Waistcoat, tie, trousers, shoes – is there any other sport that requires players to accommodate to this dress code? Almost all sports couldn’t be played to their fullest effect if players were made to wear this. But we all know that snooker is unlike any other sport. Where has this strict dress policy come from and is it still necessary for it to be upheld to this day?
The formality was introduced since the early beginnings of cue sports in the 19th century. The game was played frequently by British nobles and those considered ‘upper-class’, where smart clothing was the standard and tradition had remained ever since.
The dress code has somewhat relaxed in recent years with players wearing various coloured shirts and flamboyant shoes but the topic always came up as to whether the these rules need to be changed or modernised. It’s a quality that is attributable to the sport which signifies its class and uniqueness that most outside viewers associate with the game.
There are many players (current and former) such as Parrott who support sticking to the tradition of smart clothing in snooker to push the gentlemanly image. Davis and Hendry were also supporters with the mentality that ‘dressing up’ gets a player in the right frame of mind as opposed to thinking of a match as another practice session if they were to go casual.
Shaun Murphy has previously raised concerns regarding the ‘restrictive’ feel of a player’s uniform, stating that it limits them from reaching certain shots and the tendency to overheat under the TV lights. While these points are valid, I think something he mentioned which is truly a missed opportunity is the ability to sell merchandise backed by the top clothing brands. Similar to golf polos, snooker could benefit from the sales of clothing as worn by the players. It may not be as lucrative or substantial as other sports but it’s definitely a waste by not exploring this option.
Here’s what I think. The reason I’m a huge fan of snooker is because of the class I believe it holds over other sports. Part of this belief may be prompted by the dress code but in large, it’s due to the level of skill involved and the ease to which it seems to be played with by the professionals.
I reckon the dress code should still apply to the Triple Crowns and some high-ticket China events. There are places outside the UK where certain fans expect players to show up in formal attire and would express disappointment if this didn’t happen. For other tournaments, I think a more golf-like approach should be taken. Polo shirts, trousers and shoes. It’s still regarded as smart clothing but at least gives a little more comfort to the players. I think this should also be enforced in the qualifying, non-televised stages of events; where viewers are few and the requirement doesn’t seem as necessary.
The difficulty from the governing body’s point of view is how viewership and subsequent ticket sales would be affected if some of these things were to change. As mentioned before, one of snookers notable qualities is the associated dress code which has been a part of the game since its conception over a century ago.
What are your thoughts on the Snooker Dress Code?