Plus size golf apparel

Extended sizing in golf apparel is uneven. Knowing where brands actually grade well saves a great deal of returning.

Plus size golf apparel has improved, but the range is still thinner than in ordinary sportswear and the quality of the grading varies more. Two brands offering the same size can mean very different things by it.

Graded, or just scaled up

This is the distinction that matters most and it is almost never stated on a product page.

A properly graded extended size is re-patterned: the shoulder, armhole and rise are adjusted along with the width. A scaled one takes the standard pattern and enlarges it proportionally, which makes the armhole too deep and the shoulder too wide while the length grows unnecessarily.

You can spot the difference in the size chart. If the extended sizes continue the same increments as the standard range with no change in the length or shoulder figures, it is likely scaled. If those figures shift, someone re-patterned it.

Styles that tend to work

• Pull-on waistbands — a wide knit band sits flatter and does not gap at the back the way a fixed closure can.
• Longer skorts, 18″ and above — more coverage and better proportion; short lengths ride up more on a fuller thigh.
• Elbow-length sleeves — widely liked, and the cut is often better executed than cap sleeves in extended ranges.
• Side-ruched or panelled tops — the seaming shapes without needing the fabric to cling.

Where fit usually fails

Three places, in order of frequency:

1. Armhole depth. Too deep and the top pulls at the top of the backswing. This is the giveaway of a scaled rather than graded pattern.
2. Rise. A waistband cut for a shorter rise sits below the natural waist and rolls.
3. Hip-to-waist ratio. If your hip and waist sit in different sizes, buy for the hip and accept the waist, or choose pull-on styles where the band accommodates the difference.

Ordering without trying on

Measure a garment you own that fits well and compare it to the brand's garment chart, not their body chart. That comparison is the single most reliable thing you can do, and it matters more in extended sizes because the variation between brands is wider.

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