What Is a Tennis Skort?

Basically: The tennis skort is a single garment that combines shorts with a skirt. I.e., it’s a pair of shorts with a panel (either over the front or wraparound) that gives it the appearance of being a skort. The tennis skort is designed (obviously) to wear while playing tennis.

But where did the tennis skort come from?

Flashback: When Tennis Players Wore Pleated Tennis Skirts

When women originally started playing tennis, they were expected to wear long, ankle-length garments, and it was much later (alongside the rise of the mini-skirt) that hemlines started climbing, and the tennis skirt came to be. 

By the 1980s, hemlines were so high that women used to wear specialty matching undergarments beneath their pleated tennis skirts. Traditionally white, this ensemble (topped with a classic polo shirt) became the standard uniform for tennis (think Martina Navratilova, Steffi Graf, et al.)

But then the tennis skirt evolved. Players like Serena Williams started to bring a style sensibility to the court. And athletic fabrics became more innovative, too: less starchy tennis skirts and more stretchy. They moved with the player, absorbed sweat better, and were generally more comfortable.

After all, athletes care about performance and want to wear clothes that enable rather than restrict movement. And so we started to see the tennis skirt evolve into a tennis skort.

Why Is a Tennis Skort Better Than a Tennis Skirt?

If you play tennis, the choice is yours, and you can wear either a tennis skirt with specialty underpants or shorts underneath or a tennis skort (or even a tennis skort dress) these days.

But a skort does have some advantages on the tennis court:

1. You Only Need to Think About One “Bottom” Garment

If you’re shopping for a tennis skirt, you also have to think about what you’ll wear underneath it. Specialty underpants, shorts, bike shorts… you have options. But the fact remains: You have to make TWO choices. With tennis skorts, you have built-in shorts. So you only need to think about one garment for your bottom half. If you’re like me, that means one less overwhelming decision to make before you hit the tennis court.

2. It’s a Single Garment, So The Shorts and Skirt Work Together

When you’re playing sports (even if it’s just for fun), you don’t want to worry about your garments riding up, or needing to tug and pull them into place. Because the skort is a single garment, it works better than two garments (which means two waistbands, etc.)

3. No Wardrobe Malfunctions: Your Modesty Is Always Protected

Tennis skorts offer the benefits of wearing a short skirt paired with the modesty of wearing shorts. Whether you’re playing sports or just walking to your local tennis court, the tennis skort protects you from inadvertently flashing by-standers while still giving you a full and free range of motion.

4. They Can Serve (Get it?!) Beyond Tennis Clothing

Sports skorts are good for more than just tennis. You can wear them for a variety of sports or gym classes, hiking, gardening or even as athleisure. As such, you may not need to look for a product labeled specifically a “tennis skort,” and you’ll find lots of options in terms of length, colors, rise and cut of sports skorts.

5. Skorts Can Help Prevent Inner Thigh Chafing

Wearing a skort instead of a short skirt or dress will protect more than modesty: If you’re susceptible to thigh chafing when you wear skirts, the individual leg sections of the skort will offer protection for your inner thighs and help prevent the repeated rubbing that causes chafing.

Features to Consider When Choosing a Tennis Skort

If you’re in the market for a tennis skort, you’ll quickly realize there are lots of options out there. It can be overwhelming. Here are some key features to keep in mind.

Style

Skort style mostly comes down to personal preference. Think about questions like:

• How long or short do I want my skort to be?
• Where do I want the waistband to sit (low, mid, or high rise)?
• Do I want the skirt to be flat or pleated (kick pleats, etc.)?
• Do I have a color preference? (Note: A white skirt is a traditional, classic look - hence "tennis whites" - and might be required at some clubs)

Sweat-Wicking Fabric

Tennis is an intense sport, and you’re likely to work up a sweat on the court. And yes, your thighs and groin sweat, too (this is completely normal, by the way.) So you’ll definitely want to look for materials that will wick sweat away from the body to keep you dry and comfortable (and also to help prevent chafing as sweat can really exacerbate friction).

Flattering Cut

It’s never fun when you’re distracted or uncomfortable in your clothing, and it can make it hard to concentrate on the task at hand (swiftly defeating your tennis opponent!) A flattering cut is not just about how you look to others; it’s also about how you feel. We want you to focus on your serve, not feeling self-conscious. So find a cut and fit that works for you and your body.

If you’re confused, take a cue from your favorite short skirt. For me, I always like a-line skirts, but I detest anything that looks too straight. (By the way, a gentle a-line is most universally flattering.)

Stretch & Movement

Okay, you might feel like you look great, but can you move? Do you have a full range of motion, whether it’s stretching to return the ball or reaching for your serve? When you try on a new tennis skort, move around and make sure you don’t feel restricted in any way. Look for lightweight materials, stretchy fabric, an elastic waistband and non-restrictive skirt fabric. If you're the type of player who likes to tuck tennis balls around your waistband, test this out too!

Leakproof Options

If you’re on your period or you experience light bladder leaks, you might avoid activities that may cause leaks. Or feel so self-conscious that you can’t really enjoy playing. Most tennis apparel and skirt styles will be extremely limiting if this is your situation - but tennis skorts can help. Look for a skort with leakproof properties in the built-in shorts. The LeakStrongTM Leakproof Skort from Knix features discrete, built-in leakproof protection.

Discover Knix’s Sport Skort

Introducing your new activewear essential: the Skort. Designed with stretch fabric and an anti-chafe short liner, you can love every frictionless movement. Plus, drop-in pockets help you keep your must-haves handy.

The Skort is designed with stretch performance fabric and a super flattering mid-rise waistband for extra comfort and support. Paired with a rounded hemline for a stylish & functional fit.

Leak-Free Gusset

Discover confidence like no other comes from wearing the right gear. The Leakproof Skort supports you during any lunge, jump, or leisurely walk. Built-in backup protection keeps life's leaks out of your mind and helps you focus on your A-game.

Movement Made Easy

Movement should never make you feel uncomfortable, regardless of the heat or any irritating thigh friction. The lightweight & stretchy interior anti-chafe shorts keep you feeling great no matter what.

Shop the Knix Sport Skort here

We hope you found this post informative — but remember: we’re not doctors and this post is not medical advice! While all posts are fact-checked and well researched, we always recommend you chat with your doctor about any questions or concerns you might have regarding a medical condition. We’re here to support and educate, but never with the aim of disregarding professional medical advice you’ve been given. Phew, now that that’s out of the way, you can go on living unapologetically free.