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Printing or flocking jerseys? Methods for names, numbers and logos
Names and numbers in flex or flock, crests and sponsors in DTF, patterns by sublimation: how to find the right method for every element on your jersey.
Printing or flocking: what it means
In clubs people often say “flocking” when names and numbers go onto the jersey. Strictly speaking, flock is just one of several films. There is also flex. Both are cut from coloured film and applied with a transfer press under heat and pressure.
“Printing”, on the other hand, means that ink is printed: onto a carrier film in DTF (direct to film), through a screen in screen printing, or straight into the fibre by sublimation. You don’t have to pick a single technique for a jersey. What matters is which element goes on it: crest, sponsor, name or number.
For a running group, company team or recreational side, sports shirts made of polyester work well as jerseys. You’ll find them in our range of running shirts printed with your logo, for example from Just Cool, James & Nicholson and Tee Jays.
Flex and flock in a nutshell
Flex is a smooth, thin film that looks clean and sporty. Flock has a velvety, slightly raised surface you can feel. Both are single-colour: every additional colour is a separate layer.
Which method for which element?
A jersey usually carries several kinds of design. Each places different demands on the method. This is how we sort them in the workshop:
| Element | Typically | Our method |
|---|---|---|
| Crest or club logo | Several colours, fine lines | DTF; for many identical jerseys with few colours, screen printing too |
| Sponsor logo | Often multicolour, the same on every jersey | DTF or screen printing |
| Back number | Single colour, large, readable from a distance | Flex or flock |
| Player name | Single colour, different on every jersey | Flex or flock, multicolour names in DTF |
| All-over design | Stripes, patterns, gradients | Sublimation, only on light polyester |
- 1Main logo on the chestScreen print
- 2Name on the backDTF
- 3Sponsor logo, multicolourDTF
One possible split: chest logo in screen printing, name and sponsor in DTF.
Why the mix? Screen printing pays off for larger runs with few colours, because the screens are set up only once. Names, however, change on every jersey. Cut film or DTF is the better route for those. Which fonts keep names and numbers readable is covered in our post on choosing jersey fonts.
Polyester: what matters in jersey fabric
Jerseys and running shirts are mostly made of polyester, sometimes with a little elastane. The fabric is light, dries quickly and moves moisture outwards. For decoration this means it tolerates less heat than cotton, and some fabrics stretch a lot. The print has to stay flexible and must not stiffen the fabric. There is more on material and methods for sports shirts in our guide to printing running shirts.
A look at our range: the Just Cool Cool T is pure polyester at 140 g/m², the James & Nicholson Active-T pure polyester at 150 g/m². The Tee Jays CoolDry Tee has 160 g/m², some elastane and a slim fit. According to their care labels, all three can be washed at 30 °C.
- Flex
- Thin and smooth, works well on light sports fabrics
- Flock
- Thicker and velvety, looks classic but lets less air through
- DTF
- Thin, flexible layer that adheres to polyester and blends
One point that is easy to overlook: with dyed polyester, colour from the fabric can migrate into a light print under heat, for example a white number on a red jersey. We discuss this in the layout consultation before production starts.
From the workshop
Flock up close
The photo shows red and yellow flock on a white shirt. Each colour is a separate piece of cut film. That is where the sharp edges come from – and why flock works best with a few clear colours rather than fine gradients.
Matching garments
Design them in the shop
What about sublimation?
Side noteIn sublimation, heat carries the ink into the polyester fibre itself. The jersey feels exactly as it did before, and patterns can run across the whole surface. The catch is the fabric:
Light polyester
Stripes, gradients and all-over patterns without a noticeable layer
Dark jerseys and cotton
Here we use DTF, flex or flock
Five typical jersey cases
The quickest way to decide is by what needs to go on the jersey:
Everyone gets a name and number in the club colour.
Flex or flock
Your crest has many colours and fine lines.
DTF
Many identical jerseys with a two-colour sponsor logo.
Screen printing
A white polyester jersey with an all-over pattern.
Sublimation
A new player joins mid-season.
Reorder
Often the best answer
Combine both
Crest and sponsor in DTF, names and numbers in flex.
DTF + flex
New players don’t mean starting from scratch: with a reorder you add individual jerseys with name and number.
Names and numbers: preparing the list
With names and numbers, the list decides the result. Whatever is wrong on the list will be wrong on the jersey. So check before you send it:
- One row per jersey: size, name, number
- Spelling exactly as it should appear – with accents, hyphens and upper or lower case
- Each number only once, unless that is deliberate
- State the cut if you mix men’s and women’s models, such as the Cool T and Women’s Cool T
- Compare sizes first: slim-fit models such as the CoolDry Tee sit closer to the body
- Plan spare jerseys without names for new players
The easiest way is to send us the list as a spreadsheet. On the print approval, the digital preview you approve before production, you check position, size and colours.
How your jersey order works
Choose jerseys
You pick model, colour and sizes in the shop.
Designs and list
You upload crest and sponsor logos and send the name list.
Advice
Free of charge, we decide which element is made with which method and where it sits.
Print approval
You check the preview and approve it.
Production in Munich
We decorate in our own workshop. Delivery usually takes approx. 7–10 working days.
If you want to kit out the whole club, from jerseys to hoodies, our guide to club clothing with a logo will help.
Jerseys: frequently asked questions
Does flock hold on sports shirts?
Yes, flock can be pressed onto polyester. It is thicker than flex, though, and lets less air through. For large areas on light running shirts we tend to recommend flex.
Can I reorder jerseys for new players?
Yes. It is best to refer to your first order so that the font, size and colour of names and numbers stay the same.
Does sublimation work on dark jerseys?
No. Sublimation only works on light polyester. On dark jerseys we use DTF, flex or flock.
How do I wash flocked or printed jerseys?
Wash them inside out, stick to the temperature on the care label and don’t iron directly over the design. More in our washing instructions.
Want to know which method suits your jerseys? Send us your crest, sponsor logos and name list – we’ll get back to you with a recommendation for each element.
Team Shirtplus
Printing and embroidery in our own workshop in Munich. Created with AI support. Last updated: 22 Oct 2026.
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