Florida Sports

Posts Tagged ‘Polo’

Article by Cin Rupp

The classic polo shirt or golf shirt as it is also called, is characterized by it’s T-shape, the collar, the two or three button placket and the optional pocket. The polo shirt made its world debut back in 1926 when one was worn at the U.S. Open championship by Rene Lacoste. Soon thereafter the shirt’s design was mass marketed and the polo became very popular amongst tennis, golf and polo players. In the early 1970s, designer Ralph Lauren came up with his own line of polo shirts which helped to spread the shirt’s popularity among non-athletic consumers who loved the clean lines and classic good looks.

Today the polo is just as popular as ever. There are a wide variety of polo shirts for men, women and kids for sale today that come in many different colors and patterns. The womens polo shirts are very popular due to the fact that they can be worn with jeans, slacks or shorts. Ideal for wearing for a long day out on the golf course, when sharing cocktails with friends or while out shopping with the kids, polo shirts for ladies come in literally hundreds of different colors and exciting patterns. Teenage girls also are wearing the womens polo shirts with skirts, capri pants and jeans. Just walk onto any college campus located anywhere in the United States and you will see many polos being worn by the young students of both sexes.

It is also possible today to create your own custom polo shirts wherein you can have your own logo embroidered on the front of the shirt. These custom polos are ideal for companies that are hosting an event of some kind. They are also great to give away as promotional items to company personnel for work well done. Clubs of all types take advantage of custom polo shirts as do sports teams who wish to have all members dressed the same when traveling together. Customized shirts are also great to use as staff clothing or uniforms for pubs, restaurants, hotels and a wide variety of other types of businesses.

Polo shirts are loose fitting and comfortable. One of the most popular companies in business today that offers the custom polo shirts is LEADapparel. This online retailer offers custom embroidery services on orders of twelve or more shirts. The embroidery done is perfect and of the highest quality. Orders are processed quickly and shipped out within just a few days.

Today, men of all ages are interested in looking both elegant and sporty while at the office, spending time with their pals or when out for a night on the town. The polo shirts for men that are available in stores today are ideal for the guy that wants this look. A polo shirt can be worn with a pair of chinos, jeans or shorts and will look great on any sized guy. These shirts are easy to care for and do not need ironing. They are fresh, classic and always in style. Today there are more varieties available than ever before. You can find polo shirts with sports teams names emblazoned on them, with tattoo motifs silk-screened on the backside and in so many different colors that you will surely want to purchase more than one. The polo shirt was a classic when it first appeared on the market decades ago and it has never gone out of style. They say that the classics stick around forever, and the polo shirt proves that statement to be very true!

Article by tommie

With the sweltering heat creeping up, freshen up your outwear options and more and more general publics have resorted to Ralph Lauren polo shirts, such as the short-sleeved, comfortable and classic breathable cotton Cheap Mesh Polo Shirt with two-button placket, ribbed polo collar and armbands, as well as uneven vented hem. What’s more, the embroidered small pony accents the left chest and they feature100% cotton. Well, pay attention to the following instructive information and you will understand what is eternal classics.For we know, Ralph Lauren establishes the Polo label with an instantly successful line of ties. In direct opposition to the narrow ties and conventional styles of the time, Lauren designs wide, handmade ties using unexpected, flamboyant, opulent materials. The ties quickly become a menswear status item. “A tie was the way a man expressed himself. I believed that men were ready for something new and different. They didn’t want to look as if they worked for IBM. A beautiful tie was an expression of quality, taste, style.” Already interested in promoting a lifestyle with his ties, Ralph Lauren names his line after a sport that embodies a world of discreet elegance and classic style: Polo.What is Mesh?Knitted or woven fabric with an open weave producing a characteristic screenlike effect. Mesh polo shirt provides lightweight, breathable coverage that makes it an ideal choice for warm-weather dressing.What makes Polo Ralph Lauren’s polo shirts special?The New Polo T Shirt carry a logo that has represented quality for four decades. Beyond that, the signature cotton mesh polo shirt is fashioned from a durable yet comfortable woven cotton mesh that gets better with each washing. Then there’s the uneven vented hem, longer in back than in front, so the shirt stays tucked in. There’s also the special knit-rib collar and cuffs, which not only make for that traditional polo construction, but also don’t become wavy with repeated washings. Tubular taping inside the shirt, across the shoulders and along the neckline provides reinforcement in high-stress areas. The buttons are beveled for ease of fastening, they’re highly polished to suggest quality and cross-stitched to keep them where they belong. And the buttonholes are horizontal, which helps to keep buttons buttoned. And finally, we size the pieces of the shirt appropriately. Polo has pieces graded to each size shirt. That means a medium-size shirt gets a medium collar and sleeves and a large shirt gets a large collar and sleeves. The vented hem typically a 1-1/2″ difference between front and back lengths. What are the different fits in polo shirts?Fit is always important, whether it’s about comfort or style. Ralph Lauren Polo Mens Shirts are designed in two fits: classic and custom-fit.1. The classic polo is cut with a full body and generously proportioned shoulders and sleeves. Originally designed as a knit sports jersey for tennis, rowing and of course, polo, the classic is a perfect fit for active lifestyles. Longer shirt = longer button placket. The logo is aligned at the button placket.2. The custom-fit polo is tailored for a slimmer, more modern silhouette. Trimmer in the chest with higher armholes and shorter in the front, back and sleeves by approximately 1.5 inches, it’s a chic alternative to the classic polo. Shorter shirt = shorter button placket. The logo is aligned below the button placket. Source byhttp://blog.topons.com/index.php/2010/08/classic-polo-eternal-classics/

