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Were you one of the 700,000 players that picked up a pickleball paddle for the first time in 2021, and now you can't get the sport out of your head?
Maybe you're looking for something for yourself to play pickleball or a perfect gift idea for a special player?
The rise in pickleball’s popularity has spawned many new brands and products, including lots of apparel options.
So, if you love pickleball, we've put together a list of the 15 best pickleball shirts, to help you choose.
We have the best buys for both men and women. So, whether you're looking for performance or just some fun new designs, we've got you covered.
And don't worry! All of these shirts are available in lots of different colors and sizes. So you're sure to find the perfect one.
Now, let's take a look at some of the best pickleball shirts on the market!
Best Pickleball Shirts for Women
Although 60 percent of pickleball players are men, it’s actually growing faster in popularity among women. Most people want a mix of performance and style but maybe you’re just in it for a laugh.
We’ll break down some funny options that can be great pickleball gifts. Then we’ll get into the best shirts for your next serious matches.
Best Funny Pickleball Shirts for Women
As Cyndi Lauper taught us, girls just want to have fun. If you just want to laugh with a silly gift for the woman in your life, here are some great options.
A. Threadrock Dinkerbell
This classic raglan funny pickleball t-shirt (sometimes known as a baseball tee) features the Peter Pan pickleball player performing a perfect dink. It’s available in a variety of colors and it's a great option for casual play or wearing to an event – just don’t expect it to help your game! Plus, this lightweight tee takes almost no space in your pickleball bag.
The best part is that it comes in a v-neck option as well if you don’t want to deal with the three-quarter sleeves.
Price: $$
Specifications:
- Material: 50% cotton, 50% polyester
- Machine washable: Yes
- Colors: 5
B. Threadrock “I Can’t, I Have Pickleball”
Don’t pretend you haven’t said it… Every pickleball player has turned down other plans because they have to hit the pickleball courts. It’s more important than most things in life, right?!
Now people don’t even have to ask if you want to do something else. The racerback tanktop is a perfect gift for that woman in your life who never has time for anything but pickleball. Pair it with a visor to stay stylish on the court.
Price: $$
Specifications:
- Material: 57% cotton, 38% polyester, 5% spandex
- Machine washable: Yes
- Colors: 10
C. Pickleball Xtra “#Sorry Not Sorry”
Don’t ever apologize for that perfect volley. This simple v-neck pickleball t-shirt comes in several different colors and is designed by an actual pickleball player: Tory Brock and her company Pickleball Xtra.
The basic v-neck t-shirt isn’t going to be for everyone – there’s also a dri-fit option if you’re more into a performance look.
Price: $$
Specifications:
- Material: 100% polyester
- Machine washable: Yes
- Colors: 14
D. Pickleball Xtra Emojis
Tennis ball + ping pong paddle + badminton racket = smiling pickleball. Can’t get much simpler than that, with this clever performance shirt from this trending Pickleball Xtra. Now when people ask you what pickleball is, you can just tap your chest and nod knowingly. So, get this pickleball paddle tshirt now.
Price: $$
Specifications:
- Material: 100% polyester
- Machine washable: Yes
- Colors: 13
Best Athletic Pickleball Shirts for Women
Okay, we get it. Sometimes you’re not looking for a laugh but an actual piece of performance apparel.
While you could just throw on any old top and jump on the court, it’s important to get pickleball clothing that won’t hinder your movement, keeps you dry, and will still cause your opponent to run in fear as soon as you approach.
Here are our top choices for the serious player.
A. Best Overall: Selkirk Regal Series Tank Top
This sleeveless play pickleball t-shirt is a blend of performance and style, which make it easy to hit the court with confidence, whether you’re just out at the local courts or jumping into a USAPA event. The racerback tank won’t restrict your movement at all. It lets you stay cool even during the most intense rallies. Every pickleball lover will surely love this comfy tee.
Price: $$$
Specifications:
- Material: 95% polyester, 5% spandex
- Machine washable: Yes
- Colors: 2
B. Best Shortsleeve: PKB
You don’t need anything special, you just need a dedicated pickleball t-shirt. That’s where the PKB cotton blend comes in at a low price, in various colors. You can get the same logo in several styles. But there’s nothing quite like that classic tee. No frills – no losses.
Remember that this performance t-shirt is cotton, meaning it won’t wick away sweat quite as well as a performance fabric. But if you’re indoors or not dealing with the heat, just throw on a PKB shirt and go to town!
