Few things are as important as sight in racket sports.

You must watch the ball and react accordingly. You need clear vision to know where the pickleball is and how you can best respond to score those hard-won points. So, naturally, players want to know if they need eye protection as they play!

It may seem like a silly matter, but there are many other inventions to protect players. For example, USA Pickleball recently announced an initiative to create quieter equipment to protect players’ hearing. Similarly, sports pros have perfected a wide range of pickleball-specific stretches to prep for each game. Why, then, would you risk your eyesight? Surely, there must be some sort of eyewear for pickleball players!

Why You Need Protective Eyewear

Let’s start with the basics.

Why do you need protective eyewear? Surely, the pickleball court isn’t that dangerous. It’s a famously relaxed and low-stakes sport. At most, you’ll need some prescription lenses, right?

Wrong!

Like any other racket sport, pickleball poses a few safety issues. Accidents happen, and the hard plastic ball leaves little room for softer impacts.

Most eye injuries happen in mixed-skill matches. Weaker teams are more likely to be caught off-guard by sudden service returns. Couple this with the close-quarters gameplay of competitive matchups and you have a recipe for black eyes!

Outdoor players must also consider UV protection! The glare from the sun can easily throw off your game and lead to missed returns and lost points.

How to Find the Best Pickleball Sunglasses

While traditional lenses offer timeless style, they’re not the best fit for protective eyewear. Most standard sunglasses allow light to enter from the top, bottom, and sides of your lenses. Thus, most hardcore pickleball players prefer wraparound sunglasses.

These sleek glasses look a bit like goggles and provide many of the same benefits. The enclosed design prevents light intrusion and better protects the eye. The lightweight design also makes them more comfortable to wear and less likely to slide off. Moreover, like your standard sunglasses, these lenses can be swapped out for your prescription.

Look for the Right Color

Ask a few players, and you’ll quickly notice many prefer amber or red lenses. These rose-colored glasses are for more than style. They provide the perfect balance of UV protection and contrast.

Yes, you can find plenty of protective glasses with standard tints. Black, gray, and dark blue are common lens colors. However, these colors don’t mix well with most pickleball courts. While they’ll provide the protection you need, they won’t give you good contrast.

However, warmer tents enhance your environments. They bring the vivid colors of the pickleball court to the forefront and boost your tracking abilities.

Find the Right Materials

You’ll also want to find durable pickleball goggles. Ideally, you won’t be taking pickleballs to the face on a regular basis. Nonetheless, you want to be covered when it happens.

Most sports-grade protective eyewear is made with polycarbonate lenses. These plastic-like lenses resist wear and tear better than traditional glass. They’re impact-resistant, too, reducing the risk of shattered lenses!

Consider, too, how your glasses will perform in different scenarios. Anti-fog spray will keep your lenses safe and enhance your play in any weather. (After all, nothing is worse than fogging up at an intense moment!) We suggest keeping some wipes or spray in your pickleball bag to maintain that crystal clear vision!

Learn More About Pickleball

Of course, your eye protection is just the beginning.

But don’t worry! Pickle Goddesses has your covered. We’ve got content to suit every skill level and features to promote every event. Just browse the rest of our blog to learn more about pickleball!

And don’t forget to share this post if it helped you learn about pickleball glasses!