Article by Serena Doni Stalin

Polo shirts are fine clothing commodities. It is also a great publicity item. A lot of people utilized it for diverse reasons. They like to don it during sports events or even just on a informal walk to the park. You should then take advantage of its celebrated status. It’s time you modify your own logo imprinted polo shirts!

The roots of polo shirts can be traced back to the’th and early 20th centuries when Rene Lacoste, then French tennis star, customized a more useful garment to be used for their tennis games. Basically his style formed a shorter, cooler and softer top than the long-sleeved, stifling ones they were used to wearing. Meanwhile in other parts of the world, polo players were also in pursuit of a more convenient clothing article that they could wear to their polo matches. They soon discovered about Lacoste’s creation and eventually accepted the garment’s use. Lewis Lacey, an Argentinian polo player, designed the shirt to illustrate a logo of a polo player in front. Since then it came to be termed as “polo shirt”. In the long run other sports players like golfers, came to accept the shirt as their official attire.

These days, polo shirts come in different colors and styles. Some are pure in color while others are stripy. Almost all clothing companies create them. Logo imprinted polo shirts are very famous in the corporate setting. Colleges like to show their school spirit by putting on promotional polo shirts. They are simple to wash, can be donned with almost all articles of clothing and are very comfortable to wear. Even children love to have on embroidered logo polos!

If you use polo shirts as a promotional, the advantages are: Unlimited Exposure – Polo shirts is a type of attire that is widely recognized in almost all events. If your customer declares that your company polo shirt is now his preferred shirt in the world, likelihood is he will use it often. Now that’s guaranteed daily advertisement for you!

1. Collection in Designs – As I’ve stated, there are more polo shirt designs to select from these days. There is diversity even in fabric. This will give you more options in picking out which shirt best works for you.

2. Expansive Reach – Polo shirts could be put on by men and women of all shapes, ages and sizes, thus, all your customers!

3. Toughness – These products have a long life span. Hence, you don’t have to restore the same items over and over again. They will last for long period of time.

Before you hurry into buying these fabulous items, let me give you some pointers first so you’ll be well guided in your preference.

1. Acknowledge the fabric – Some fabric may do its job for you while others, although would look nice at first, may not work to your gain. The solution here is to check for the kinds of fabrics obtainable in the market today and see which best matches a comfortable polo shirt. Should it be cotton, polyester or rayon? The preference is up to you.

2. Customers First! – Bear in mind that you’ll be handing out this as a advertising item. It’s not planned for your use only. Make sure that you choose the proper design that will fit everyone. Logo imprinted polo shirts will be even more appealing if it can be used by people of all forms.

3. Always check quality – You may think that you’ve just captured the bargain of your life with the price you settled with but you could be setting up for future headache if you’re not wary enough. Some of these products look good at first but shrink after the first wash. Be very alert of the brand of shirt you are buying. If you already have a tried and tested apparel brand then go for it. The likelihood of you getting double-crossed will be thin.

4. Mix and Match – Take extra care in customizing your promotional polo shirts. Colors may be attractive but if not matched properly it could make people dizzy. You don’t want them distracted from the message you want to convey. Devote in the conceptualization of your brand or logo. This is a very significant step to your triumph.

