The Complete Guide to What to Wear for Pickleball | A Coach Explains How to Choose Apparel, from Your First Day to Tournaments

"What should I wear to tomorrow's experience session?" When people start playing pickleball, the first thing many of them wonder about is what to wear.

I'm Coach Yoshi. To give you the bottom line first, your everyday workout clothes are perfectly fine for pickleball. It's very rare that you can't join in without dedicated pickleball apparel.

That said, there are three conditions you'll want to meet. If you miss them, "too hot," "slipping" and "hard to move in" can all pile up on your very first day, and you won't be able to focus on playing.

The Bottom Line | What You Wear for Pickleball Only Needs to Meet These 3 Conditions

1. It absorbs sweat and dries quickly (moisture-wicking and quick-drying) Pickleball makes you sweat a lot, despite how gentle it looks. Even though the court is small, you keep repeating short lunges, changes of direction and low ready positions throughout the game.

2. It doesn't restrict your movement Changing direction sideways, crouching down and raising your arms overhead: when you choose clothes, actually try these three movements.

3. Your footwear, at least, should be made for court sports This is the one exception to "everyday workout clothes are fine." Running shoes don't handle side-to-side movement well, which makes it easier to twist an ankle.

As long as you meet these three conditions, my view is that it doesn't matter whether your clothes are from UNIQLO or Workman, or a tracksuit you've had for 10 years. Brands and looks can wait until you find you want to keep playing.

In this article, I'll cover everything from your first-day outfit to how to choose clothes as you keep playing and what to watch out for when you enter tournaments. I've covered gear in general in Pickleball Accessories Complete Guide and footwear in How to Choose Pickleball Shoes, so here I'll focus on the apparel you wear.

💡 Coach Yoshi's Tip If you're coming from tennis, your tennis apparel is the best choice, just as it is. The movements the two sports demand, like changing direction sideways and staying in a low ready position, are very similar. There's no need to buy new clothes just for pickleball. The one thing I'd like you to check is whether a pickleball fits in your pockets. It's bigger than a tennis ball, so it sometimes won't fit all the way into pockets made for tennis.

Fabric | Why Cotton T-Shirts Aren't a Good Fit

A common first-day mistake is showing up in a 100% cotton T-shirt.

Cotton feels nice against the skin and is comfortable to wear, but once it absorbs sweat, it takes a long time to dry. That leads to three problems.

1. It gets heavy. A cotton shirt soaked with sweat clings heavily to your body
2. It makes you cold. Even indoors, a wet shirt draws heat from your body during breaks. In a gym in winter, your body cools down especially easily
3. It chafes. Wet fabric creates more friction, which can make your underarms and the area around your neck sore

What to choose instead is a polyester-based moisture-wicking, quick-drying fabric. Fabrics from sports brands with names like "dry" or "cool" are usually this type. They're designed to move sweat to the outside of the fabric so it evaporates, so they stay light even when you sweat. These days, there are plenty of affordable options, too.

For outdoors in summer, a thin long-sleeve shirt is another option. Because it blocks direct sunlight, it can feel cooler than short sleeves. But it only works when three things come together: a loose fit, a thin and breathable fabric, and being outdoors in direct sunlight. A thick long-sleeve shirt that clings to your body keeps sweat from evaporating and backfires. Also, this is strictly protection from the sun, not a measure against the heat itself. Wearing long sleeves doesn't mean you'll be fine in the middle of summer, so be careful.

Tops | A T-Shirt Is Fine, but Watch the Length and the Fit Under the Arms

A T-shirt or a polo shirt is fine. There's almost no difference in terms of play, so choose whichever you like.

With that in mind, there are two things to look at.

It's better if the shirt isn't too long. Pickleball is a sport where you spend a lot of time in a low ready position at the net. A long shirt can bunch up at the front when you crouch and get in the way.

Around the underarms, choose something that doesn't restrict your arm movement. You raise your arms high for smashes and to handle lobs that go over your head, so clothes that are tight under the arms become a source of stress. When you try something on, raise both arms over your head, and it's safest to avoid anything where the hem rides up a lot.

Sleeveless tops (tank tops) are the best for freedom of movement. Outdoors, though, sunburn becomes a concern. Note that the official rules say nothing about sleeves, but facilities and tournaments sometimes set their own dress codes, so at a venue that's new to you, it's reassuring to check the usage guide or the tournament guidelines once.

Bottoms | Choose Them by Whether the Pockets Fit a Ball

For bottoms, anything goes as long as you can move easily: shorts, track pants, skorts (skirt-style) and so on.

