After Wifey was all kitted out with a whole new wardrobe of pickleball shorts, shirts, skirts, and shoes, she finally and happily announced she was so ready to go and play pickleball with me. That is, of course, until she looked at me and saw me sulking.
“And just what is the matter with you now, babes?!” she enquired, quite concerned about my sudden kicked-dog-look.
“Well, it’s just that NOW that you have all your gear for pickleball. I have just realized that I don’t have the proper clothes for pickleball either!” I responded in my best whats-good-for-the goose-is-also-good-for-the-gander/feminist/we-are-all-equal voice and stare.
“You mean to tell me that men also have specific clothes for playing pickleball in too?” asked Wifey, rather tongue in cheek.
Why not hone? Proper pickleball clothing for men exists too-it’s not only there-just for you women!
Just as there is pickleball apparel and accessories for women to wear when playing the sport, there now also exists a full line of assorted pickleball clothing for men pickleball players. As with the other racket/paddle sports of badminton, racketball, and real tennis, pickleball does not discriminate.
In the same vein, whilst I did not plan on being more than a recreational pickleball player, I felt it not only important but also fair that, like Wifey, I also am afforded the chance to pick and choose the right pickle clothing.
So, just as Wifey had shopped and spent a small fortune on pickleball shorts, skirts, shirts, shoes, visors, bags, hats, jewelry, and flip flops, I intended to EQUALLY splurge on a variety of types and styles of clothing fit for a male pickleball player who wants to look pickleball court perfect both on and off the court.
However, with so many different styles, colors, and fabrics on the market to choose from, finding the perfect gear can -for both women and men-be overwhelming. That is unless, of course, you-like me-already know what you want and need.
In my case, since, like Wifey, I was also just starting on my pickleball playing journey. I also wanted my first time to be in some shirts-different types of lovely pickleball shirts for men. But, with so many types of pickleball shirts for men to choose from, you need to do some research.
And that’s exactly what Wifey and I did. We researched the different types of pickleball shirts for men currently available on the market. Only to find, to our pleasant surprise, they are mostly unisex wearable by both women and men and so the same as those for women!
For example, the……..
1. Testy Testerone Tee/T-Shirt
What is it?
Extremely popular among both the young and mature (“old” is such an ugly word) people, tee-shirts are sports’ classic, comfortable, and affordable clothing. They are ordinarily T-shaped. T-shirts come in a variety of different designs and patterns-depending on whether they are to be worn by a woman or a man.
The most common type of t-shirt is usually made of cotton and can be either plain or have a printed design that is either sex-specific or unisex. Although not the best to wear during cold weather, T-shirts are, by their very nature, loose-fitting and comfortable to wear, especially in warm weather. They are light and easily washable.
That as it may be, T-shirts are often not made from material that is comfortable and sometimes very durable.
What is it used for?
The pickleball t-shirt is a tee shirt intended to be worn while playing pickleball on the pickleball court. However, in some cases, it is an ordinary t-shirt that you would have decided to set aside for purposes of wearing when playing pickleball or one of the other racket/paddle sports.
Key features
Typically, a pickleball t-shirt is made of 100% cotton and is extremely soft. Such a tee shirt has a slim fit. It can have a collar that is either a crew neck, V-neck, or round-neck t-shirt-what others refer to as cloverleaf or horseshoe-shaped, respectively.
These days, a pickleball tee-shirt sometimes has a logo, sentiment, or joke on the front as an option.
T-shirts also come as either short or long-sleeved and in a variety of colors and sizes. Whether long or short-sleeved, T-shirts are usually pull-on, as opposed to button-on. FYI, tee-shirts are generally not sex-specific as they can also be unisex- for both women and men to wear.
2. Soak me Sweatless Sweat Shirt
What is it?
This often long-sleeved shirt’s name comes from the fact that it is made of sweat-wicking fabric able to absorb sweat. It is also sometimes called a training shirt by some.
Why would you choose this type? Pros? Cons?
Similar to a T-shirt, most sweatshirts are also unisex. Versatile and sure to keep you either warm or cool during your game, a pickleball sweatshirt can be worn in both warm and cool weather, for indoor, as well as outdoor games. To top it all, because its material absorbs sweat, you don’t end up sweaty and sweat-stained at the end of your pickleball game.
What is it used for?
A pickleball sweatshirt is designed to play either indoor or outdoor pickleball.
Key features
Usually made of sweat-wicking fabric. It is long-sleeved and comes in a classic fit with a twill-taped neck. Hooded pickleball sweatshirts are also available for windy days.
These sometimes come with large front pockets close to the waist.
Other than giving the sweatshirt superior stretch and fit, the cotton/polyester blend with a 50/50 blend of spandex also wicks away sweat and keeps you cool and dry during your intense pickleball matches. The sleeves are long and the front can either be plain, have print on it, or even a chest or side pockets for storing your pickleball.
Sweatshirts usually weigh plus or minus 8.5 oz. It is recommended that you machine wash them in cold water with like colors, at dry low heat.
3. To thank or not to Tank Top Type Shirt
What is it?
A tank top is a sleeveless shirt manufactured without sleeves. Though sometimes men will deliberately cut off the long sleeves of their sweatshirts to turn them into tank tops. As such, it is considered a sleeveless upper garment with wide shoulder straps and a low neck.
Why would you choose this type? Pros? Cons?
Although a pickleball tank top shirt is mainly associated with women, men do also put them on. A tank top is ideal for outdoor pickleball play in hot weather. Great if you have a chest to show off.