I’m positive by now you are very much convinced that using promotional polo shirts is a definite benefit in the publicity field. Bear in mind these pointers and you’ll be well on your way to customizing that winning polo look!

If you are hunting for the best pair of Polo Sunglasses, then you should definitely be a fashion-savvy person. Polo Sunglasses have a wide range of stunning features complementing different face shapes, styles, and outfits. If you haven’t picked Polo Eyewear before and want to get a pair, the following pointers will help you choose the right one!

Frames – Thin or Bold? Polo Sunglasses come in a variety of frame shapes, sizes, and designs. A thick-framed Polo Eyewear is what trendsetters usually like to go for. With that bold striking frame you are sure to make an instant style statement. Polo Eyewear frames come in both plain colors and multiple color combinations.

Occasions – Business or Casual? You may choose to buy sunglasses to accessorize during a formal occasion or a casual evening out.

Polo Sunglasses are available for both occasions. Choose flaunting shades that come with stylish temples and intricate details on them to team with your casuals. Formal designer sunglasses are simple and straightforward in looks and generally don’t have any funky colors or designs.

Colors – How to Choose? While choosing your pair of Polo Sport Sunglasses’ color, make sure it complements your hair color and skin tone. Certain color lenses are suitable for particular pass times. Red or orange lens shade is right for skiing, whereas violet is suitable for hunting. If you are a golf player, use copper shade lens while blue or green shade is perfect for tennis players.

Lens Shape and Materials? Polo Glasses come in a variety of lens shapes such as rectangle, oval, round, square, butterfly, and much more. You can choose from plastic or metal frames depending on your tastes.

Are you ready to pick a pair of these designer sunglasses now? Visit Best Buy Sunglasses to choose from a variety of striking Polo women’s and men’s sunglasses. Shop at this online store that has a wide range of Polo Sport Sunglasses!

In the following article, everything needed to properly “tack up” or equip a horse for playing polo, called a polo pony, is listed and described in detail by a professional polo player with over twenty years of experience in polo. Also provided are in-depth instructions on exactly how to place and fit each piece of tack on the polo pony the proper and most secure way for the rider as well as the horse. This article can be taken into any well-stocked tack store and the sales people there will be able to assist you with finding all of the necessary tack listed by the following terms, some of which you may not be familiar with yet.
 
Let’s begin with the first basic tack, the ”bit and bridle”. I prefer using a “gag” rather than a “pelham”. Whenever possible, I will work to train and play with a gag with a “broken bar” that is not too thin.

I prefer not to use a “twisted bar” because if a pony is well-trained they should not have any severe aid, such as a twisted thin bar. Most importantly, the bit simply must fit well the width of the pony’s mouth and the pony’s teeth should not be sharp or have any sores. The bridle/headset should be a flat, heavy English subtle leather, with all stainless buckles and well threaded stitching.  

Next let’s move on to the “reins”. One thing we have to set straight right off the top, is that all of the leather must be tanned and not painted. Most leather coming from a country such as India or Pakistan for instance, paints their leather. The premium tanners are English. Stitching is also of utmost importance; the Argentines and English are the best stitchers and use the top threads. Reins should be double and of nice weight and thickness, to allow for enough weight on the neck rein. Draw reins should be used on ponies that keep their head up on gate or when rating or asked to halt. Reins should be of English tanned cowhide leather with all stainless buckles. Basically, all buckles must be of stainless steel, since, the wet leather will rust the buckles which will in turn corrode the leather and cause a sudden brake or tear. At the competitive speed polo has now attained, a high
goal player can not forego on any quality standard.

We’ll now discuss a key piece of tack for the rider as well as the polo pony, the saddle. The saddle should be well fitted, allowing for close contact (no rolls). I prefer not to use any saddle pad, because if the saddle is professionally fitted it should need no pad of any sort. I much prefer a suede seat for nice grip and I definitely want “buffalo billets” that are heavy and wide. I like a seat that is at least nineteen inches and with a square back and very strong tree. The best is to find a saddle that is very solid and well fitted but not heavy. The “lapels” must be large and preferably suede. Hence, the perfect saddle is not easy to fit but is none-the-less essential to get the proper fit.I prefer a saddle made in England, such as a Barnsby, I find the “trees” of their saddles are superior and leather tanning to be of premium quality. The “pummel” should be well spaced not to bother the “withers”; a well

conformed pony must have a nice wither; therefore the “pummel” must be well raised to allow for ample room and not interfere with the shoulder gate motion. A triple buffalo billet is standard. Argentinian saddles are good; however, it is difficult to find a saddle maker that is consistent with quality. In my opinion one of the top Argentinian saddle-makers is Merlos. Also, I will never use wool or cloth padding under the saddle since they just collect mold, fungus and also chaff the withers of the polo pony. Instead, a thin, perforated rubber sheath can be used conditional that it is soaped and rinsed between each workout.
 
