Protective Eyewear for Pickleball, Yay or Nay?

Pros wear them. Should you? Let’s break it down.

Here’s why I wear eye protection. In a recent game we were playing against a couple of bangers (like most games, lol), when they slammed a hard drive at my partner, he got his paddle up, but the ball caught the edge of his paddle and the ball shot at me from 8 feet away. The ball hit the brim of my hat and knocked it off and we all had a good laugh. Except an inch or so to the left, and it would have hit me in the eye. 

Protective eyewear isn’t just for the pros, or for people with a history of freak accidents. It’s for anyone who wants to keep playing pickleball—and seeing clearly while doing it.

We’ve all heard the horror stories. A rogue ball to the eye. A partner’s paddle clipping a cornea. And while those might sound like freakish, one-in-a-million incidents, they’re happening more often than you think. We’re seeing faster play, stronger shots, and tighter courts. That’s a cocktail for mishaps—and your eyes are front row.

So why isn’t everyone wearing eye protection?

Some folks worry about looking “uncool.” Others just assume it won’t happen to them. But we’ve reached the point where the smart money is on prevention. A sleek pair of protective lenses can save your vision—and your vanity—because trust us, an eye patch is not the accessory you want for your next mixed doubles round robin. 

Look for something with impact protection, and for outdoor play, UVA and UVB sun protection. Lately we are rocking Tifosi Optics, which offers both. And the price for most of their glasses is under $50. 

If you’ve been on the fence, here’s the nudge: try one game with protective eyewear. Just one. We’ve found that after five minutes, most players forget they’re even wearing them—until that errant dink goes flying, and you’re grateful for the invisible force field around your face.

You don’t have to drop a fortune to stay safe, and you might actually look sharper doing it. Pick a pair that fits your vibe—clear lenses for indoor play, tinted for sunny days, photochromic if you want the all-in-one magic.

Your knees might give you trouble. Your shoulder might bark. But your eyes? Let’s not add them to the list. Because getting smacked in the retina by a neon ball is not how anyone wants to wrap up a rally.

Save your sight. Wear the glasses. Win the point.