With the sheer amount of pickleball content popping up on social media, it’s hard not to notice how much the sport has grown in popularity. From the lifestyle to the courts to the outfits, pickleball has become as much about aesthetics as it is about the activity, and, to some, even more than that. Like many racquet and club sports before its boom in popularity, fashion has made a rather prominent place for itself in the lives of those who engage regularly in the sport.
Even just scrolling through TikTok or Instagram will put pickleball on your radar (whether you want it to or not). Sometimes it seems like there’s more content about the outfits than the actual sport itself. Because of this, players aren’t just looking for performance; they’re also taking inspiration from what’s trending online.
From stylish tennis skirts to adorable yet functional sneakers, pickleball fashion has become part of the game’s appeal. But beyond curated reels and carefully styled looks, what do people actually wear when they’re out playing? At first glance, there is no single “uniform” that defines pickleball players.
On the court, outfits range from the priciest and trendiest activewear to casual, everyday clothes, or sometimes even an old high school PE T-shirt! This mix is what sets the sport apart. Unlike more established sports of the same nature, say, golf or tennis, there is almost an expectation of what you should be wearing to play.
But pickleball feels a lot more lax, allowing players to show up in what works for them. Just to get some insight on what else people are wearing out on the court, I reached out to a few pickleball players to get their recommendations. Justin Maloto has been playing for 8 months and highly recommends a practical, Nike Dri-Fit top.
He mentioned that to him, comfort and price matter a lot. So when I asked about why he liked Nike, he said that it felt like a good investment. LAZMALL.
Nike Dri-FIT Men’s Legend Sleeveless Fitness T-Shirt in Black. Vian Patricio says that, to her, performance and style go hand in hand. She prefers to shop from lesser-known online brands on TikTok or Shopee, saying she would rather have multiple skirts from Shopee over one costly skirt from a large brand.
She enjoys mixing and matching her clothes and says that affordable clothing makes that more achievable. Amienz Arago, who has been playing pickleball for about 4 years, seemed to agree with the sentiment of comfort and price being the biggest factors for him. He prefers to shop in person and browse by material over brands, but finds himself frequenting a lot of adidas products.
He says that beginners should look for good, low-to mid-priced shoes to start with. The adidas Gamecourt 2 tennis shoes are a good place to start looking. ADIDAS ON LAZMALL. adidas Gamecourt 2 m Unisex /Women’s Tennis Shoes.
Matt Catajay states that price point is what matters the most to him and states that it is best to use what you have, and that while he mainly reps Nike, it’s just because it’s what he already has. He also stresses the importance of a good shoe, especially since he states that he has flat feet. The Mizuno Wave Enforce Tour 2’s are a good pick for their wide base and their ability to be both flexible and stable.
LAZMALL. Mizuno Wave Enforce Tour 2. A lot of the outfits you’ll find other people wearing often resemble what you’d see in tennis or badminton, with brands like adidas, offering the same pieces that are originally advertised for other sports, such as tennis, as pickleball wear.
UNIQLO offers the same pieces that are shown as just general “activewear”, while pushing out advertisements of said clothing being used in a pickleball setting. However, not everyone is dressed for an Instagram fit check, and not everyone needs to be. For many, pickleball is something you can drop into with whatever comfy clothes you have.
This flexibility makes the sport accessible while maintaining its racquet sport reputation. However you decide to dress up, know that the court is open and waiting for you to play. In the end, what matters is that you are comfortable in what you wear and that it serves its purpose in meeting your priorities.
Whether those priorities are expressing your inner pickleball princess on the court, or even just getting up and out the door to play. – Rappler.com This piece was written by BrandRap intern Maya K. Valdez. A creative at heart, Maya has a soft spot for graphic design and all things artsy, always finding ways to turn ideas into something visually appealing.
Currently taking up a degree in Communication at Ateneo de Manila University, she brings a fresh, playful perspective to every project she works on. This post contains affiliate links. We earn a small commission every time you book through the links.