Also essential to the saddle are the following two pieces of tack, the “girth and over girth”. One must have a well-padded leather girth and leather over girth. I don’t recommend girths made of any wool or cloth. I have found that wool and cloth causes unneeded chafing. Chafing will cause pinching and will annoy the pony to the point of affecting his head position and even gate. The girth leather should be well oiled and very well tanned. Again, a girth of choice quality is made in England. The over girth will allow the saddle to fit better and will tighten/set the seat properly. It is also a secondary insurance to the girth. Again, here I prefer a leather girth. 

Next you will need a “martingale”, one which is well-fitted and that will not intervene with the gates. The martingale of course must have all stainless buckles with leather that is strong and thick, but subtle to blend well with the curvature on the neck when in gate. Again I feel the best tack to go with shoudl be English, tanned and stitched with the strongest tight thread.

A very important piece of tack required next is the “breast plate”. The breast plate is extremely crucial, as it prevents the saddle from moving back, even slightly; however, the plate should also not be so tight as to chaff or interfere with the pony’s gate. Again, the plate leather should be subtle and of quality tan.

Now we begin to discuss the tack lower on the pony’s body, the “stirrups and irons”. The stirrup leathers must be heavy, wide (I like them 1 inch wide) and preferably
of buffalo hide, as buffalo unlike cow hide stretches and gives a measurable amount of warning. Cowhide will break without giving any signs of wear. The stirrup irons should be at least 5 inches, heavy and with no “rubber risers”. I don’t recommend any irons with any gimmicks such as “quick release” of any sorts. ”Vet wrapping” the exterior and floor of the stirrup is always a smart thing to do.

Now we come down to the tack for the legs of the polo pony, “bandages and boots”. All four legs must be bandaged at all times. I like to vet wrap a healthy tendon and then wrap with a polo bandage. If need be, front tendon protection boots should be worn. I always like to use the same colored bandages on all my ponies so that my teammates can spot me easily on the field; my preference is a sharp white, but they come in almost every color. I will never wear black, brown or dark bandages as I had a groom that forgot to
remove the bandages overnight – they are hard to spot in the late afternoon after a game if they are dark in color, when it comes time to ”turn out” the polo pony. 

Last but not least, it’s time to prepare the polo pony’s ”mane and tail” for playing polo. The tail should be neat, with a simple braid made all the way down to the tip of the tail, then folded up and taped with the proper tape sold in tack shops for polo ponies. Using three bands of tape is customary. The mane must be totally cropped, or trimmed, all the way to the top of withers. If your polo pony is a “green” pony, meaning new to the game and in still in training, it is customary to leave a few-inch section of the mane uncropped or long as an indicator to others to be aware of their lack of polo experience.
 
All of the tack and methods listed above should provide you with everything you need in the equipment department to prepare your pony for playing polo. Always seek lessons from a professional if required and ride safely. I hope you enjoy your new tack and playing the beautiful, exciting and worldly game of polo!
 
To view the most exciting photos of the top polo players and their ponies visit www.polopony.com. 
Play Polo !

By: Patrick Ohannessian

Summary 

The term “Polo pony” is an expression for a horse or pony that is used in the game of Polo.

Polo ponies are not a registered breed but a type of horse or pony that possess intelligence, bravery, speed, strength and masses of agility as the polo pony has to gallop and turn around and halt rapidly on demand. On the Horsewizard website you’ll find many Ponies for Sale suitable for the sport of Polo. Polo is considered to be one of the fasted games in the world; sometimes reaching speeds of around 30 mph, relentless galloping and quick changes of direction can put massive amounts of stress on the polo pony’s body. Polo ponies must have good confirmation to help with the rigours of the game.  

