I never used to wear glasses on the court, until I had a near-miss injury scare when a hard ball hit my temple. Since then, I've been wearing a pair of protective glasses every time I play and I haven't looked back.
The pair I wear are the CRBN Pivot Pickleball Glasses. After testing out a bunch of others, nothing tops the CRBNs for me – though the Tifosi glasses give them real competition. In the end, the CRBN pair works best for me – they have a photochromic lens that transitions from polarized to clear depending on sunlight, so I don't have to switch glasses.
Still, there are good alternatives depending on your budget and needs. I've included pairs from Tifosi and Blinded Wear below, with nods to a couple more glasses that are also great for the right player. Let's get into it.
Best pickleball glasses at a glance
Best overall
Our Rating:
1. CRBN Pivot
Budget pick
Our Rating:
2. Tifosi Rivet
A closer look at our top picks
A good pair of pickleball glasses can protect your eyes from getting hit with a pickleball (which can lead to serious injuries). They can also shield the sun and the glare of indoor lights, and some even help you track the ball better.
Below you'll find different types of pickleball glasses. Some work for indoor courts, some for outdoors, and some can be used on both. I'll explain all the differences between them, including lens types, how protective they are, how comfortable they are, and their value for money.
If you want to learn more about how we choose the gear that we recommend, check out how we test and review products at Pickleheads. OK – let's take a look at some court glasses.
1. CRBN Pivot
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Comfort
Grip
Visibility
Durability
Buy if:
You want to enhance your vision:
both the photochromic and amber lenses heighten the contrast to make the ball stand out – it helps me track the ball more clearly both in sun and indoor lighting.
You want to play indoors and outdoors without changing lenses:
the photochromic lens automatically adapts to light – they become polarized in the sun and turn clear when you're in shade or indoors.
You want customizable glasses:
I like how easily you can change the lenses and remove the frame for an edgeless design – you can even insert your prescription glasses too.
Pass if:
You need the best grip:
the CRBN Pivots can slip a little when you're sweaty – check out the Tifosi Rivets for the best grip on your ears.
You want a cheaper pair of court glasses:
these are fairly priced for serious players, but you can find budget glasses too like the ONIX Pickleball Owl RX.
You just want a pair of glasses for indoor play:
the clear-lens Blinded Wear Mirror II glasses are great if you just want a pair of glasses for low-light and indoor conditions – they cost a little less too.
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2. Tifosi Rivet
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Comfort
Grip
Visibility
Durability
Buy if:
You sweat a lot:
I found the grip on the Tifosi glasses better than the CRBNs, so these should stay in place better when you're sweaty.
You want great visibility when you play:
I have clear visibility with no distracting frame to get in the way thanks to the frameless design.
You want great eye protection:
these are sturdy, shatter-proof glasses that will protect your eyes and face if you get hit with the ball.
Pass if:
You want a pair with transition lenses:
get the CRBN Pivots if you'd like a photochromic lens that adjusts to sunlight naturally.
Your budget is under $50:
I selected the ONIX Pickleball Owl RX as a great choice for anyone who wants a cheaper pair of pickleball glasses – I've added a little info on these beneath my top three picks.
You want a pair of premium pickleball sunglasses:
Pickleheads' co-founder Brandon Mackie is a big fan of the RIA Eyewear Court HD+ glasses – provided you have $200 to spend.
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Other pickleball glasses we've tested
- ONIX Pickleball Owl RX – A solid low cost option
- This $35 pair from one of pickleball's most popular brands comes with three UV lenses – clear, polarized, and tinted – that are easy to change out. The strap is an added bonus to keep them in place when you play.
- RIA Court HD+ – upgrade sunglasses
- If you want a premium pair of sunglasses for the court, Pickleheads' co-founder Brandon Mackie recommends these. They'll cost you a buck but they look great, they have 100% UV400 protection, and you can get prescription lenses custom-made.
