Pickleball is all about focusing and tracking the ball all while displaying perfection in the form of hand-eye coordination. This means if you cannot see properly what’s ahead of you or have any hindrance in your line of sight, you might as well kiss those winning shots goodbye!
And I don’t mean just missing a dink or two, a blurry court could even lead to a nasty collision with your partner, and in a worst-case scenario you might even end up giving those courtside benches a closer look than you would have rather intended.
Nevertheless, if you want to avoid those embarrassing mishaps and truly excel on the court, finding the right pickleball glasses is essential.
While picking a good pair of pickleball glasses might seem like a no-brainer, there is a whole nine yards you have to go through which is why I have curated this article, explaining all the important factors regarding the glasses and what to consider before you buy
Are Pickleball Glasses Even Important?
On the court, I have heard quite a lot of players claiming that going over and beyond and investing in pickleball glasses is an unnecessary indulgence. Well, let’s separate fact from fiction, shall we?
For starters, these glasses aren’t just for the show and in fact, provide tons of features you clearly wouldn’t want to miss out on such as,
- Better Tracking, Better Visibility
It’s not every day you wake up, only to have favorable weather conditions for a great pickleball match. Sometimes it’s cloudy or just too sunny enough to be blinded directly by sun glares, which could potentially hinder your game and even put you at risk of a stray ball to the face.
Direct sunlight could also harm your eyes in the long run and even damage the delicate eye tissue, or even potentially lead to cataracts or other vision problems. In order to prevent it, polarized or photochromic lenses could act as your shield against the elements, ensuring you have optimal vision no matter the conditions, so you could track the ball all while having vibrant visibility even in dim situations.
The best part is that it’s legal to use in-game, even if it gives you the technical advantage, so why not give yourself that competitive edge?
- Robust Eye Protection
These glasses aren’t just for the show as they also protect your eyes from impacts from the ball, directly or indirectly hurled at you. While pickleball is considered a relatively low-impact sport, the fast-paced action can still lead to unexpected eye injuries and the chances of this happening shouldn’t be overlooked (no pun intended).
Nevertheless, if you are planning to step foot in the court, consider equipping a pair of glasses that are impact resistant as it’s crucial to prioritize your safety with dedicated pickleball eyewear.
Pickleball glasses are a different breed and vary from traditional glasses by miles, in fact, most modern pickleball glasses are made from polycarbonate. This impact-resistant material is lightweight yet incredibly durable which is pretty much shatterproof which traditional glasses might be not.
- Light Adjustment Capabilities
This is by far one of the most underrated features of pickleball glasses, most of the lenses in pickleball glasses have special tinting which is tailored to improve depth perception, essential for those tricky dinks and volleys.
On the other hand, you clearly don’t want to skip out on the automatically adjusted photochromic lenses that correlate with surrounding lightning. Apparently, these lenses darken in bright sunlight and lighten in low-light conditions, so it’s kind of like the auto-brightness on your phone, but for your eyes.
This cleverly designed feature prevents you from being blinded by those huge flood lights that are installed in the stadium once you hit the court, letting you transition seamlessly from daylight to indoor play.
- Strain & Fatigue Protection
It might sound like a gimmick but these glasses have proven themselves in the field that by preventing eye strain by acting as a protective barrier and a special filter, it could significantly improve your focus and endurance on the court.
Without the protective filter, those harsh reflections on your retina feel like an absolute nightmare you clearly don’t want to get exposed to especially if you are an individual who suffers from migraines as those bright lights can quickly bring on a debilitating headache.
- Stylish & Cozy
Lastly, if you disregard pretty much every other protective benefit, you clearly cannot overlook how stylish pickleball glasses can be, and the confidence boost you’ll get from rocking is simply priceless especially if you make sure it matches your clothing attire.
Things To Look Out For When Buying A Pickleball Glasses
When buying pickleball glasses, you need to consider several important factors,
- Glasses Type
Just like everything else, there is no such thing as “one size fits all” which is why there are more than one type of Pickleball glasses.
For starters, the most basic form is the full framed glasses, which is the kind that offers maximum coverage and protection. They generally wrap around your face, shielding your eyes from stray balls and the elements from all sides. When wearing this variant, you’re essentially maximizing safety but potentially sacrificing a bit of peripheral vision compared to other styles.
