What to Wear for Pickleball: Outfit Ideas for Women and Men

For pickleball, wear court shoes, clothes you can move side to side in, and fabric that suits the weather: a sweat-wicking shirt and shorts, skirt or skort on hot days, and a warm layer you can take off on cold mornings. Add a hat or visor and sunglasses for outdoor courts. There is no dress code for open play or most leagues. Tournaments have only a few rules: shoes that do not mark the court, clothes in good taste, and nothing close to the color of the ball. Below is what to look for in each piece, then outfit ideas for women and men by season and by the kind of player you are.

The short checklist

Start with shoes

If you change one thing, change your shoes. Pickleball is short sprints, side steps, quick stops and lunges at the kitchen line. Running shoes are made for moving forward: they often have a raised, soft heel and a narrow base, which can feel wobbly when you stop hard or push off sideways. Court shoes (sold as pickleball shoes or tennis shoes) have a flatter, wider sole and more support along the sides of the foot.

• Outdoor courts: pick a shoe with a tough outsole. Concrete and asphalt wear soles down quickly.
• Indoor courts: gyms want non-marking soles, and many indoor players like a gum rubber sole for grip on wood or sport floors. Keep a pair just for indoors so they stay clean.
• Tournaments: the USA Pickleball rulebook (Rule 18.B.2) says shoes must have soles that do not mark or damage the court.
• Fit: try them on in the afternoon with the socks you play in. Your foot should not slide inside the shoe when you stop.

Cross-trainers are a step up from running shoes if you play once in a while. If you play more than once a week, court shoes are worth it.

Sweat-wicking or cotton?

Most clothes sold for pickleball are polyester, nylon or a blend with some spandex. These fabrics pull sweat off your skin and dry fast, and the stretch helps with lunges. Cotton feels soft and breathes well when you are dry, but it soaks up sweat, gets heavy and dries slowly.

That does not mean cotton is wrong. It means cotton fits some games better than others:

• Hot days, long sessions, tournaments: wear sweat-wicking fabric.
• Cool mornings, indoor courts with good air, an hour of social play: a cotton tee is fine, and many players like how it feels.
• Before and after you play: cotton is great. Bring a dry shirt to change into after open play.

To be clear about our own shirts: our pickleball tees are Bella+Canvas 3001 tees, 100% cotton (the heather colors have some polyester), lightweight and soft. They are made for casual play, warm-ups, the walk to the car and the rest of the week. They are not performance wear, and we would not wear one for a two-hour summer session on a sunny court. See them in Pickleball Shirts, $27 each.

Colors

• Light colors are cooler in the sun. White, light gray, sand and pastels take in less heat than black or navy.
• Do not dress like the ball. The rulebook's list of principles asks players to avoid clothes that closely match the ball color, and a tournament director can make you change a shirt that is too close (Rule 18.B.3). In open play it is a courtesy: a bright yellow shirt makes it harder for the other side to pick up the ball. Most outdoor balls are yellow or neon green, and some are orange or pink, so check what your group uses.
• Dark colors hide sweat; light colors show it. Pick your trade-off.

Hats, visors and sunglasses

On outdoor courts the sun ends up in someone's eyes on serves, lobs and overheads. A cap covers the scalp. A visor is cooler because the top of your head is open, and it works well with a ponytail. A bucket hat covers the ears and neck. Light colors stay cooler. More detail on picking one in our guide to the best pickleball hats.

Our hats are embroidered cotton dad hats, $32, one size with an adjustable strap. Like our tees, they are cotton, so they are best for casual play, cool mornings and wearing around town, not a hot tournament day. A few players start with:

• Toes Behind the Line Hat, the kitchen rule every new player hears
• 44 x 20 Court Hat, just the court outline and its size in feet
• It Was Out Respectfully Hat, for the polite line caller

All of them are in Pickleball Hats.

Sunglasses help with glare, and sports eyewear also protects your eyes from fast balls at the net. If you wear glasses, sports goggles that fit over them or prescription sports glasses are worth asking your eye doctor about.

Layers for cold mornings

Many groups play early, and a cold morning feels very different after three games. Dress so you can take things off between games.

1. Base layer: a sweat-wicking tee or long sleeve top. This is the layer that gets wet, so it should not be cotton if you play hard.
2. Warm layer: a quarter-zip, a fleece, or a crewneck sweatshirt for the warm-up and the first game. Take it off when you start to sweat.
3. Wind layer: a light jacket on windy days.
4. Bottoms: leggings, joggers or track pants that stretch. Jeans do not.
5. Small things: a warm hat or ear band for the walk in, and gloves to wear between games. You will probably want the gloves off to play, so you can feel the grip.

A cotton-blend crewneck is a good warm layer: warm at the start, easy to pull off, and comfortable afterward. Ours are Gildan 18000 crewnecks, 50% cotton and 50% polyester, $42 (S to XL). Wear one over a tee to the courts and keep it on for the coffee after. A few: Officially a 3.0, Emotionally a 5.0, Tennis Was a Phase and Grandma Owns the Kitchen. In December, the holiday ones go to a lot of club parties: Merry Kitchmas and Deck the Courts.

