If there is one thing I have learned over the years, it’s that women love to look good-no matter the occasion-even when playing pickleball!
After Wifey and I got a portable pickleball net for Christmas, I decided we should break it in, as it were, by suggesting a game of pickleball. You can, however, imagine my horror when her sulky response was, “But I don’t have the right clothes for it!”
“And just what do you mean by that?!” I asked, trying as best I could not to lose it.
“I am saying I don’t have the proper clothes for pickleball,” she responded, matter-of-factly.
“You mean to tell me there are specific clothes for playing pickleball in?”
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Yes, babes, I would have you know there is proper pickleball clothing for both women and men.
The ultimate pickleball gear is the apparel and accessories you wear while playing the sport. As with the other racket/paddle sports of badminton, racketball, and real tennis, there now exists a full line of assorted pickleball clothing for women and men pickleball players.
Whether you are a recreational player or a serious competitor, it is important to choose the right clothing. From pickleball shirts, shoes, visors, bags, and hats, to jewelry and flip flops, there are a variety of types and styles of clothing for the pickleball player who wants to look pickleball peachy both on and off the court.
With so many different styles, colors, and fabrics to choose from, finding the perfect gear can be overwhelming. The key to making the right decision is to know what you need and what you want. For example, if you are just starting, you may want to choose which every player must have, a shirt.
However, if you are looking for something more specific, like a specific type of shirt, let alone a specific type of pickleball shirt for a woman, then you will definitely need to do some research.
And that’s exactly what Wifey and I did, we researched the different types of pickleball shirts available. These are:
1. Terrific Tee/T-Shirt Type
What is it?
It is a very popular item, especially among young people, which often has a large variety of different designs and patterns. The most common type of t-shirt is made of cotton and can be either plain or have a printed design.
Why would you choose this type? Pros? Cons?
T-shirts are, by their very nature, loose-fitting and comfortable to wear, especially in warm weather. They are light and easily washable. However, they are not ideal for cold weather.
What is it used for?
The pickleball t-shirt is a classic tee shirt that can be worn while playing pickleball on the pickleball court.
Key features
It is made of 100% cotton and is extremely soft. A tee has a slim fit. It can be 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 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 pull-on. FYI, some tee-shirts are not sex-specific as they can also be unisex-so hubby and wife can share.
2. Soaking so Sweatless Sweat Shirt, anyone?
What is it?
This shirt is long-sleeved and made of sweat-wicking fabric.
Why would you choose this type? Pros? Cons?
Unlike an ordinary T-shirt, a sweatshirt can be worn in both warm and cool weather, indoors, as well as outdoors. As such, it is versatile and sure to keep you either warm or cool during the game. Topping it all off, its material absorbs sweat such that you don’t end up sweaty and sweat-stained at the end of your pickleball game.
What is it used for?
A women’s 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 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 intense matches. The sleeves are long and the front can either be plain, have print on it, or even a chest pocket for storing your pickleball.
Weighs plus or minus 8.5 oz. It is recommended that you machine washes in cold water with like colors, at dry low heat.
3. Tighter than a ….Tank Top Type Shirt
What is it?
A tank top is a sleeveless shirt manufactured without sleeves, or whose sleeves have been deliberately cut off. 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?
The pickleball tank top shirt for women is ideal for outdoor pickleball play in hot weather. Like T-shirts, however, a tank top might be too loose for indoors. As such, it is not as versatile and won’t guarantee you warmth indoors.
What is it used for?
Depending on the style, a tank top can be worn as undershirts by sportswomen and, to some extent, male athletes in sports such as track and field, triathlon, or lately, to play pickleball.
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. Women’s tank tops have smaller holes to conceal their breasts. They are also sometimes made long to make tucking into pants easier.
In almost all cases, they are buttonless, collarless, and pocketless. Either way, a tank top will keep you cool during intense matches. It can be plain or have print on it 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.
4. Close call 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. It is, however, not as versatile-unless worn as some kind of bra.
What is it used for?
The early history of the crop top intersects with cultural views towards the midriff, starting with the performance of “Little Egypt” at the 1893 Chicago World’s Fair, 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-sexy pickleball crop top shirt that can be worn for pickleball.
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 colors.
You will be happy to know that some crop tops for women have built-in bras and removable padded longline sports bras for women. This provides full coverage and great shape retention for your breasts. The push-up trendy women’s crop tank tops can be removed when you need to wash them.
Racerback athletic sports gym crop tops such as the one above have plenty of comfortable space for you to breathe while you enjoy a game of pickleball.
5. Last but not least, Genuine Vintage Golf Tennis Polo Collared Shirts
What is it?
A polo shirt, tennis shirt, golf shirt, or chukker shirt. Is a form of shirt without a collar. Polo shirts are usually short-sleeved but can be long.
Why would you choose this type? Pros? Cons?
A polo shirt is a short-sleeved, collarless shirt that is conventionally won on courts. As such, it would not look 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 could 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
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), usually 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”. A dress-length version of the shirt is called a polo dress.
Pickleball Clothing Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q: How should I dress for pickleball?
A: For the pickleball game comfort and mobility are the names. You want to feel good and be able to move freely. Of course, it is always nice to wear cute and show sample attire to motivate you when you start to shop for your clothing.
However, be warned, pickleball is an increasingly sociable sport that has gained an artistic edge. The majority of contemporary players don’t wear old-school pickleball shirts instead opt for contemporary sportswear.
Q: What do women wear playing pickleball?
A: Players wear just about anything comfortable and appropriate for the climate: athletic shorts, sweatpants, wicking apparel, t-shirts, etc. Tennis-style dresses and skirts for females are common.
Q: What do you wear to pickleball in cold weather?
A: If you’re playing in chilly weather, be sure to wear warm layers. Pickleball provides cardiovascular exercise and involves a wide range of movement patterns, so it can be a great full-body workout. If you’ll be playing in unpredictable weather, bring along a water-resistant and wind-resistant jacket to protect you from the elements.
Q: What to look for in pickleball clothing?
A:
- Breathability: Opt for fabrics and cuts that feel breezy and light to stay cool as your body heats up throughout the play. Shirts with cutouts, perforations, and lightweight materials, like polyester, help promote better air circulation.
- Moisture-Wicking Materials: Performance fabrics like Nike Dri-FIT are designed to draw moisture away from the skin and quickly evaporate, so you can keep sweat from getting in the way of your game.
- Pockets: Some pickleball players prefer to wear shorts, pants, or a skirt with pockets to hold extra balls and any other necessities they want to carry on the court.
- Stretchy Fabrics: Look for styles designed to move with you. Garments should be loose-fitting enough to not restrict movement but not so baggy that they’ll get in the way. Sleeveless tops or shirts with a seam in front of the shoulder will help provide a full range of motion for the arms. Bottoms with adjustable drawstrings can be great for a customizable fit.
- Weather Protection: If you’ll be playing in unpredictable weather, bring along a water-resistant and wind-resistant jacket to protect you from the elements.