As we know, Pickleball is all the rage. But what to wear, what paddle to use, and what bag to pack it all in? We polled our ‘very involved’ pickleball friends (two of them even qualified to play in the national tournament this fall!) about what they’re using and wearing. Here is what they have to say.
Clothing:
Does pickleball have specific clothing, or do you break out your tennis or yoga wear? One top player told us, “One of the fun things about pickleball is that you can show up in your favorite tennis clothes and feel right at home. For me, that usually means a Nike or Adidas skirt and top. They are comfortable, familiar, and easy to move in. I also go to Athleta. ‘They have fun looks and you can coordinate with a partner with a similar look (like bridesmaids :)!”
We love this Nike dry-fit skort and Adidas tank top.
Skorts:
Surprisingly, the one skirt many players swore by is this one from Amazon!
Athleta also makes a great one, as does lululemon.
Sun Shirts:
Photo Credit: Manufacturer/RetailerThe IBKul sunshirts are winners! These shirts have a mesh panel on the underside of the arms to help airflow, are made of a patented Iceƒil® technology fabric that converts sweat to refrigerant, cooling your skin up to 5 degrees. allowing you to be cool and comfortable. Add in UPF 50+ sun protection, moisture-wicking, and anti-odor properties, and this is a great shirt. We like the solid quarter-zip mock necks, as well as this colorblock version.
Tees:
Athleta dry-fit short-sleeved and tank tops. This short-sleeve top is a great choice for those who prefer their tops not too tight, and the hem makes it super flattering. It comes in a great long-sleeved option as well. This is also a great tank.
Socks:
Balega socks were thought to be cushy and comfy.
Visors:
A few players recommended wide-brimmed straw visors. One swears by this Eric Javits stylish (and more $$ but she’s been using it for nearly 20 years and it’s still in great shape!) version, and another opts for this Amazon version, with a bit less sweat-wicking ability. For those with a larger head, Helen Kaminski makes terrific options as well.
Chrissis swears by this Amazon visor, which features a wide brim and rolls up for travel.
Shoes:
One strong player commented about shoe choice: “If you play pickleball a few times a week, it seems as if your court shoe tread will wear out within a few months. Not good, especially if your preferred court shoe is $125+ a pop. I ditched the Prince Cross-Courts I was buying every 90 days and now wear the Fila Axilus 2, which are around $50 a pair. No major differences from the $125+ pair! If you’re playing regularly, you need to regularly replace your court shoes to ensure good traction and general safety on the court.”
KSwiss shoes were also recommended by multiple players – the Hypercourt Express and the Hypercourt Supreme in particular.
Bags:
There was one clear winner in the bag category – The Doubletake! Read the recs below:
- “Love love love my pickleball backpack. So many things to highlight about it…first, it’s a cute bag and no one has it, so I never end up confusing my bag with someone else’s. Also, it’s got the perfect interior pocket layout, perfect for easy access to Chapstick, sunscreen, Band-Aids, etc. It comes in several lovely colors. Most importantly, it’s constructed to stay upright which I really appreciate when you’re quickly trying to search for something.”
- “I never go without my trusty pickleball backpack, which has just the right number of pockets to hold all the essentials: water bottle, sunscreen, balls, and a spare paddle, etc.”
Paddles:
“Probably the best option is to talk to a pro who has seen you play (who is not a brand ambassador, which is rare), and see what she or he would recommend for you for your next paddle. Short of that, I found the pickleballcentral.com search tool to be very helpful. It asks you a bunch of questions about your game and then suggests paddles. I don’t know if the brands are paying more to show up higher in their “for you” results, but I just bought the top one it recommended, and I’m super happy with the paddle.”
The top recommended paddle was the CRBN3 paddle. “Not only does it meet sound-control requirements, but it also plays beautifully.” (NOTE: Some courts have noise restrictions and require quiet paddles.)
Also recommended were the Pursuit Pro and the Diadem Hush paddles, as well as the Owl Storm, which has 50% noise reduction and a large sweet spot that makes the game less jarring on the shoulders.
Additional Items:
Franklin balls appear to be the balls of choice (choose outdoor or indoor balls accordingly).
Grip tape was also recommended to keep your hand from slipping when sweating.
And doctors recommend wearing goggles to protect your eyes, if you don’t wear sunglasses! We’ve seen enough ‘pickle black eyes’ to agree with this rec!
Another player keeps her shoes looking good with a Shoe Kit!
