I had proper shoes and a good racket.
Twenty minutes into my first match, the shirt was completely soaked. Felt like I was wearing a wet towel. The fabric stuck to my skin, restricted my shoulder rotation, and weighed twice as much as when I started.
Lost that match partly because I was miserable and distracted by how uncomfortable I felt. Bought proper badminton shirts the next day. Never made that mistake again.
Why Regular Gym Clothes Don't Work For Badminton
Badminton is brutally sweaty. A competitive match burns 450-600 calories per hour with constant explosive movements. You're doing overhead smashes that require full shoulder extension every 10-15 seconds.
Cotton absorbs sweat and holds it. The shirt gets heavy, sticks to your skin, and takes 45+ minutes to dry. That's miserable for a 60-minute match.
Performance fabrics (polyester, nylon) wick sweat to the surface where it evaporates. The shirt stays lightweight and dry throughout the match.
What I Actually Wear: Performance Shirts
Yonex Tournament Shirts
$35-45 per shirt
I've been wearing these for 2+ years. Lightweight polyester with mesh panels on the back. They dry incredibly fast—I can play back-to-back matches and the shirt never feels wet.
The fit is slightly athletic (not baggy, not skintight). Allows full shoulder rotation for overhead smashes without restricting movement.
One quirk: They run small. I'm normally a medium, but I wear large in Yonex shirts. Order one size up from your usual.
Check price on Amazon →Victor Performance Shirts (Budget Option)
$25-35 per shirt
Similar performance to Yonex at lower cost. Polyester blend with UV protection (useful if you play outdoors). True-to-size fit—if you're a medium, order medium.
Slightly heavier fabric than Yonex but still way better than cotton. I use these for casual practice sessions and save my Yonex shirts for tournaments.
View on Amazon →Generic Athletic Shirts (If You're Just Starting)
$15-25 per shirt
Nike Dri-FIT or Adidas Climalite shirts work fine for recreational play. They're not badminton-specific but have the key feature: moisture-wicking polyester.
I used these for my first 6 months. They're fine. Once you play 3+ times per week, upgrade to actual badminton shirts—the mesh ventilation makes a noticeable difference.
View on Amazon →Shorts: Keep It Simple
Badminton shorts should be lightweight, above-knee length (4-6 inch inseam), and have pockets for shuttles during practice.
I wear basic athletic shorts from Nike or Adidas. Nothing fancy needed. Just make sure they're polyester/nylon (not cotton) and have an elastic or drawstring waistband.
Length matters: Too long and they restrict your lunge movement. Too short and they ride up uncomfortably. 5-inch inseam is perfect for most people.
Browse athletic shorts →Compression Wear (Optional But Helpful)
I started wearing compression shorts under my regular shorts after dealing with inner thigh chafing during long sessions. Problem completely disappeared.
Compression tops can help with posture and muscle support, but I find them too restrictive for badminton. Compression shorts under regular shorts? Worth it.
When to use: If you play 2+ hour sessions and deal with chafing. If you're playing casual 1-hour sessions, skip it.
View compression wear →What NOT To Wear
⚠️ Avoid These:
100% cotton anything: Absorbs sweat, gets heavy, takes forever to dry. Miserable experience.
Baggy clothes: Extra fabric catches air during fast movements and restricts your swing. Fitted (not tight) is ideal.
Jeans or casual pants: I've seen people show up in jeans for casual play. Don't. You can't lunge properly.
Sleeveless shirts: Some clubs ban them. Also your armpit sweat drips directly onto the court, which is gross.
For Women: Same Rules Apply
Women's badminton clothing follows the same principles: moisture-wicking polyester, fitted but not restrictive, mesh ventilation.
Sports bras are essential—you need serious support for the jumping and sudden movements. Regular bras don't provide enough support and will cause discomfort during long sessions.
Skirts vs shorts is personal preference. I see competitive players use both. Skirts (with built-in compression shorts underneath) are common in tournaments. Regular athletic shorts work great too.
Women's badminton shirts →How Many Outfits You Need
If you play 2-3 times per week, buy at least 3 complete outfits (shirt + shorts). This gives you one for each session plus a backup while others are washing.
Wash performance clothing after every use. The sweat and bacteria will break down the moisture-wicking properties if you rewear without washing.
Pro tip: Don't put performance shirts in the dryer. Air dry them. High heat damages the moisture-wicking fibers. I learned this after ruining 2 shirts in the dryer—they lost all their breathability.
đź’ˇ Budget Breakdown (Starting From Scratch)
Minimum setup: 2 generic athletic shirts ($40) + 2 athletic shorts ($40) = $80 total
Recommended setup: 3 badminton-specific shirts ($90-120) + 3 athletic shorts ($60) = $150-180 total
Sounds expensive but these last 1-2 years with proper care. Way cheaper than replacing worn-out cotton shirts every few months.
Complete Your Setup
Clothing is just one part. Make sure you have:
- Proper court shoes - way more important than clothing
- Badminton-specific socks - prevents blisters
- Quality racket grips - absorbs hand sweat