Like T-shirts, however, a tank top might be too scanty for indoor play. As such, it is not as versatile and won’t guarantee you warmth indoors. Not so great if you have man boobs and a potbelly.
What is it used for?
Depending on the style, tank tops can be worn on their own or as undershirts by sportspersons. Male athletes in sports such as track and field, triathlon, or lately, playing pickleball, do sometimes wear tank tops to keep cool.
Key features
A tank top has soft fabric and fits true to size. Usually sleeveless, a tank top is often tight to loose fitting. It’s made from a durable fabric that will last for a long time.
The design of a tank top is simple: the neck and armholes are often reinforced for durability.
One typically has large armholes and neck holes and a neckline that can reach down as far as the bottom of the chest. Men’s tank tops have larger holes to reveal their muscular sides. They are also sometimes made long to make tucking into track-suit pants easier.
In almost all cases, tank tops are buttonless, collarless, and pocketless. Either way, they will keep you cool during intense matches. They can be plain or have print on them in front or all over.
In the United States and Canada, any casual sleeveless shirt can be called a tank top or tank shirt, with several specific varieties. It is named after tank suits, one-piece bathing suits of the 1920s worn in tanks or swimming pools. The latest styles include Y-tank tops, Racerback, Serve, and Performance tank tops-all for both men and women and worn by them.
4. Can do too Crop Top Shirt
What is it?
Another unisex sleeveless or short garment that is cut short to show the midriff. Also known as a half shirt, midriff top, or cutoff shirt, is a sleeveless top that exposes the waist, navel, or abdomen.
Why would you choose this type? Pros? Cons?
Somewhat similar to a tank top, a crop top can definitely only be worn in hot weather, such as outdoors. It is sure to keep you, and especially your midriff, very cool during your pickleball game. This soft, breathable, lightweight crop top shirt is a great addition to your game.
It is a crop top style, so it is not too long, but it is not too short either-just right to show off that six-pack, those abs or lats. It is, however, not as versatile-unless worn as some kind of undershirt. A definite no-no if you have a potbelly.
What is it used for?
The early history of the croptop intersects with cultural views towards the midriff. It has been used for almost everything else since then. From fashion to swimwear to aerobics to bodybuilding and most lately, pickleball.
Yes, this is the new, all-sex pickleball crop top shirt that can also be worn for pickleball by men.
Key features
Characteristically coming just above the midriff, the crop top is today made of 100% cotton, so it’s soft and breathable. It can also be made of a cotton blend and has a regular fit. The shirt is sometimes also made with moisture-wicking technology to keep you cool and dry.
It can also come with print or wording written across the chest in a colorful design or a variety of different masculine colors.
Stringer body-building gym crop tops such as the one above provide plenty of comfortable space for you to breathe and showcase your impressive physique while you enjoy your game of pickleball.
5. Guys & Girls’ Golf /Tennis/Polo/ Collared Shirts
What is it?
Also known as a polo shirt, tennis shirt, golf shirt, or chukker shirt this is a form of shirt without a collar. Polo shirts are usually short-sleeved but can also be long.
Why would you choose this type? Pros? Cons?
Traditionally worn by men, a polo shirt is a short-sleeved, collarless shirt that is conventionally worn on courts and courses. Today, it is not unusual to wear one on a pickleball court. Other than that, it has also been found that short-sleeved polo shirts have the following advantages:
- the short, cuffed sleeves solved the tendency of long sleeves to roll down.
- the piqué collar can be worn upturned to protect the neck skin from the sun.
- the jersey knit piqué cotton breathes and is more durable.
- the “tennis tail” prevented the shirt from pulling out of the wearer’s trousers or shorts.
What is it used for?
Polo shirts have always been used by both sexes for sport. More recently, they have been used as attire for pickleball. They do well to wear for either an indoor or outdoor game of pickleball.
Key features
It comes with a knitted or woven collar, a placket, and a horseshoe-shaped or triangular patch of cloth near the left elbow. However, polo shirts are usually made of knitted cotton (rather than woven cloth), a piqué knit, or less commonly an interlock knit (the latter used frequently, though not exclusively, with Pima cotton polos), or using other fibers such as silk, wool, synthetic fibers, or blends of natural and synthetic fibers. It comes in a variety of assorted colors and sizes.
The term “polo” is thought to have originated from the Latin word “polus”, meaning “field”.
Pickleball Clothing Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q: What is the best pickleball shirt?
A: This is a great question, simply because there’s no right answer! Unlike other types of sports, pickleball is considered to be more of a recreational sport as opposed to a competitive one, which means that you can wear just about anything you like, so long as you feel comfortable, of course! All the shirt types mentioned and recommended above are great choices to consider, especially as each shirt we’ve selected contains a kind of moisture-wicking material that will help to keep you cool.
Q: What should I look for in a pickleball shirt?
A: When selecting a shirt for pickleball, you should select one that is going to be comfortable, as well as provide you with moisture-wicking abilities. That way, you’ll be able to stay cool throughout the game, without needing to change your top.
Q: What do pickleball players wear?
A: Usually, pickleball players will wear standard sports clothing like shorts, a pair of comfy sneakers, and a cool, loose shirt. Although pickleball has no set dress code, you have plenty of freedom to style your outfit. However, as you can imagine, since pickleball takes elements from tennis, it is not uncommon to see players donning tennis-style outfits (tennis-style dresses are very popular for both women and men pickleball players).