What to wear for pickleball when it is 95 degrees out

Pickleball is the fastest-growing sport for people over fifty, and in Texas it is played in weather that would cancel a marathon. Here is what our crew wears when the court reads ninety-five degrees, and why. Training experience, not medical advice: heat illness is real, so hydrate, play early, and stop if you feel dizzy or stop sweating.

Fabric weight decides the afternoon

The heaviest thing you can wear on a hot court is a wet cotton shirt. Cotton holds sweat, gets heavier, and stops cooling you. A light polyester or poly-blend performance fabric pulls sweat to the surface where it evaporates, which is the whole point of sweating. Four ounces per square yard is about right: light enough to dry between points, substantial enough not to go see-through.

Sleeves, and why we keep them

A short sleeve shades the top of the shoulder, which is where most pickleball players burn. It also keeps the fabric off the skin at the armpit so air moves. Tanks are for the gym. On a court in direct sun for ninety minutes, a light sleeved tee with a UPF rating is cooler over the session, not warmer, because you are not cooking.

The checklist

• Tee: moisture-wicking, UPF 40 or higher, light colour if you play at noon. Our Performance Tee in white is a four-ounce crew with UPF 44+ and odor control.
• Shorts: quick-dry, mesh pockets so the phone and keys do not sit in a sweat pouch, a drawstring so they stay put on the lunge. The Athletic Short is that short.
• Hat: a fitted cap with a real brim. Visors leave the scalp to the sun.
• Socks and shoes: court shoes, not running shoes. Running shoes are built to go forward, not sideways, and the sideways step is where ankles go.
• Water and salt: a bottle per hour, and something with electrolytes if you play past ninety minutes.

Play early, play smart

Seven in the morning is a different sport from two in the afternoon. If you can only play in the heat, shorten the sessions, rotate off between games, and keep a towel in the shade. The over-fifty players who are still on court in August are the ones who respect the thermometer.

Where the gear comes from

Every piece in the Core 01 line is made to order in the USA and cut for men and women over fifty who still play. If you want the story behind the mark on the chest, it lives on the Greybeard Club page. Still in.