
kerry_pittenger_pickleball
Hey guys, it’s Dan. I’m not a big fan of sunglasses. After 26 years of searching, I still haven’t found a pair that fits my face. And when I’m on the court, they always hinder my vision. Nonetheless, I’ve come to realize that without them, I have no swagger and run the risk of an eye injury :/ Plus, they make clear protective glasses—so there’s really no excuse not to wear them.
While most pro pickleball players avoid sunglasses due to the high-speed nature of the game, many pro players do wear them. For crying out loud, even the world’s No. 1 female pickleball player, Anna Leigh Waters, wears them.
Our gear testers did the research for you—here are some top picks.

Rudy Project Tralyx+

Right out of the box, the attention to detail stands out. The lens clarity was the biggest selling point for me—I could track the ball better, and everything just looked sharper.
The adjustable nose pad and temple tips make a difference. Unlike other sport sunglasses that slide around, these stay put, no straps needed.
Made from Graphene, they’re shock-resistant yet lightweight. The vented design keeps airflow moving, reducing fog. Plus, the photochromic lenses adjust to lighting conditions, so there’s no need to switch pairs.
With a two-year warranty and scratch replacement for Rx lenses, Rudy Project stands behind their product. If you want top-tier vision, a secure fit, and long-term durability, the Tralyx+ is a solid investment.
Shop Rudy Project Tralyx +
Tifosi Optics Rivet

If you’ve ever been hit in the eye with a pickleball, you know how scary it can be. Getting hit anywhere else might sting for a moment (or bruise your ego when your opponent celebrates), but the eye is especially vulnerable. I learned that the hard way when a ball ricocheted off my paddle and hit me square in the eye, tearing my iris and leaving my pupil permanently dilated. Since then, my other eye has had to do most of the work, and I’ve never played without eye protection again.
For sunny days, sunglasses usually do the trick. I use lightly tinted lenses on partly cloudy days and darker ones when it’s bright out. But finding good clear-lensed glasses for low-light conditions was a challenge—most had distortion, bulky frames, or fogging issues. After testing several models, I finally found one that works: the Tifosi Rivet.
These glasses are lightweight, distortion-free, and didn’t fog up during a long match. I barely noticed I was wearing them, which is the highest compliment I can give. The frameless design on the sides and bottom means nothing obstructs my peripheral vision, and the nose and temple contact points are soft and comfortable.
Durability remains to be seen, but they feel sturdy and come with a hard case. At $50, they’re mid-range, and while I’m happy with my current sunglasses, I’d consider trying Rivet’s tinted options if the clear lenses continue to perform well.
No matter what you choose, protect your eyes when you play. The Tifosi Rivet is a solid choice for staying safe without sacrificing performance.
Shop Tifosi Rivet
Tifosi Sanctum

