Choosing the right fit is essential to provide the wearer with freedom of movement and comfort, so buyers should make certain that they know their correct shirt size before shopping. This guide will not only touch on that and much more, but it will also give buyers the information needed to make an informed purchasing decision.
Bowling Shirt History
Bowling has been enjoyed since the days of ancient Egypt when the sport first evolved. Through its history, it has been a game played by nobility and common folk alike. In the early days, bowlers would typically sport their everyday apparel when they bowled, but in the 1950s, team-specific bowling shirts became popular.
The traditional bowling shirt features a standing collar, short sleeves, and a button-down front. Fabric trim may be added to the bottom of the sleeve, and breast pockets are sometimes part of the design.
Bowling shirts are highly customizable. The front and back fabric panels can be made from contrasting colors to give the shirt more visual appeal or denote that the wearer is part of a specific affiliation. Embroidery can be applied to the front and back of the bowling shirt to add monograms, team names and symbols, and logos.
Getting the Right Fit
Getting the right fit is important when buying a bowling shirt because bowlers need to move freely. The most accurate way to make sure that a bowling shirt will fit is to take the wearer’s measurements and then use them as a guide to pick the correct size.
Take Accurate Measurements
To take accurate measurements, use a cloth tape measure which can conform to the contours of the body, and a pen and paper to write down the results. It’s easiest to take body measurements with the help of another person, but if the only option is self-measuring, be sure to use a mirror to see that the tape stays level when it is wrapped around the waist, hips, and chest.
Chest
Measure the circumference of the chest around its widest part, taking the tape under the arms as it is wrapped around the chest. When measuring, do not pull the tape in too much; simply allow the tape to lie flat against the body to achieve accurate results.
Waist
When measuring the waist, it is important to measure the body’s natural waistline which is located below the rib cage and above the belly button. A good way to locate the natural waistline is to bend to the side and use the resulting crease that forms as an indicator of the waistline’s exact location. Breathe normally and don’t suck the stomach in when measuring or a false measurement will result. Use the tape measure to circle the body at the natural waistline and mark down the results.
Hips
To get an accurate hip measurement, measure the widest section of the hips. If using a mirror, turn to each side to ensure that the tape is level as it wraps around the body.
Length
The desired length of a bowling shirt is a personal preference. To measure the length, hold the beginning of the tape measure against the shoulder where the shoulder seam would lie and allow it to fall downward. Estimate what length would be comfortable and read the measurement that would match that length.
Bowling Shirt Sizes
Although sizes are sometimes cut differently by bowling shirt manufacturers, a general guide could be used to narrow down the likeliest size for a potential wearer.
Men/Unisex Shirt Sizes
Frequently, bowling shirts are only made according to men’s sizes, so women must use their measurements as a guide to choose the most appropriate men’s size that would fit.
XXS |
XS |
S |
M |
L |
XL |
2XL |
3XL |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Chest (in inches) |
29-31 |
30-32 |
34-36 |
38-40 |
42-44 |
46-48 |
48-50 |
50-52 |
Waist (in inches) |
27-29 |
28-30 |
30-32 |
32-33 |
33-34 |
36-38 |
40-42 |
44-48 |
Men’s clothing is often sold with the size marked according to the waist, so if, for example, a shirt’s size states "32-33," it is a medium size shirt and would correspond to a women’s large or extra-large size.
Women’s Shirt Sizes
If a woman is lucky enough to find a manufacturer that makes bowling shirts specifically for women, knowing her measurements can help in approximating the best fit.
XXS |
XS |
S |
M |
L |
XL |
2XL |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Size |
00 |
0 |
0-2 |
4-6 |
8-10 |
12-14 |
16-18 |
Chest (in inches) |
26-28 |
28-30 |
30-32 |
32-34 |
36-38 |
40-42 |
44-46 |
Waist (in inches) |
20-22 |
23-24 |
25-26 |
27-28 |
30-32 |
33-35 |
36-38 |
It is always better to get a shirt that might tend towards a larger size when in doubt about the perfect fit. This is because it is much easier to take in a clothing item than it is to enlarge it. Seam allowances, which are the extra material that exists between a seam and the cut edge of the apparel’s fabric, are typically a little less than an inch wide. If an adjustment needs to be made to a shirt to make it wider, a tailor could easily run out of fabric in the seam allowance.
Kids Sizes
Bowling is not a sport limited to adults; children like to take part as well, whether as a player or a spectator cheering for their friends’ and families’ teams.
4 |
5 |
6 |
6X |
7 |
8 |
10 |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Weight (lbs) |
35-39 |
37-41 |
40-45 |
44-50 |
60 |
66 |
74 |
Height (in inches) |
39 |
42 |
45 |
47 |
49 |
52 |
55 |
If a child’s weight and height fall between two sizes, it is best to get the larger size which will allow for the child’s growth.
Bowling Shirt Fabrics
Bowling shirts can be constructed of a number of different fabrics that can generally fit into two categories: knit and woven fabrics. Bowling aficionados might opt to have a range of styles in their wardrobe to choose from depending on different events. For example, the casual look of knit fabrics might be a better choice for non-formal games at the bowling alley, but the more formal look of wovens might be used for special events, like bowling tournaments.
Knit Fabrics
Knitted fabrics are easy to care for and wear because they crease less often than woven fabrics and can stretch easily as a wearer moves. Knitted fabrics require less ironing, and generally can forego the need for ironing if they are taken out of the dryer promptly. The most common knitted fabrics that will be used for bowling shirts are cotton knit, polyester, and cotton/polyester blends.
Woven Fabrics
Woven fabrics do not have the stretch of knits, so fit is important when buying a bowling shirt made from woven fabric. What woven fabrics lack in elasticity, however, can be made up for in the variety of textures a woven fabric might have. Cotton-woven fabrics will have a dull finish, but sateen and silk, which fall in the woven category, can have a visible sheen that many bowlers might find attractive.
Bowling Shirt Styles
Since the introduction of the traditional bowling shirt in the 1950s, the style has gone through several transformations. Some bowling shirts today have eliminated the button-down front and resemble polo-style shirts. Polo-style bowling shirts typically retain the short sleeves and standing collar of the traditional bowling shirt style and will only be made in a knit fabric.
Retro bowling shirts are the closest to the style seen in the 1950s. These can be made of both knit and woven fabrics and often multi-colored. Some will carry the 1950s theme a little further and have prints or embroidery that are reminiscent of the era, like flames to recall drag racing or a distinct Hawaiian motif.
Conclusion
With a little bit of planning, finding the perfect bowling shirt can be achieved. The popularity of bowling shirts has given buyers numerous options when it comes to where bowling shirts can be found. Don’t forget the importance of fit and comfort when deciding what sizes and fabrics to choose, and have fun expressing personal style through all the different bowling shirt variations.