There are also half-framed glasses, which are basically a hybrid between full-framed and frameless styles. They have a frame along the top and around the lenses, but the bottom of the lenses is exposed. This design provides a good balance between protection and a wider field of vision compared to full-framed glasses.
However, if none of these variants sounds like your cup of tea and you want vision correction as well as protection from ball impacts as well tinting your prescription pickleball glasses are your best bet! These glasses offer all the benefits you can get however, depending on the type of customization it will certainly cost you a pretty penny.
II. Comfort Factor
Next, comes the comforting fact, that since you would be playing pickleball for hours on end, you don’t want a clumsy pair of glasses weighing you down or causing discomfort. Because the last thing you would want is your temple region and your nose to be irritated or sore mid-match.
Personally, I always look out for silicone nose pads to protect my skin around the nose bridge and prevent uncomfortable pressure points. You will also need soft temple tips that curve around your ears comfortably. Some have non-slip coatings to keep them in place even when you’re sweating.
Speaking of which, to promote healthy airflow, because you would become a sweaty mess quite instantly regardless of the weather condition, you might want to consider glasses with ventilation. Small vents or perforations can dramatically reduce fogging, keeping you cool and your vision crystal clear.
III. Lens Type
Once you are done with the type of frame and how comfortable it might be, don’t forget to choose the type of lens you will be getting your hands on. Apparently, there are a whole lot of technologies incorporated in pickleball glasses nowadays including Polarized Glasses.
These are efficient in cutting glare from the sun and reflective surfaces, which can be a big help on bright outdoor courts. However, be aware that polarized lenses can slightly affect your depth perception, which is important for judging the distance and speed of the pickleball.
On the other hand, if you constantly find yourself in colder temperatures, then you might need to invest in pickleball glasses with anti-fog coatings or ventilation features. These technologies prevent your lenses from fogging up, ensuring clear vision even when your body heat meets the cold air.
Let’s not forget the photochromic lenses, although they aren’t the newest technology, they’re incredibly practical for pickleball glasses. These adaptive lenses darken in response to bright sunlight and lighten in low-light conditions. In other words not only are you getting glare protection outdoors but clear vision indoors or in shady areas, it is basically a win-win situation.
Things To Keep in Mind
This section is an added countermeasure for those who are buying pickleball glasses for their eye health.
- Check Reviews & Company Reputation
Never invest blindly in a pair of glasses, especially the ones that are designed for sports because there are still big names that are fooling customers in the market with subpar products and inflated prices. Make sure you do ample research and check out the reviews before investing in it, moreover, word of mouth matters a lot, luckily for you, pickleball courts almost always have a huge community, and you can take reviews from fellow pickleball players which will give you an honest assessment of durability, comfort, and lens performance in real-world conditions.
On the other hand, always keep an eye out for a good track record of customer support in case you encounter any issues or need to utilize warranties.
- Price To Value Ratio
Even if you aren’t on a budget, you clearly don’t want to invest in something that doesn’t deserve your hard-earned money. When it comes to pickleball glasses, consider the overall value such as quality materials, durable construction, lens technology, and a comfortable fit. A slightly more expensive pair that offers lasting performance and protection might be a far better investment than a cheaply made pair that won’t last a season.
On the other hand, it’s in your best interest that you keep an eye out for the features it provides, some pickleball glasses are more inclined towards fashion and only have cosmetic value such as acting as a collectible, while others might look shabby but provide a whole host of protective features.
Nevertheless, you may need to keep a balance between these two factors in case you are reliant on getting the best of both worlds.
Final Word
To conclude this article, I would offer my two cents by once again emphasizing the importance of not skimping on eye protection in pickleball. It’s an investment in your health, safety, and overall game enjoyment.
While investing in these pairs of glasses might sound trivial due to the low impact and recreational nature of the game, keep in mind accidents can and will eventually happen and your efforts of saving a couple of bucks might be in vain because one stray ball or an unexpected collision could lead to a serious eye injury.
That being said, feel free to let me know if you have any other queries in your mind, I would be much obliged to sort you out.