That said, what you'll start to care about as you keep playing is pockets.

In pickleball, some people play with a spare ball in their pocket. Even if the ball rolls far away at the end of a rally, having a spare on hand means they can move on to the next serve without going to pick it up. In that situation, whether you have a pocket that fits a ball makes quite a difference in the flow of the game.

A pickleball is about 7.3 to 7.5 cm in diameter. Not only is it a size larger than a typical tennis ball (about 6.5 to 6.9 cm), but it's also made of hard plastic that doesn't squash when you squeeze it. You can't push it in to make it fit the way you can with a tennis ball. So it won't fit in a shallow phone pocket, and even with tennis shorts, if the pockets are on the shallow side, it can fall out during a rally. When you're buying new bottoms, the surest way is to actually put a ball in the pocket at the store.

In tournaments, this falling out is covered by the rules. In self-officiated tournaments with no referee, the rule is that a spare ball must be carried so the opponent can't see it, and if it's visible or falls during a rally, it's a fault (Rule 24.B). In everyday games, things aren't that strict, but stepping on a ball rolling at your feet is a recipe for a sprained ankle.

For skorts, the standard type has inner shorts with ball pockets sewn in underneath. They give you both freedom of movement and storage.

💡 Coach Yoshi's Tip Even if your clothes don't have pockets, there's nothing to worry about: you can simply play without a spare ball. The next time you buy bottoms, try adding whether a ball fits to your criteria. That alone makes things run much more smoothly between rallies.

Footwear Is the One Place Not to Compromise

When it comes to what to wear, shoes are the only thing I can't say "what you already have is fine" about.

In pickleball, you don't run long distances, but the sport involves a great many side-to-side changes of direction and sudden stops. Running shoes are designed for moving forward, so they can't fully support these lateral forces. That makes ankle sprains more likely.

Since this is about injuries, I'll be direct. Any T-shirt will do, but please change your shoes. Tennis shoes, badminton shoes, volleyball shoes: as long as they're made for court sports, they don't have to be pickleball-specific.

If you're playing in a gym, many facilities require non-marking soles (soles that don't leave black marks on the floor). This is more a facility rule than a clothing matter, so check in advance. I go into more detail in How to Choose Pickleball Shoes.

By Season | Gear That Keeps You Comfortable Outdoors in Japan

Summer

• Moisture-wicking, quick-drying fabric is a must. On top of that, a hat with a brim helps. It does double duty, protecting you from the sun and keeping sweat out of your eyes. A cap or a visor is fine (we also carry a moisture-wicking visor)
• One change of clothes. If you head home still wet with sweat, you'll get chilled in the car or on the train
• One thing to cool you down. Rather than trying to stay cool through your clothes, directly cooling your neck and palms works better. Bring an ice pack, a chilled towel or a drink with ice in it

In the Japan Sport Association's heatstroke prevention guidebook (6th edition), too, one of its 5 rules for prevention was changed from a call to dress lightly and stay fresh to one urging you to cool your body from the outside and the inside. In other words, there's a limit to what your clothing can do against the heat. A WBGT (wet-bulb globe temperature) of 31°C or higher is the level at which the association's exercise guidelines for heatstroke prevention say exercise should, as a rule, be stopped. Rather than trying to tough it out with what you wear, make the call to skip playing. I've also put together what each WBGT level means for play, and how to handle the heat outdoors, in Pickleball in the Wind.

Winter

Layer up, planning to take things off. Once you get moving in pickleball, your body warms up quickly, so three thin layers are easier to adjust than one thick one.

• Inner layer: A moisture-wicking, quick-drying base layer (don't wear cotton here)
• Middle layer: A long-sleeve shirt or fleece
• Outer layer: A windbreaker (close to essential outdoors on windy days)

Keep your layers on while warming up, and take them off once your body is warm. Starting to play with cold muscles makes injuries more likely, so the key is not to rush to take things off. For more, see Injury Prevention and Warm-Ups.

The Rainy Season and After Rain

During the rainy season, humidity makes it hard for sweat to dry, so bringing extra changes of clothes keeps you comfortable. If you're playing outdoors after rain, check how worn your shoe soles are, too. Worn-down soles quickly become slippery on a wet court. In the "Court Surface Conditions" section of Pickleball in the Wind, I explain how to check whether the court is slippery before you play.

What Changes Between Indoors and Outdoors

I've covered shoe soles (non-marking indoors, abrasion-resistant outdoors) in How to Choose Pickleball Shoes, and gear like bags and towels in Pickleball Accessories Complete Guide. For the playing environment in gyms in general, see The Complete Guide to Indoor Pickleball.