Outfit ideas by season

Summer, outdoors

• Light-colored sweat-wicking tank, tee or polo
• Shorts, skort or a skirt with built-in shorts
• Visor or a light cap, sunglasses, sunscreen on ears and neck
• Cooling towel and more water than you think you need
• A dry cotton tee in the bag for after

Spring and fall

• Short sleeve sweat-wicking top, or a cotton tee if it stays cool
• Shorts or a skort, with leggings or joggers in the bag
• A crewneck sweatshirt or quarter-zip for the first game
• Cap for sun that is low in the sky in the morning and late afternoon

Winter, outdoors

• Long sleeve base layer that wicks sweat
• Sweatshirt or fleece over it, and a light wind jacket
• Leggings, joggers or track pants
• Warm hat and gloves for between games
• Outdoor balls crack more easily in the cold, so bring spares

Indoors, any time of year

• Clean court shoes with non-marking soles
• Tee or tank and shorts, skort or leggings
• A light layer, since some gyms are cold and others are warm
• No hat needed unless the lights bother you

Pickleball outfit ideas for women

• The classic: a skort or tennis skirt with shorts underneath, a fitted tank or tee, a visor and court shoes. Many skorts have a ball pocket in the shorts, which saves you from tucking a ball in your waistband.
• The athletic dress: one piece, built-in shorts, often with a ball pocket. Add a quarter-zip over it for a cool morning.
• Leggings or bike shorts and a tee: good for players who want full coverage, for windy days, and for indoor play.
• The cold morning: leggings, a long sleeve top and a crewneck sweatshirt that comes off after the first game.
• The social game: shorts or leggings, a cotton tee with a line about the game, and a cap. For example, our Mom Needs Court Time Tee or Seven Feet of Patience Tee.

Whatever you wear, wear a sports bra made for the amount you move. Pickleball is less running than tennis, but there is a lot of quick stopping and jumping for overheads.

Pickleball outfit ideas for men

• The classic: sweat-wicking tee or polo, athletic shorts with deep pockets (for a spare ball), cap and court shoes.
• The hot day: light-colored tee or sleeveless shirt, shorts with a liner or compression shorts underneath, visor or light cap, sunglasses.
• The cold morning: long sleeve base layer, joggers or track pants, crewneck sweatshirt or quarter-zip, light jacket for wind.
• The league night: a team shirt if you have one, or matching colors with your partner so it is easy to tell sides apart.
• The social game: athletic shorts, a cotton tee with a joke only players get, and a cap. Our It Was Out Respectfully Tee and Tennis Was a Phase Tee are two examples.

Outfit ideas by type of player

Your first time

Wear what you already have for the gym: athletic shorts or leggings, a T-shirt and the most supportive athletic shoes you own. Bring water and a layer. Do not buy a whole outfit before you know you like it. The one thing worth buying early is court shoes.

The open play regular

You play three or four times a week, so you go through clothes. Two or three sweat-wicking tops, two pairs of shorts or skorts with ball pockets, a cap and a visor, and one crewneck for cold mornings covers most weeks. A shirt with a joke about the game is an easy way to start a conversation with new people in the rotation. Browse Funny Pickleball Shirts if that is you.

The tournament player

Wear performance fabric, bring a second shirt in case the first gets soaked, and read the event's dress rules. Check the ball color and leave any shirt close to it at home. Some events also ask the starting server in doubles to wear an identifier (Rule 18.C), such as a wristband, so do not be surprised if you are handed one.

The early morning player and the retiree

Morning courts are cold for the first hour and sunny after that. A crewneck over a tee, joggers that can come off over shoes or a pair of shorts underneath, a cap, sunglasses and sunscreen. A towel in the bag helps with dew on the court and benches. Our Retired From Work, Not From the Kitchen Sweatshirt was made for this crowd.

The couple who plays together

You do not need to match. Wearing the same color makes it easier for the other team to see who is on which side, and two different shirts from the same shop look like a set without being matching outfits.

What not to wear

• Running shoes for regular play. They are made for forward motion, not side steps and hard stops.
• Jeans or anything without stretch. You will need to get low.
• A shirt the color of the ball. It is hard on your opponents, and at a tournament you may be asked to change.
• Heavy cotton on a hot day. Save the cotton for cool mornings, social games and after.
• Black on a sunny summer court, unless you like being warm.
• Loose jewelry or a hat that falls off. If anything you wear lands in the kitchen while you volley, it is a fault. See What Is the Kitchen in Pickleball?

Frequently asked questions

Is there a dress code for pickleball?

Not for open play or most leagues. Clubs and gyms may ask for non-marking shoes. At USA Pickleball sanctioned tournaments, clothes must be in good taste, shoes must not mark the court, and the tournament director can ask you to change clothing that is too close to the ball color.

What should women wear to play pickleball?

Court shoes, a skort, skirt with shorts, athletic dress, shorts or leggings, and a sweat-wicking tank or tee. Add a visor or cap for outdoor courts and a layer for cold mornings. A ball pocket in the skort or shorts is handy.

What should men wear to play pickleball?

Court shoes, athletic shorts with pockets, a sweat-wicking tee or polo, and a cap. In cold weather, a long sleeve base layer, joggers and a sweatshirt you can take off.

Can I play pickleball in running shoes?

You can for a first try. For regular play, court shoes are a better choice because they support side-to-side movement and quick stops.

Can I play pickleball in a cotton T-shirt?

Yes. Cotton is fine for cool weather, indoor play and casual games. On hot days or for long sessions, a sweat-wicking shirt stays lighter and drier.

What do you wear to pickleball when it is cold?

Layers: a sweat-wicking long sleeve top, a sweatshirt or fleece, a light wind jacket, and leggings or joggers. Take layers off as you warm up, and keep a hat and gloves for between games.

What colors should I not wear for pickleball?

Avoid colors close to the ball you play with, usually yellow or neon green. On sunny days, light colors stay cooler than dark ones.