Best Pickleball Clothing – What to wear on the court

Getting into pickleball, like getting into any new sport or activity, can be as exciting as it is daunting.

If you’re getting ready for a pickleball game, you’ll probably have a few questions on your mind, not least ‘what do I wear?’ 

Because pickleball isn’t quite as widely known and watched as some other paddle or racket sports, many first-time players aren’t quite sure what to wear on the court.

If this sounds familiar, then don’t worry, because this article is for you! 

Today, we’ll be reviewing some of the best pickleball clothing you can buy to make sure you’re fully prepared for your game.

We’ve included the best shirts, shorts, pickleball shoes, and gloves so you can step onto the court in confidence and style!

(Some of the below links are affiliate links which means we get paid a bit if you click through and buy something — don’t worry it doesn’t add anything to your cost! Just helps keep the site running.)

Best Pickleball Shirts

Best Pickleball Shorts

Best Pickleball Shoes

Best Pickleball Gloves

Best Pickleball Clothing Buying Guide

Now that you have an idea of which shirts, shorts, shoes, and gloves are the best for pickleball, we hope you feel ready to play your best ever pickleball game in the comfort and support of your new clothing.

However, if you need a quick reminder of what to look out for in each category, read on!

Our buyer’s guide is here to walk you through all the important factors to think about before purchasing each type of pickleball clothing so you can have complete confidence in your choice!

Shirts 

If you want to feel comfortable and cool while playing pickleball, you’ll need a good-quality athletic shirt. 

Polyester material is a great choice for a pickleball shirt because of its tear-resistance and moisture-wicking properties.

A polyester pickleball shirt will keep you feeling dry and fresh throughout and after your game and will stay looking good as new for a long time. 

A pickleball shirt should feel loose enough to be comfortable and allow for airflow, but it should also be streamlined so that you can move quickly around the court and maximize the efficiency of your movements. 

We recommend a short-sleeved, t-shirt style because they are suitable for the warmer weather but can also easily be layered up with a sweater or jacket in the colder months. 

If you’re going to be playing in the sun a lot, a shirt with built-in UPF is advisable since it can be difficult to remember to apply sunscreen when you’re focusing on your game.

Shorts

You could wear many different types of bottoms to play pickleball depending on factors like the weather and your own comfort and style preferences.

For example, you could wear track pants on colder days or a skirt in warmer weather. 

However, generally speaking, the item of clothing that will provide the most breathability, freedom of movement, and comfort on the pickleball court overall is a pair of shorts.  

If you want your shorts to be suitable for both indoor and outdoor wear, as well as a variety of weather conditions, your best bet is a length of around 7 inches.

Shorts of this length aren’t so short that they’ll leave your legs completely exposed to the cold, but also not so long as to feel restrictive or make you overheat. 

For both men and women, features such as mesh briefs are great for providing that little bit of extra support and ventilation. Mesh panels on the sides of the shorts are also ideal for promoting airflow. 

An elasticated waistband is a must when it comes to ensuring a perfect, secure fit, as is a drawstring closure. 

If you want to keep your essentials with you on the court, we also recommend prioritizing deep pockets.

Zip pockets are even better for carrying fragile items like your phone because zip closures ensure that nothing will fall out and get damaged. 

Shoes 

A good part of the speed and stability of your movements on the pickleball court will be determined by the construction and quality of your shoes.

Therefore, choosing a pair of pickleball shoes is a very important decision. 

The shoes we’ve featured in our product review section have been designed especially for pickleball, which we felt was important because the construction has been carefully considered with the specifics of the sport in mind. 

We think that the most important thing in a pickleball shoe is stability because a stable construction will help you to move more quickly and effectively around the court with a lesser risk of injury. 

You’ll also want your pickleball shoes to be both comfortable and supportive. Part of the comfort of a pickleball shoe will be tied to its moisture-wicking properties.

The best way to achieve moisture regulation is a sock liner with anti-microbial features to prevent the buildup of both moisture and bacteria from perspiration. 

In terms of both comfort and support, you’ll also need a decent amount of padding in the midsole.

A strong plantar support chassis and heel grip lining are also essential features for providing stability and support to the rest of the foot.

This will help keep the arch of your foot supported and cushioned whilst also optimizing the durability of the shoe since the midsole is often where a lot of splitting can happen due to wear and tear.

We recommend EVA foam padding for its thickness, strength, and water-resistance. 

Gloves

One of the key facets of becoming a great pickleball player is learning how to handle your paddle skillfully and develop your technique.

The first step towards this is establishing a good grip on your paddle: firm, but still light fluid enough to allow maximum dexterity. 

Perhaps the easiest way to enhance your paddle grip is to invest in a durable pair of pickleball gloves.

Features like leather (or synthetic leather) palms help to optimize your grip on your paddle’s handle while also keeping your hand protected from friction injuries such as blisters if you’re playing for long periods of time. 

Ideally, a good pair of pickleball gloves should also feature some form of ventilation - otherwise, wearing gloves is likely to make your hands feel overly sweaty.

Mesh or another perforated material will help to allow air to circulate between the gloves and your hands for a more comfortable, drier feel. 

The glove’s construction should also be elasticated so that your hands don’t feel constricted and you retain your full, natural range of motion in your hands and fingers. 

Frequently Asked Questions

What other clothing might I need to play pickleball? 

We’ve covered all of the most basic apparel you’ll need for playing pickleball in most seasons.

Generally speaking, a good pair of training shoes, some breathable shorts and a shirt, and a pair of gloves if you prefer, will see you through. 

However, there are a couple of extra clothing accessories that might also benefit your play, especially in the warmer or sunnier weather. 

Some pickleball players like to wear caps or visors on outdoor courts, particularly when the sun is out. This is because glare from the sun can be distracting and even blinding at times, which often interferes with a player’s accuracy and spatial awareness.

If you anticipate playing a lot of pickleball outside as the weather warms up, it’s definitely worth considering purchasing a pickleball cap or visor to keep your vision clear.

The added benefit of wearing a visor for pickleball is that it may help to prevent sweat from dripping into your face, which can be another major distraction. 

The next most popular pickleball clothing accessory is a durable, lightweight pair of sunglasses.

Some pickleball players find caps and visors uncomfortable to wear, especially in hot weather. Although part of a visor’s function is to keep sweat out of your face and eyes, these caps can also, unfortunately, have a warming effect on the head.

A great alternative to a visor in this case is a pair of sunglasses to keep the sun out of your eyes and potentially even protect your eyes from perspiration or debris in the air.