- We tested the Blinded Wear Mirror II glasses and while they're well-built, grippy, and have a clear lens that works great indoors, they just didn't make our cut. They fogged up more than other pairs we've tested – especially in cool morning play – and the lenses sat so close my eyelashes touched them. Try the CRBN Pivots instead.
Do you have to wear pickleball glasses?
No. Protective eyewear is not currently mandatory in pickleball tournaments. Some other sports, like racquetball and squash, require players to wear sports goggles or glasses. It will be interesting to see if that changes in the future, but for now it's up to pickleball players to decide if they want to protect their eyes.
Why do people wear pickleball glasses?
Some people wear pickleball glasses to protect their face and eyes when they play. Because pickleball glasses are impact-resistant, they won't shatter when hit with a pickleball.
People also wear court glasses to protect their eyesight from the sun or the glare of indoor lights.
How important is eye protection in pickleball?
Protecting your eyes is becoming more important when you play. The game is speeding up and new paddles hit harder, so balls are flying faster than before. That's led to an increase in eye injuries as people get hit with the ball.
If a pickleball hits you in or around your eye you could get a scratched cornea, an orbital bone fracture, or even impair or lose your vision.
There's been more awareness around eye safety in pickleball recently, especially with highly publicized news stories where famous people have been injured playing the sport. Genie Bouchard, the former tennis star, and Hollywood actress Michelle Pfeiffer were both laid low when a pickleball hit them in the eye. It's no joke!
According to the American Academy of Ophthalmology, there are more than 30,000 sports-related eye injuries every year in the US alone. Some studies show that 90% of these could be prevented by wearing protective eyewear when you play.
How I chose the best pickleball glasses
Here at Pickleheads, we pride ourselves on our hands-on testing of everything we review, and we review a lot. Whether it's a new paddle, a pickleball machine, balls, nets, or glasses, we test everything on the court for a minimum play time of five hours, across at least two sessions.
I tested all of these glasses myself, with input from Pickleheads co-founder Brandon Mackie, too. I'm a big fan of the CRBN Pivots, while Brandon likes the RIA glasses.
When ranking the best court glasses for pickleball players, I considered their comfort, visibility, grip, durability, and factors like customizability. We know that value for money is one of the most important factors – if not the most important – for many players. Value plays a huge role in how we shape our lists, too.
How you can choose the right pickleball glasses for you
Depending on what you want glasses for – impact safety, glare protection, comfort, ball tracking, or a combination of these – here are some things to look for when picking your pair.
Impact resistance
This is a must-have feature in whatever court glasses you get, even if you choose a budget pair. If you're only getting glasses to shield your eyes from the sun, you should still make sure they are impact-resistant.
Your glasses have to be strong enough to take a hit from a pickleball without breaking or shattering. This is why it's not recommended to wear your regular glasses or sunglasses when playing – if a shard of glass or plastic gets in your eye, it can lead to a way more dangerous injury.
Indoor vs outdoor glasses
If you play exclusively on one type of court, you can buy a pair of glasses that are just for either indoor or outdoor use. Indoor glasses tend to have a clear or amber lens, while outdoor glasses will have a polarized lens. Some glasses let you swap between lenses when you need to.
I like the CRBN Pivot's photochromic lens because it adjusts naturally and quickly to the light, so I can wear the same pair indoors or outdoors without having to change lenses.
Lens types
Here is some more information on the types of lenses that typically come with pickleball glasses, to help you decide what you need:
- Clear lenses: best for clear visibility on indoor courts, or in low-light conditions outdoors. They don't offer protection in strong sunny conditions.
- Polarized lenses: these work like sunglasses – their special filter offers the best protection in strong sunlights. Not great for indoor play as the tint can affect your visibility when tracking the ball.
- Photochromic (transition) lenses: the best of both worlds – these lenses automatically change from clear to polarized when you move from low light to full sun.
- Tinted lenses: some lenses have a tint that enhances the color contrast, making the ball super visible. I love the amber-tinted lenses on my CRBN Pivots for this reason.
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