Confirmation

A strong muscular body is needed; this will help when being bumped by others.
A deep sloping shoulder, this will allow for the rigors of “riding off”.
A deep and wide chest giving ample room for the heart and lungs, this will help with stamina.
Well defined withers to keep the saddle in place as the rider will make a tremendous amount of movement.
Ample room between the point of hip and the stifle, combined with a well let down hock to permit the utmost power from the hind quarters.
Pasterns can be more upright than normally acceptable to reduce the strain on the tendons.

Polo pony turn out 

Polo ponies are traditionally hogged.This is a practice where the mane and forelock are shaved off, this is to prevent the mallet from getting caught up in the mane.

Polo ponies have their tail taped up during practice and in competition.This is to stop the ponies tail from getting in the way of the polo mallet which could potentially harm the pony, also a tail down may obscure the ball from vision.

Polo ponies legs are always bandaged and the ponies often wear protective boots to help protect their legs from the rigours of the game and to give their legs as much support as possible. 

History and development

Argentina is the largest exporter of polo ponies. They have created some of the greatest polo ponies on the planet. This has been done by crossing the native Argentine Criollo horse with the Thoroughbred horse.

When polo was first discovered in India by the British the ponies used stood around 12 hands, only ponies could be used in the game until 1919 when height limits were brought to an end.

Hence the term “Polo pony”.  

If you are interested in Horses for Sale or more information about popular breeds and types of Horse and Pony visit the Horsewizard website.

The Volkswagen Polo is one of the elder statesmen of the Supermini market; remaining stoic in its refusal to disappear from forecourts across the land. After over 30 years on our roads, the Polo is still seen on every high street the length and breadth of the country. It’s available in hatchback, coupé and estate variants so everyone is catered for. However, as Bob Dylan once perceptively announced, the times they are a’ changing. With so many young pretenders snapping at Polo’s well-trodden heels, how is it going to remain a petrol head favourite?

No longer the baby of the Volkswagen fleet (following the introduction of the Lupo in 1998 and then the Fox in 2004), the Polo now sits in a slightly odd position in between the entry level model and the higher spec Golf. New drivers will opt for the lower end models, whilst the more adventurous will jump straight to the Golf. It would appear to the untrained eye that Volkswagen are putting the squeeze on their own product. Are VW struggling to find a suitable niche for the Polo?

Let’s take a look at the competition. The sporty-looking Seat Ibiza skips into view like a Spanish waiter with itchy under-garments, the Vauxhall Corsa stalks nearby like a Huntsman Spider and the ever-present Ford Fiesta reinvents itself more than Madonna does. That goes without mentioning the Fiats, the Toyotas and the Hondas, all of which are turning heads and gaining notoriety within the Supermini circles. To stay afloat the Polo will have to keep well ahead of the curve.

In a purely aesthetic sense, the Polo doesn’t disappoint. The evolved looks cannot hide the treasured Volkswagen lineage, the curvy body updated to keep up with the Joneses whilst remaining distinctly ‘VW’. In relative terms the Polo is akin to an aging aunty with a keen desire to look 17 again; perhaps a nip here and tuck there and she’ll nearly be there… nearly. But would you want to be seen with her? Well, as a matter of fact, yes you would…if she was a Polo…which she’s not…but you understand what I mean…sort of. The point is that the Polo has retained the understated good looks and style that have maintained its popularity since its 1975 inception. The favourite chunky, boxy body has been smoothed out for modern taste, but is still unmistakably the ‘Volkswagen Look’.

Performance-wise the Polo is never going to reinvent the wheel, but no present or prospective Polo owners would expect it to. The whole Volkswagen shtick is reliability, sturdiness and a bit of oomph occasionally. The Polo E’s punchy engine is extremely responsive for a base model and is backed by excellent handling and an intuitive suspension system that will iron out the bumpiest of city streets or pot-hole ridden country roads.

The tired old cliché of efficient German engineering will be trotted out here, but there isn’t a single nuance of frivolity to be found on the whole car; everything is functional, because if it wasn’t it wouldn’t be on the car. A simple/basic concept has been applied to the designing of the Polo, ensuring that quality takes a huge precedent over quantity. Apply this logic to German beers if you will; never the tastiest of beverages and often more expensive than the other beers, but you always seem to get drunker quicker if you choose the Bavarian way. That, my friends, is efficiency.

The real feather in the Polo’s cap is the way it has effortlessly straddled and conquered the most pressing social issues of the day. The Polo’s extremely low running costs combat the current economic burial pit we find ourselves in, whilst remaining kind to the environment with impressively low Co2 emissions. So whether you’re a financially doomed merchant banker or a earth-loving hippy, you’re unlikely to be annoyed by seeing this car on the road.

