The number of pickleball players has reached a new record. However, the number of pickleball-related injuries is also on the rise. Some sources estimate that there were between 100,000 and 150,000 pickleball-related injuries in 2023. It's never too late to save in the long run by investing in protective gear that makes you less susceptible to injuries.
- Footwear: If you have to choose only one piece of gear to get, opt for a pair of court shoes. These will be the most valuable and provide the most bang for your buck. "Most pickleball injuries are in the lower extremities, like ankle sprains and Achilles injuries..." A good pair of court shoes will help you maneuver swiftly and maintain stability on the pickleball court. When looking for pickleball shoes, look for ample lateral support and DO NOT wear running shoes. Tennis shoes and badminton shoes are generally the way to go. There are more and more pickleball-specific shoes coming out now, so keep an eye on that. Just remember, these shoes are consumables and don't last forever. Don't wait too long to get a pair; just put on a decent pair, and you can always upgrade later.
- Sun protection: Pickleball is primarily an outdoor sport. Having ample protection from the sun is crucial. Those rays don't just give you a tan; they might also give you CANCER! The most effective way to protect yourself from the sun is by wearing something that covers the parts of your body that are exposed. Sunscreens don't last long, have less protection effectiveness, and their effectiveness varies depending on how you apply them. However, wearing something like a sun-protection sleeve will cover the majority of the exposed areas. Don't believe me? Just look at Ben Johns' outfit; he's always wearing a sleeve.
- Joint protection: "My elbow hurts." "You might have tennis elbow." If you've played enough at the court, you've definitely overheard or been part of these types of conversations. Tennis elbow is really common among our older picklers. Tennis elbow is usually caused by incorrect driving techniques and less stabilizing muscle around the elbow. Although wearing an elbow brace won't fix your technique, it will increase the stability of your elbow, making it less susceptible to injury. The same idea applies to other joints in your body, namely knees.
- Eye protection: One of the common misconceptions about pickleball is that the ball travels so slowly that it doesn't require much skill to play. While the pickleball does travel relatively slowly (still might go up to 40-50 mph) compared to tennis or badminton, pickleball is played much closer to the net. The typical reaction time for a speed-up at the kitchen line is around 1/4 of a second. That is nowhere near slow, so the last thing you want is to have a ball traveling 40-50 mph hit you in the eye. So have some eye protection ready with you in case the game just gets REAL!
- Other protection: There are so many things that can go wrong on the court, but that's true for any other sport. We still love it because it's fun! Check out our collections of accessories like gloves, kinesiology tape, etc. One day, these things will come in handy, and you'll regret not getting them earlier.
Until next time, have fun and stay safe, picklers!