I’ve been playing with my Tifosi lenses during tennis and pickleball for the past three weeks, so I wanted to share my experience and how they fit into my game.
Research shows that non-polarized tinted sunglasses don’t significantly affect depth perception under well-lit conditions. I can confirm that tracking the ball wasn’t impacted at all while playing with the Tifosi lenses.
First impressions—they’re stylish, affordable, and well-made. The packaging felt high quality, and for the price, they’re impressively sturdy. Unlike many budget-friendly brands, Tifosi offers a nice range of styles without going overboard on flashy colors.
That said, adjusting to playing with sunglasses wasn’t easy. Everything felt darker, which was a challenge at first. Coaching on sunny days was great, but in tough matches, I found it hard to keep them on. Even a slight restriction in vision can make a difference in winning or losing a point. If you’re worried about dimming, check out their clear options—Mike covered these in his review.
One thing to note—this model’s design is a bit misleading. The center looks like a lens, but there’s actually a plastic piece behind it that slightly restricts your field of vision. I expected an unobstructed view, so I was a little disappointed when they arrived. They still function well, just not as seamlessly as I’d hoped.
Overall, I’d recommend Tifosi, especially for players who rely on eyewear for racket sports. If you just need eye protection and don’t want darker lenses, their clear options are a solid choice. I always recommend protective eyewear for pickleball, so I’ll be pointing my students toward their clear styles, which are great for indoor play too.
Shop Tifosi Sanctum
You don’t mention which of the brands you reviewed allow prescription lenses. Do all and if not which do. Thanks much for a cogent review.
Hi George,
Thanks for taking the time to leave a comment.
Oops, major oversight on my part! – not clarifying which glasses are prescription ready.
I mentioned it on the Oakley’s but then I dropped the ball on the rest…
I wore contacts/glasses for decades but had Lasik surgery done years ago and forgot how important it is to find good prescription sunglasses!
The Oakley Half Jacket 2.0 and Oakley Flak Jacket work with Oakley prescription lenses. Bollé Bolt (“S” model) is also prescription-ready.
I don’t think the Nike or Under Armour have RX option, but I will go thru and update the article as soon as I can.
Thanks again-Matt
Hi Matt,
Thank you for the great overview. I came across your blog while looking for some tennis shades for a night play. The contrast of such bright light and the darkness around seem to be my issue. Do you have any recommendations?
Hi Veronika,
Sorry it took so long to reply, I just saw your comment now…
Oakley makes the Prizm Low Light Lens which is an option on some sports/wrap around models like the Oakley Evzero and the Oakley Radar but you want to make sure you specifically select the PRIZM LOW LIGHT lens option.
I hope that helps.
-Matt
Hi Matt,
I play indoor pickleball and the fluorescent lights really affect me ie at times, I can scarcely see the ball.
What do you suggest?
Thanks,
Yve
Hi Yve,
From what I’ve read, rose-tinted lenses seem to help with fluorescent light sensitivity- I found some online forums where eye doctors prescribe lenses with a rose tint:
https://www.optiboard.com/forums/showthread.php/58649-Tint-recommendations-for-fluorescent-light-sensitivity
There is a brand called TheraSpecs that are designed for fluorescent lighting but are really marketed to people with migraines so not sure you really need those, plus they are pretty expensive ($200).
Another recommendation is to use “blue-blocking” lenses but those are more for gamers/people on the computer at night, I think they might be too dark for pickleball.
Oakley has a lens called the Prizm™,
https://www.oakley.com/en-us/product/W0OO9154?variant=888392075840
They are rose-tinted and specifically designed to increase contrast- so it seems to me those might be the best place to start.
Let me know what you decide on and how they work out for indoor pickleball – might be useful for other readers.
Thanks!
Hello! Thank you for the reviews which are helpful. I want to put something out there. I am a woman with a small face. Most glasses are to big for my face and the children’s too small. I would love to see a company cater to small faces! Also your link to the half flak takes you to the 2.0 on amazon.
Hi Diane,
Thanks for the feedback. I imagine it’s frustrating to buy sunglasses if you have a smaller face. I’ll do some more research to see if I can find better options to add to the reviews. In the meantime, you may want to check out the Oakley Quarter Jacket. They are marketed as youth sunglasses but quite a few adult buyers mentioned in the reviews that they are a good fit for adults with smaller faces. I’ve added it to the “Women’s Sunglasses” section with a link to those specific Amazon reviews in case that helps. Thanks for letting us know about the links. Oakley pretty much phased out the Half Jacket 1.0s, I can only find the 2.0s online – but we still had a few mentions in the article that didn’t specify 2.0 so I’ve updated those. Please let me know if you do find sunglasses that are a good fit for you so we can share with other readers. Thanks-Matt
Thank you for sharing such great information. It’s really helpful for me, and guys if any have color blindness problems then visit this profile and click this website and check your eyes by the screening test.
Not sure why you’re recommending polarized sunglasses for pickleball. They are well known for messing with depth perception and are NOT good for court sports at all.
Stay away from polarized sunglasses for tennis or pickleball… and go with amber or red lenses. That’s the best combo.