The future looks uncertain for the VW Polo; the competition is mounting like a hungry pack of wolves, but for the time being it remains near the top of the supermini pyramid in both popularity and performance stakes. Whether it stays there for much longer is another matter.

Volkswagen’s Polo. There’s something just that little bit special about it. Those clever men and women behind such iconic and era defining vehicles as the Beetle and the Golf GTi certainly have a knack for making compact cars. When the air-cooled engine of the beetle became superseded by more modern, water-cooled powerplants, and when the Golf began to grow bloated and put on weight with each successive iteration, the engineers at VW found themselves once again with a supermini-shaped hole and without a supermini-shaped peg to plug it with.

Cue the Polo. Legend has it, marketing chiefs at Volkswagen chose the name ‘Polo’ because, like ‘Golf’, it is a sport widely associated with a social upper-class; and while the original Mk1 Polo may have looked up rather than lived up to those lofty connotations, I can happily inform you that the opposite is in fact true of the current model.

I don’t mean to imply that the new Polo has suddenly appeared, well-built and sophisticated, after so many years of mediocrity within an oversaturated market. Rather, the car before us today is the product of those many years devoted to refining the original car.

That’s not to say that it’s been an entirely plush ride either: the engineers from Wolfsburg seemingly ignored some of basic principles of automotive design and construction when they built their third sub-compact car, however today’s Polo stands testament to both the successes the marque has enjoyed, and also to those failings suffered over the course of its lifetime. From the woeful build quality of the cars first off the production line, to the exhilaration of the record-breaking, supercharged MkII G40 variant; the current car really does feel like it has learned from every lesson.

My first ever experience of driving a car was in a first-generation Polo. I drove figure-eights in a good friends field and in spite of the fact that under my command the universal joint on the steering column failed, we remain friends to this day. Even with my youthful exuberance, I found it hard to find merit in the car. Most people, when asked to recall their first driving experience, talk of the liberty and exhilaration of the experience. I on the other hand, am more likely to mention the cramped interior or the sluggish 1100cc engine. Bear in mind these are the observations of a fifteen year old!

But each time the Polo had a makeover or a revision, the same Volkswagen engineers that had fumbled the ball during the car’s initial production, found ways to make up for their miscalculations. And they kinda over compensated…

The MkII G40 I mentioned earlier displaced just 1300cc but generated 115bhp. It reached 62mph in an impressive 8.1 seconds and could achieve a top speed of 122mph. Since the G40, Polo’s have been quick.

The MkIIIF had an entirely galvanised body and chassis mated with an over-engineered electrics and engine management system. I once installed aftermarket door speakers in a modern Japanese supermini, and the door cards were made of pressed plastic and behind them the door panel itself was made of what appeared to be wafer-thin tin. I did the same to my Polo GTi manufactured in the same year, and the corresponding door card was made out of a super-dense fibreboard with a plastic and fabric external covering and a medium-density foam internal filling to act as a sound dampener. Since the MkIII, Polo’s have been reliable and well built.

And now we’re on the MkIV, which is in fact approaching the end of its production cycle. With the next model scheduled to debut at the Geneva motor show later on this year, I wonder what we’ll say its contribution to the Polo legacy has been. Will we say ‘since the MkIV, Polo’s have been economical and environmentally responsible? The Polo BlueMotion would have it so. With a 1.4l diesel engine which returns up to 72mpg while outputting just 99 grams of CO2, it’s certainly possible.

One thing is for sure though, right now, with a new version on the horizon, there are some exceptional deals to be had throughout the current Polo range. From humble beginnings, the current Polo has evolved into a sophisticated and distinguished car.

In the history of mankind, many discoveries and inventions have been made by accident. People looking for one thing have made progress discovering something completely different. This is not something that can be applied to sports clothing, because many have been products of brilliant minds that have dedicated their time and effort to the improvement of sportsmen’s attire.

Take the polo shirt, a clothing item that has been introduced into many sports because of its advantages over traditional uniforms. Even though the popularity of the polo shirt has increased exponentially since its development, not many people know how it came to be.

For example, it’s not widely known that the development of the men’s polo had nothing to do with the sport we all know as polo. Its roots can be found in tennis.

