Anatomy of a polo shirt: Your guide to the golf-style staple

By: Kari Sims Vaughn

July 2, 2024

Proper golf polos are like opinions—everybody has plenty of them.

Peter Millar

Polos first sprang up in India in the mid-1800s, a favorite of cricketers. René Lacoste introduced them to the tennis world at the ’26 U.S. Open. By the ’40s, they were standard in golf.

But with a fresh reboot to the classic golf polo shirt, it’s time to refresh your knowledge on what looks best, feels best and (most important) performs best when you’re playing a round. The tips below will help you better understand what’s key when deciding on a golf polo — and we’ve also recommended one of our faves.

Anatomy of a polo shirt

Fit: Big, billowy polos are out. Manufacturers now favor a sleeker fit through the chest, waist and shoulders. Careful: With modern looks, you may have to go one size up.

Tip: A tighter tapering makes modern polos better suited for on and off the course.

Collar type: Go with a shorter spread collar, not the massive “wings” like your father wore. A shorter collar lends a sophisticated and contemporary look.

Tip: Look for polos with built-in stays if you hate when your collar rolls up.

Sleeve length: Better hit the gym, because a big trend in polos is a shorter sleeve length, giving your biceps more exposure than ever before.

Tip: You can still find polos with almost-to-the-elbow sleeve lengths, but this goes against today’s anti-bulky movement.

Overall length: With a shorter length, as shown here, you get just enough fabric to keep the shirt tucked, also giving you the freedom to wear it untucked without looking like a schmo.

Tip: Some shirts feature a longer back length, which keeps you tucked even on your biggest driver swing. This also means they’re a no-go for wearing untucked and over your beltline.

Placket: Jeopardy time: The thing your shirt buttons sit on. Answer: What is a placket? This polo exhibits a two-button placket—very modern, but not mandatory.

Tip: Longer plackets lend a bit of a retro vibe even with today’s modern cuts and materials.

Peter Millar Nightcap Performance Polo

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