Clothing Etiquette at Experience Sessions and Tournaments

At experience sessions and beginner classes, there's almost nothing to worry about when it comes to clothing. Clothes you can move in and court shoes are all you need. You don't need to buy a whole new outfit before you go, so feel free to just show up. I've summarized how to find experience sessions in How to Find Experience Sessions and Beginner Classes, and Etiquette.

If you're entering a tournament, things change a little. USA Pickleball's official rulebook (2026 edition) has a section on tournament apparel (Rule 18.B Apparel), and in practice, there are two things to keep in mind.

The first is clothing close to the color of the ball. The tournament may ask you to change (Rule 18.B.3). The ball used is decided by each tournament, but yellow and yellow-green balls are common, so it's safest to avoid shirts in similar colors.

The second is your soles. They must not leave marks on or damage the court surface (Rule 18.B.2). It's the same idea as a gym's conditions of use.

Beyond that, the rules say graphics and writing on clothing "must be in good taste" (Rule 18.B.1), and they go as far as saying that if you refuse to follow an instruction to change, your match can be forfeited (Rule 18.B.4). That said, ordinary workout clothes will almost never be a problem. In doubles, there's also a rule that the starting server must wear identification as specified by the tournament (Rule 18.C).

At tournaments in Japan, the guidelines may also include dress requirements on top of these. Either way, they're written in the guidelines, so reading them once when you sign up is enough. For the big picture of your first tournament, see How to Enter Your First Pickleball Tournament.

Summary

• There are only three conditions: moisture-wicking and quick-drying, doesn't restrict movement, and court-sport footwear
• Avoid 100% cotton T-shirts. They don't dry, they get heavy and they make you cold
• For bottoms, pockets that fit a ball make the game flow more smoothly
• In winter, layer thin pieces, planning to take them off. In summer, bring a hat, a change of clothes and something to cool down with
• Experience sessions are come as you are. At tournaments, pay attention to the guidelines and clothing close to the color of the ball

By the way, our store doesn't carry apparel such as shirts or pants. When I say the clothes you already have are fine, it's not a sales pitch. It's my honest recommendation.

If you're going to spend money on your first day, spend it on shoes, not apparel. Start with the clothes you have at home, and once you want to keep playing, get whatever you like. Shoes are the gear that protects your body from day one. As long as you've got that covered, go ahead and enjoy the game however you like.

Questions like "Are the clothes I already have okay?" or "Can I use these shoes for pickleball?" are welcome on LINE, too. I (Coach Yoshi) will answer them. You can add us as a friend through Pickleball Lab's official LINE account. You can also add us with the green "LINE Official" button at the bottom right of the screen.

Related products

Your own clothes are fine. Next, choose a paddle →

Related articles

• Pickleball Accessories Complete Guide — Bags, towels, hats and other gear besides apparel
• How to Choose Pickleball Shoes — Why running shoes aren't a good fit
• How to Start Playing Pickleball — An overview of what to prepare before your first day
• How to Find Experience Sessions and Beginner Classes, and Etiquette — What to keep in mind the first time you join
• How to Enter Your First Pickleball Tournament — How to read the tournament guidelines and how the day goes
• Injury Prevention and Warm-Ups — Common injuries and how to prepare before you play
• The Complete Guide to Indoor Pickleball — Rules and conditions for playing in a gym
• How Much Does Pickleball Really Cost? — A realistic breakdown of start-up costs
• Pickleball in the Wind: How to Adjust for Headwinds, Tailwinds, and Crosswinds, Plus Outdoor Court Tips — Preparing for wind, sun, heat and slippery court surfaces after rain
• The Complete Guide to Pickleball Balls | A Coach Explains the Difference Between Outdoor and Indoor Balls and How to Choose an Approved Ball — The size of the ball you'll carry in your pocket, and how outdoor and indoor balls differ

References

1. USA Pickleball 2026 Official Rulebook (Rule 18.B: Apparel / Rule 18.C: Starting Server Identification / Rule 24.B: Extra Ball)
2. USA Pickleball Equipment Standards Manual (2.D.3 ball diameter: 7.29 to 7.54 cm)
3. ITF Ball Approval Procedures 2025 (tennis ball diameter: 6.54 to 6.86 cm, Type 1 and Type 2)
4. Japan Sport Association — Guidelines for Exercise to Prevent Heatstroke (Japanese)
5. Japan Sport Association — On Preventing Heatstroke in Sports (material for the Sports Council's Health and Sports Subcommittee, July 2025; key revisions in the 6th edition of the guidebook) (Japanese)