At the beginning of the 20th century, a professional tennis player named Rene Lacoste thought the traditional tennis uniform of the day – a white long-sleeved, button-up shirt with long sleeves that were rolled up during competition — was too stiff and uncomfortable. So Lacoste came up with another version – a looser shirt, with an unstarched collar and longer back, which he wore during the 1926 U.S. Open.

Although it wasn’t known as a men’s polo shirt at the time, his creation quickly grew in popularity. Around the same time, a polo player named Lewis Lacey designed a similar product featuring the logo of a polo player.

The popularity of the name “men’s polo” grew quickly when American fashion designer Ralph Lauren released a collection of shirts that he called Polo Ralph Lauren. This helped spread the term widely enough that many tennis players continued to use the term “polos” for their shirts.

Fred Perry was also a tennis player who, with the help of the Austrian footballer Tibby Wegner, invented the wrist sweatband. After this development, they came up with the Fred Perry polo shirt.

From its launch at Wimbledon in 1952, the Fred Perry polo was a success. Featuring a laurel logo, this shirt was available only in white until the late ‘50s. When more colors were added, the popularity of the shirt design took off.

Today, there are lots of places where you can find polo shirts like the Fred Perry polo. Polo shirts are very popular and have served their purpose for lots of people, becoming more than just garments. They’ve become an iconic American fashion staple.

If you’re interested in purchasing your own Fred Perry polo or a polo shirt from one of the many companies that produce them — Nautica, Ben Sherman, Original Penguin and many more — the Internet is the best place to start and the first website you should visit is freshpolos.com.

Embroidered polo shirts, also sometimes called golf shirts or tee shirts, are popular promotional items not only in Tampa FL but in almost all cities around the world. Wholesale custom t shirts are sold and bought and embroidery is added depending on the company or institution they will be used for. T-shirts are common as uniforms and even as casual attire of men, women and children of all ages in Tampa FL and elsewhere.

The game called polo is very old and can be traced back to Persia in the 7th century. It spread to other countries and soon came to Britain from India. The name polo comes from the Tibetan word “pulu” which refers to the wooden ball used in the game. The earliest known “polo shirt” was originally a white long sleeved button down shirt with a collar, worn with white trousers. This was embroidered with the image of a polo player by Lewis Lacey in 1920. He was a Irish haberdasher in Buenos Aires who was also a polo player at the Hurlingham Polo Club.

Like polo players, tennis players used to wear white long sleeved button down shirts, too. These were worn with ties and white trousers, as well. The sleeves of the shirts were rolled up during a match.

In 1926, the French tennis player Rene Lacoste, who was a 7-time Grand Slam champion, adopted the long back tail of the polo shirt when he designed his own tennis shirt. It prevented the shirt from being easily pulled out from the trousers or shorts by the wearer’s movements. Lacoste’s tennis shirt was made of breathable knitted pique cotton, had more comfortable short cuffed sleeves, and had a soft flat collar with a buttoned placket. The collar provided additional protection from the sun when worn turned up against the nape. Unbuttoning the placket could also loosen the collar for more comfort. In 1927, Lacoste had the image of the crocodile embroidered on the left breast of his shirts It was a reference to his nickname in tennis, as “The Crocodile.”

Lacoste retired from tennis in 1933 and shifted his concentration to mass manufacturing and marketing his shirts with the help of Andre Giller. The Lacoste shirts were eventually sold widely around the world but they ironically came to be known more as “polo shirts” than “tennis shirts.” They have also been adapted for use in golf, giving rise to the term “golf shirts.”

Another factor that added to the polarity of the term “polo shirt” over the “tennis shirt” or the “golf shirt” though, was the entry of world renowned American designer Ralph Lauren in the fray. Ralph Lauren named his entire clothing line “Polo” and among his items of clothing in that line was the “polo shirt.” The polo shirt from Ralph Lauren is very similar to the Lacoste shirt, except that the polo shirt sports the image of a polo player instead of a crocodile on the breast.

Today, what is known as the “polo shirt,” “tennis shirt” or “golf shirt” is a short sleeved t-shirt with a soft collar and two to three buttons down the front, with or without a placket. There are times when a zipper is used instead of buttons.  The golf shirt usually does not have cuffed sleeves. A pocket is optional. The most common material used is still knitted cotton pique but synthetic blends may also be used, as well as merino wool or even silk.

This is how those embroidered polo shirts and golf shirts in Tampa FL and everywhere else came to be. These custom t shirts will surely be seen for generations to come.