Price: $
Specifications:
- Material: 60% cotton, 40% polyester
- Machine washable: Yes
- Colors: 9
C. Best Long Sleeve: Dinkers & Bangers United
Looking for something a little more substantial? Check out the long sleeve Dinkers & Bangers United dri-fit shirt. It’s a great warm-up option or even full games in poor conditions.
You’ll look like a country club member as you stride to the court, ready to demolish your opponent from start to finish.
If you don’t like the color, the same shirt is also available in atomic blue and lime, though our personal preference still goes to the clean, crisp, white outfit. This is great and comfortable for all types of pickleball serves, including soft serve and even power serve.
Price: $$$
Specifications:
- Material: 100% polyester
- Machine washable: Yes
- Colors: 3
D. Most Stylish: Selkirk Electrify V-Neck
For many people, pickleball apparel is not about the “country club look” – it’s about making an impression. That’s where the psychedelic colors of Selkirk’s Electrify style are, making sure all eyes are on you.
This shirt provides outstanding performance with the poly/spandex blend. And it absorbs sweat to keep you dry, which makes it a great choice. So you get the best of both worlds! Plus it’s backed by a top pickleball brand in Selkirk, so you know you can trust the product and customer service.
Price: $$$
Specifications:
- Material: 95% polyester, 5% spandex
- Machine washable: Yes
- Colors: 2
Best Pickleball Shirts for Men
He doesn’t need another tie for Father's Day. Why not give him a pickleball shirt instead? Whether you’re looking for the funniest top available or something that really can help your game thrive on the court, there are plenty of pickleball shirts available.
Let’s dive into the best pickleball shirts for men.
Best Funny Pickleball Shirts for Men
If your game isn’t very polished, make sure you can at least bring some laughs to the court. A good joke is as important as a good serve. That’s what we always say. Here are some of the funny pickleball shirts available for men.
A. ChalkTalk “Kind of a Big Dill”
I don’t know how to put this, but I’m kind of a big dill. People know me.
If you’re a fan of retro fashion, pickleball, and Anchorman – and who isn’t – this is the perfect tee for your next game. This unisex pickleball design shirt comes in adult and youth sizes – so it can be a great gift for basically anyone. Even if their apartment smells of rich mahogany…
Price: $$
Specifications:
- Material: 60% cotton, 40% polyester
- Machine washable: Yes
- Colors: 9
B. Life is Good “Pickleball Wizard”
Ever since I was a young boy, I’ve played pickleball. From Soho down to Brighton, I must have played ‘em all. No fans of The Who in here? Well, hopefully, someone will get the reference when you wear this paddleball shirt to the court.
Even if they don’t, this mens pickleball player t-shirt looks great and could even just be worn around town until someone starts singing along with you.
Price: $$
Specifications:
- Material: 100% cotton
- Machine washable: Yes
- Colors: 1
C. Martini Shirt
We’re all daily dinkers when it comes to pickleball. This classic design available on PickleballCentral features a ball in a martini glass and is certainly a conversation starter.
This funny t-shirt comes in all different styles, including hoodies for the player who wants to represent his hobbies even in the colder months.
Price: $
Specifications:
- Material: 60% cotton, 40% polyester
- Machine washable: Yes
- Colors: 8
D. Viking “Dink Again”
What do Vikings and pickleball have in common? This shirt, apparently!
Do you want something intimidating, designer, comfortable, AND most importantly, a vintage pickleball shirt? This graphic long-sleeve t-shirt shows a Viking splitting a pickleball in half. It's available in all sorts of styles and colors.
We suggest going with “safety yellow” in the long sleeve style – but you do you. No judgement here, especially if you’re putting a Viking on your chest. Just dink it again.
Price: $$
Specifications:
- Material: 100% polyester
- Machine washable: Yes
- Colors: 8
Best Athletic Pickleball Shirts for Men
If wearing a Viking shirt to competition isn’t your style, there are also plenty of great performance fits for men.
A. Best Overall: Selkirk Regal Series Polo
The Regal Series gets some love with its polo version, a great option for the serious men’s player. The patented Stretch-Wik fabric from Selkirk will keep you dry, cool, and stylish all at the same time.
The white version would probably be allowed at Wimbledon. It looks so nice.
Price: $$$$
Specifications:
- Material: 95% polyester, 5% spandex
- Machine washable: Yes
- Colors: 2
B. Best Shortsleeve: Dinkers & Bangers United
Just like the women’s long sleeve shirt, the Dinkers & Bangers men’s tee is a great performance option that also looks excellent. The logo on this crew neck tee is clean, the fit tight, and it will have you smashing serves back right away.
