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. The CRBN pair works best for me because the photochromic lens adjusts from clear to dark depending on sunlight, so I don't have to switch glasses.
Still, just like with the top pickleball paddles, there are good alternatives depending on your budget and needs. I've included a pair from Tifosi below, with nods to a few more glasses that are also great for the right player. If you wear prescription lenses, there's a section on that too. 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. It darkens in the sun and turns clear in the shade or indoors.
You want customizable glasses:
I like how easily you can change the lenses and remove the frame for an edgeless design. CRBN also includes a prescription lens insert that sits behind the lenses, though I haven't tested it.
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 Tifosi Rivet lists a clear lens option and costs less if you just want a pair for indoor and low-light play.
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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 even lower:
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 $189 to $229 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 lenses (clear, smoke, and blue tint) that you can swap out. The elastic strap is an added bonus to keep them in place when you play. ONIX doesn't list a prescription option for these.
- RIA Court HD+ – upgrade sunglasses
- If you want a premium pair of sunglasses for the court, Pickleheads' co-founder Brandon Mackie recommends these. Court HD+ frames run $189 to $229. They look great, they have 100% UV400 protection, and you can get prescription lenses custom-made (more on that below).
- 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.
Prescription pickleball glasses and over-glasses
If you wear glasses to see, you can still protect your eyes on court. You just have a few more decisions to make. I haven't tested any of the prescription or over-glasses options below, so read this as a guide to what's out there, not a set of picks.
The first question is simple. Do you want your prescription built into the protective glasses, or do you want protective glasses that go over your regular pair? Both can work. Which one suits you depends on your prescription and your budget.
Sport glasses made in your prescription
Tifosi Rivet Rx. Tifosi makes a prescription version of the Rivet. It starts at $189.95, and you enter your prescription at checkout. Tifosi says to allow about three weeks for the lenses, and its blog lists a range of +2.00 to -3.00 for the Rivet. If your prescription falls outside that, you'll need a different frame.
RIA Court HD+. RIA also makes its Court HD+ frames in prescription. Its prescription page lists single vision lenses at $319 to $399, and ranges vary by frame. The Forte and Nova go from +3.00 to -5.00, while wrap styles like the Versa and Vantage are limited to ±2.00. RIA says custom lenses take 15 to 30 business days, and a refund (rather than store credit) comes with a $95 processing fee. That's worth knowing before you order.
CRBN Pivot insert. CRBN lists a prescription lens insert in the Pivot kit, along with three lenses (photochromic, orange mirrored, and amber). It installs behind the lenses. The Pivots are the pair I wear, but I haven't used the insert, so I can't tell you how it feels on court. I'd check with CRBN how your prescription lenses get made for it before you buy.
Glasses that fit over your regular pair
The other route is protective glasses made to sit over regular glasses. These generally cost less than a custom prescription pair, and you keep the glasses you already own. The trade-off I'd watch for is bulk. Two layers of lenses can mean more fogging and more weight on your nose.
I'm not naming a specific pair, because I haven't tested one on court and I only want to point you to gear I can stand behind. If you shop for them, here's what I'd check:
- An impact rating. Look for ANSI Z87.1 on the product page, like CRBN lists for the Pivots.
- How they sit over your frames. They shouldn't press your regular glasses into your face or slide down your nose when you move.
- Fog resistance and grip. Vents, a strap, or grippy arms help when you sweat.
- The right lens. A clear lens suits indoor play, and a tinted or polarized lens suits bright sun. The lens types below apply here too.
If you wear contacts, any of the non-prescription pairs above will work. Regular glasses and sunglasses aren't built to take a pickleball hit, so I wouldn't rely on them. Not sure which route fits your prescription? Your eye doctor or optician is the right person to ask.
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, nearly 30,000 sports-related eye injuries are treated in US emergency rooms every year. Some studies show that 90% of serious eye injuries 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 pair of pickleball shoes, 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. The one exception is the prescription section, where I haven't tested the options.
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 darken in bright sun and lighten when you move to low light or indoors.
- 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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