Does Wearing Goggles Make You a Better Pickleball Player?

Before pickleball, I played racquetball and wearing eye guards or goggles was mandatory. Unfortunately,  you don't see many pickleball players using eye protection. But, not only can it save an eye injury but it can also improve your game. The reason for this is because you flinch less when wearing eye guards. I learned this when I spoke with Joe Frasca a few months ago. Joe was involved in studying senior professional players and looking at their reactions while wearing eye guards versus not wearing them.

Additionally, most sports goggles also prevent dirt, wind, and sweat from going into your eyes, and improve your playing experience as a whole. But when you’re deciding the kind of glasses you want to buy, there are a few things you may want to take into consideration.

Frame

The material used for the frame is usually poly carbonate. This type of frame makes the goggles much lighter while offering excellent protection from the impact of a ball or paddle. Some goggles use different materials like nylon which is still durable but a lot more flexible than poly carbonate.

Lenses

The lenses of your sports goggles need to be durable and functional at the same time. Some goggles use poly carbonate lenses that are quite durable and capable of protecting your eyes from incoming objects like a ball or paddle.

You can even find sports glasses with UVA, UVB, and UVC protection to shield your eyes from the rays of the sun. This can be especially helpful if there is glare on the court which can fatigue the eyes, and over time, be harmful to the cornea.

In addition to this, some sports glasses come with anti-fog technology that prevent the lenses from getting fogged up during your game. This ensures that your vision isn’t blurred during the game and you can play at your best.

Attachment Style

Many of the latest sports glasses come with a vented carriage that attaches the frame to another strap to the back of the head. This helps to keep the goggles steady while offering excellent breath ability and comfort to the wearer. This ‘tighter’ attachment style is helpful in preventing the glasses from falling off. 

Some glasses come with end pieces that go behind your ears, like regular glasses. This is the style I prefer as long as I'm not running into my partner!