Best part? It’s often on sale on Amazon, so you can get it even cheaper than you think. It’s also great to represent your pickleball team.
Price: $$$
Specifications:
- Material: 100% polyester
- Machine washable: Yes
- Colors: 1
C. Best Long Sleeve: Pickleball USA
Want to show off your patriotism while tearing up the court? The long sleeve quarter-zip option of this flag-inspired design is a great option for outdoor play, as it also provides sun protection and anti-microbial fabric.
The raglan design looks great in any color combination and can be used either as a warm-up or during play. So, this also makes an excellent pickleball player gift.
Price: $$$
Specifications:
- Material: 100% polyester
- Machine washable: Yes
- Colors: 5
How to Choose the Best Shirts for Pickleball
Even if you don’t go with one of these options, we want to help you understand how to pick the best shirt for your needs.
It’s just a shirt, right? Wrong! For any sport, you don’t want to put yourself at a disadvantage with attire that drops your performance. Let’s look at some of the things to watch out for.
So, before you fall for catchy t-shirt captions like the ones featured in the above-listed products, or other captions like dinking problem, playing pickleball improves memory, etc.
Instead, look at some of the things to watch out for.
Materials
Three basic materials will make up almost any pickleball shirt on the market:
- Cotton: This is the oldest, most common pickleball shirt material. It’s good at absorbing sweat. The downside is that cotton can get heavy and wrinkles easily.
- Polyester: Polyester is a synthetic fiber that doesn’t absorb moisture as well as cotton. But it does wick it away from the skin so you stay cooler. It also doesn’t wrinkle as easily as cotton.
- Performance fabric: This is a newer type of fabric that has been specifically designed for athletes. It absorbs sweat quickly, dries fast, and prevents odor build-up – all while being lightweight and breathable. Spandex (also known as Elastane) is one of the most common kinds.
If you’re looking for the best performance, go with a shirt made with performance fabric. If you’re looking for something comfortable and durable that will also wick away sweat, go with a polyester shirt. And if you’re looking for a classic cotton shirt, make sure it’s not too heavy or you'll quickly be drenched in sweat.
Durability
You don't want to buy a new shirt for every match. So look for something that is durable and will hold up to plenty of wear and tear. There are a few simple things to check:
- Seams: Are the seams double-stitched for extra strength?
- Fabric: Is the fabric tough enough to resist tears and abrasions?
- Logos and graphics: Are they screen-printed or applied with a heat transfer? Screen prints are more durable than heat transfers.
If you're looking for a shirt that will last, go with something that has strong seams, is made from durable fabric, and has screen-printed logos and graphics.
Dri-fit
This is one of the most important factors for any sport. A good dri-fit shirt will help to wick sweat away from your body so you stay cooler and drier.
This is essential for pickleball. You don’t want to be weighed down by sweat or clothes that are sticking to your skin. You can easily tell by the name – just look for the word “dri-fit” or “wicking” on the label.
Color
Sure, it can be about style, but remember that certain colors can also affect your performance. Dark colors absorb more heat than light colors. So, if you’re going to play in direct sunlight or during the summer, it might be a good idea to choose a light-colored shirt. You may also go for the tie dye option.
Style
This is more about comfort than anything else. But you're going to notice the difference between a tank top and a long sleeve immediately. The tank top is going to be cooler and more comfortable in the summer, while the long sleeve will keep you a little bit warmer on those colder or windy days. Most professionals wear short sleeves, but you can choose whatever you feel most comfortable in.
Warmth
Remember that pickleball is a sport that can be played year-round. So you’ll want to make sure you choose a shirt that will keep you warm in the winter and cool in the summer. Look for pickleball t-shirts made of materials like cotton or polyester that will help to regulate your body temperature.
You can also get a combination of warm-up and in-game attire to help you stay comfortable in all weather conditions. Some tips for picking the best pickleball shirts for winter are:
- Choose a shirt with a high collar to keep your neck warm.
- Look for shirts made of thermal materials that will help to trap heat against your skin.
- Pick a darker color like navy or black to help keep you warmer in the cold weather.
Be sure of these factors before you leave the checkout point. After all, perfect clothing is one of the key factors for a perfect game.
Bottom Line
We hope you enjoyed our list of the 15 best pickleball shirts. Whether you're a beginner or an experienced player of the pickleball game, we know you'll find something to love in this roundup.
Be sure to check out all of the different colors and sizes available – we're sure you'll find the perfect one for your next game!
What are you wearing to your next match? A graphic pickleball tee, or a polished quarter-zip? Leave a comment below on what you’ll be donning next time you dink.
