Just as with other paddle sports such as racquetball and tennis, the decision to wear a glove during play is a personal one. There are several reasons that more and more people are choosing to wear gloves while playing pickleball. The best pickleball gloves help improve your paddle grip while providing added comfort with a bit of cushion. And for those who play for hours at a time, pickleball gloves help minimize hand fatigue.
When selecting the best pickleball gloves for you, you’ll want to consider your personal play style and needs. Gloves vary on the amount of ventilation they provide. Some are full fingered with wicking properties and some are half fingered, an open finger design that leaves fingertips exposed. They also vary in the amount of cushion they provide as well as the amount of tackiness that affects your grip on the paddle. The best pickleball gloves are made of top quality leather or synthetic with a comfortable feel and long lasting durability.
Franklin Sports Pickleball-X Performance Glove
One of the first gloves to be marketed specifically as a pickleball glove, the Pickleball-X Performance Glove from Franklin Sports is the official glove of the US Open Pickleball Championships. You may know Franklin as a leader in sports gear including baseball batting gloves worn by many MLB pros. Now they have wisely incorporated many of those key features into these top rated pickleball gloves.
Pickleball-X gloves are open fingered gloves that keep your hands cool and ventilated while allowing maximum dexterity for the finger tips. Constructed with sheepskin leather palms utilizing Pittards gripster technology, the smooth surface increases grip with the moisture of sweat, for added control and confidence in your game. The thumbs and forefingers have padding for relieving fatigue in those tender high pressure areas. Adjustable wrist straps ensure a good secure fit with even the most rigorous play.
These gloves are sold as a pair, which those with two-handed backhands will especially appreciate. And the quality and value are so good that they are extremely popular with one-handed players as well.
Sizes: Unisex X-S, S, M, L, X-L
HEAD AirFlow Tour Racquetball Glove
The AirFlow Tour Glove from HEAD features a premium palm made of Cabretta sheepskin leather, gently perforated to allow airflow ventilation for a cool and dry hand while maintaining an excellent grip and supple feel.
The back of the glove is made of a nylon lycra blend of mesh giving a subtle stretch for a no slip fit and to allow maximum ventilation. Airprene is also incorporated for increased knuckle protection and air flow.
Choose from left hand or right hand glove.
Sizes: Men’s M, L, X-L
TaylorMade Women’s Ribbon Golf Glove
It turns out that many golf gloves deliver the features you’ll want in a pickleball glove – protection from callouses while providing a more secure grip. Since many women have smaller hands that don’t find the ideal fit in men’s or unisex gloves, they choose a golf glove for women such as this TaylorMade womens golf glove.
Women’s glove sizing is designed to meet the anatomical differences in women’s hands, which typically include a less wide palm and narrower fingers.
These types of gloves are often the best pickleball gloves for women because they won’t bunch or cinch up during play. Plus, they’re made with genuine cabretta leather, that soft yet durable sheepskin that protects the palm and is perforated for staying cool and dry.
Choose from left hand or right hand glove.
Sizes: Women’s S, M, L
HEAD Web Racquetball Glove
Another offering from HEAD, their Web Racquetball Glove is designed for maximum breathability with a solid durable grip.
The specially designed silicon web palm pattern enhanced grip while protecting the hand from callouses and blisters. The palm is not made of real leather as others on this list, but is a highly durable synthetic for maximum durability at a great value.
The Cooltech microfiber coolmesh material delivers a cool and comfortable feel, even in your most extreme playing conditions. Knucklepads are integraded for added protection.
Choose from left hand or right hand glove.
Sizes: Unisex S, M, L, X-L
Choose from left hand or right hand glove.
Sizes: Unisex S, M, L, X-L
Python Deluxe Racquetball Glove for Adults and Youth
If you like a tackier palm, then take a look at this deluxe racquetball glove from Python. In addition to a perforated genuine Cabretta leather palm, you’ll find a tackified grip strip across the palm that enhanced your grip when you need it, so . you can deliver a more powerful shot.
The high elastomeric back of a nylon and spandex blend has just the right amount of stretch for a firmly controlled snug yet comfortable fit. And although you may not do too much diving in your typical pickleball match, your hand will have added protection with thin dive pads on the knuckles of the pointer and middle fingers.
Breathable and sweat resistant construction make these a good pick for indoor and outdoor play. These come in the widest range of sizes available across all of the gloves on our list, from XX-S (Junior) all the way to XX-L. Youth will appreciate that this glove is one of few that come in an extra extra small Junior size to fit growing hands.
Choose from left hand or right hand glove.
Sizes: Unisex XXS (Junior), XS, S, M, L, XL, XXL.
Many players insist that wearing a glove has upped their game. Choose any one of these best pickleball gloves for men and women to make your play the best it can be.