The Benefits of Wearing a Pickleball Glove

Since the birth of sport, humans have continually created ways to improve our skill, comfortability, and overall style by wearing protective gear or cosmetics while in action. Whether it’s a knee brace, headband, glasses, body paint, and so many more, there is always a need for accessories when discussing a player’s performance and style.

Sometimes the paradox of choice makes us regret our decisions regarding the products we buy. When deciding between pickleball accessories and gear, you must think about: Paddles, gloves, shoes, bags, hats, skirts, balls, socks, shirts, jewelry, etc. Obviously the average pickleball player wouldn’t need all these things, but deciding which is more important is tough.

A pickleball glove ticks both boxes when discussing a boost in player performance and style. Let’s jump right into the main talking points on why wearing a glove while playing may benefit your game:

Improved Grip – Are you ever in the middle of a competitive, intense session of pickleball and your hands begin to sweat, creating a shaky, less stable grip on your paddle? Well with a glove, you can maintain your grip on the paddle and have more control over your shots. Consistency is key in any sport, so when you can keep a stable grip on the paddle at all times no matter the conditions, your game is going to improve exponentially.

Range of Motion – With some people, they think the key to getting better at pickleball is buying the most expensive paddle, but if you’re not improving your shot-making or technique, then your game is not going to improve. While wearing a glove, you can practice your skills with a consistent, no-slip grip. Whether it’s a tournament, drills, lessons, or just casual play, being consistent with the glove will help you get that muscles memory that you’re looking for.

Weather Adaptability – If you’ve played pickleball in all conditions, you know the cons of playing in the scorching heat or the freezing cold. With a glove on, there are benefits in both climates. In the heat, your hands get very sweaty, and a glove will prevent that sweat from seeping through to your paddle. In the cold, a glove can provide more warmth and keep those muscles in your hand as flexible as they can be. Some companies even offer cold weather gloves that often provide additional layers to protect your hands from low temperatures that would otherwise damage your skin. Whether you’re playing indoor or outdoor, there are benefits to rocking a glove.

Reduces Hand & Wrist Fatigue – After hours of play, your hand, wrist, and forearm may become overworked, leading to sore muscles, joints, and annoying tendonitis. While wearing a glove, your need to squeeze the paddle so tightly will be reduced, creating more support that helps aid circulatory blood flow, further reducing stress and tension from your hand and wrist.

Look Good, Play Good – As sports fans, we always see the cosmetics and accessories of professional players and sometimes wonder why they wear that stuff and what the point of it all is if you’re trying to win games at the highest level. Well, often times it’s because they want to look good and stylish while they play. You may laugh, but this boost of confidence and swagger players get from wearing outlandish accessories and items on the court/field can actually help them perform better. Wearing a glove on the pickleball court is no different when discussing this phenomenon.

While there are several perks, there is also an argument why wearing a glove can cause issues on the court as well. Some players may depend solely on a glove to improve their game, so their skill is hindered when they forget the glove or play without it. And while most gloves will wick away sweat, players may still experience excessive sweating and heat in their glove hand in warmer conditions.

Also, many pickleball players (especially professionals) come from a background in tennis where it’s relatively rare to wear a glove, so these players often prefer to play without a glove to maximize their performance, making for a high percentage of the PPA Tour (The Pro Tour of Pickleball) gloveless.

Ultimately though, wearing a glove comes down to personal preference. When comparing the pros and cons, there aren’t many things that suggest wearing a glove may be detrimental to your performance or style. 

Gloves have recently become one of the leading pieces of gear in the pickleball world. The combo of improving your grip while also protecting your hands is one that has provided value for players all around the world. While wearing a glove may not be for everyone, there are some proven benefits and ways that it can improve your game, whether you play casually or professionally!