Pickleball Outfits 101: What to Wear to Play

Ready to swing that paddle or test out your other gear? You’ll need to wear the right pickleball outfit first. Court-ready clothing is a breeze to assemble with the right materials, features, and other factors. So no matter if you’re a complete beginner or a seasoned player, you’ll learn all about choosing the right pieces so you always play — and look — your best!

In the game of pickleball, you’ll only find a few obvious differences between what men and women should wear while playing. Women need the right impact sports bra, while men can consider padded compression shorts (for added groin protection in particularly competitive games).

• All players will need the basics: a top, bottoms, athletic socks, court shoes, and specific weather and/or seasonal accessories (like sunglasses or a light jacket).

• Every player should prioritize mobility, breathability, comfort, and coverage — no matter what season it is or if the game is indoors or outside.

• Pickleball game and practice clothing should be loose-fitting (tops and bottoms), supportive (bras + underwear), and cushioned (shoes).

• Wear strategic accessories to manage or wick sweat (sweatbands or athletic socks), keep you dry and warm in the elements (a rain jacket), and help dull the sunlight (sunglasses) while you play.

Most widely consider the sport to be easy to learn as well as a low-impact activity. However, as you improve your play, your skill level naturally progresses. Players with skill ratings lower than 3.5 won’t really exceed a low to medium impact level. But as you improve, you’ll naturally need to consider the amount of impact when you dress for court success!

Beginner players won’t need much for a casual, friendly game. More experienced players may choose to add or upgrade their pickleball wardrobe as they continue to improve certain skills or participate in competitions. To appeal to as many people as possible, we assembled the following checklist:

Ready to get on the pickleball court in style? Take this list to go! Head in-store or shop online for the latest pickleball and court apparel using this list so you don’t forget anything.

To play pickleball, you’ll need tops, bottoms, socks, shoes, hats/visors, sunglasses, and a bag. Let’s go through each piece so you can get a better idea of the look you want as well as any special features you should consider:

• Breathability: Tops and bottoms made with cotton, rayon, or nylon promote airflow and help you remain cool and comfortable as the competition heats up.

• Moisture-Wicking Fabrics: Find tops, bottoms, and accessories crafted with moisture-wicking fabrics for a dry, distraction-free feel throughout every match.

• Comfort: Soft fabrics like cotton or rayon help keep you comfortable during play, while materials like nylon and silk provide a lightweight feel. Choose footwear with built-in cushioning for a supportive fit as you move around the court.

• UPF Clothing: When the sun is shining, shield your eyes from the glare with a hat or a pair of sunglasses. UPF clothing will help shield your skin from UV rays for safe play.

• Movement: Spandex blends and loose-fitting attire give you a wide range of motion and mobility through each shot. Look for shoes that offer lateral support to help enhance your side-to-side movements.

• Weather Suitability: Choose short-sleeve tops made with these fabrics suited for hot weather. For cooler conditions, look for pants and long sleeves for warmth and comfort. Pullovers and zip-up tops with a high-neck design help block out the chill and any wind.

• Pockets: Wear pieces with pockets, which allow you to keep extra pickleballs on hand or even chapstick.

Do NOT wear running shoes while playing pickleball. Pickleball shoes specifically offer the ankle support, grip, and lateral mobility players need for most pickleball court surfaces. Court shoes (tennis and basketball shoes) are the only other suitable alternative since they’re similarly engineered.

No. You don’t have to adhere to a strict dress code to play pickleball — unless you’re a member of a pickleball club that adopts specific club rules (usually similar to tennis dress code). The sport still has quite a bit of freedom in terms of what players can wear. But keep in mind that everything you wear should offer a high level of movement and sweat control.

While pickleball and tennis shoes share many similarities, each sport has unique characteristics that make them better suited for their respective sport. Check out the chart below to see which shoe is best for you:

Yes — but with a caveat! Although similar, these two types of court shoes are a little different. Pickleball shoes have an added focus on lateral court movements, cushioning, and impact support. Still, tennis shoes DO have comfort, stability, and multidirectional mobility in mind (all of which are extremely important for pickleball courts).

Now that you have all the info you need to look and play your best, you’re ready to head to your local pickleball court for some fun competition. Be sure to bring along a reliable pickleball paddle that is suited to your skill level and personal preference, and have fun out there!