Pickleball moves fast, and sometimes the ball moves even faster, especially when it's heading straight for your face.
This week, we're talking about something most players ignore until it's too late: protecting your eyes on the court. Good vision isn't just about safety though. We're also covering ways to sharpen your reflexes and tracking so you can react faster, play sharper, and stay in the game longer.
Protect Your Vision
Why Eye Protection in Pickleball Is More Important Than You Think
A Growing (But Overlooked) Risk
Pickleball is one of the fastest-growing sports in the country, and that growth means more players, more speed, and unfortunately, more injuries. One of the most commonly overlooked risks, especially in doubles, is the threat of a direct hit to the eye.
Unlike tennis, where players are separated by a net and considerable distance, pickleball brings people much closer together. Quick volleys at the kitchen line, reflex battles, and accidental paddle swings all raise the risk of facial impacts, particularly to the eye socket. Since the ball is plastic and seems relatively harmless, many players assume there's little to worry about.
The data says otherwise.
What Can Actually Go Wrong
Ophthalmologists are reporting more and more pickleball-related eye injuries, especially among older adults. A ball or paddle to the eye can cause:
Corneal abrasions, which are extremely painful and can take days to heal
Orbital fractures, especially if the force is concentrated around the bony socket
Hyphema, or bleeding in the front of the eye
Even retinal damage, which in rare cases can threaten long-term vision
While many of these injuries heal with time, others can lead to chronic issues, including light sensitivity, blurred vision, and in some cases, permanent vision loss.
Why Most Players Don't Wear Protection
There's no rule requiring protective eyewear in recreational play, and even in competitive settings, it's rarely enforced. Most players don't even consider it unless they've already been hit. The culture simply hasn't caught up to the speed of the game yet.
Compare that to racquetball or squash, where protective goggles are standard. The risk profile in pickleball is similar, especially during fast-paced exchanges at the net, and yet many players step on the court with nothing but sunglasses, which often lack proper impact protection.
What to Look For in Eyewear
If you're going to wear eye protection, and you should, make sure it's doing its job. Look for:
ANSI-rated impact resistance, especially for polycarbonate lenses
A snug but ventilated fit, to prevent fogging without pressing into your face
Clear, non-distorting lenses, so your depth perception and tracking remain sharp
Anti-fog coatings or moisture-wicking pads for hot days
Avoid generic safety glasses or fashion sunglasses. They may look fine, but they're not designed for dynamic movement or high-speed impacts.
A Practical Prevention Tip
If you tend to sweat a lot, or your glasses fog up easily, consider using a small dab of shaving cream or dish soap on the inside of the lenses, then buffing it off. It's a classic swimmer's trick that helps prevent fog without special coatings. Not fancy, but surprisingly effective.
You'll never be able to fully eliminate the risk of facial injuries in pickleball, but with the right gear and the right habits, you can protect your eyes without sacrificing performance.
Train Your Brain to Track
3 Visual Drills to Improve Your Reflexes and Reaction Time on the Court
Why Vision Is More Than Just Seeing
Good vision in pickleball isn't only about clarity; it's about how quickly and accurately your brain can process what your eyes are seeing and then translate that information into coordinated movement. This is where many players fall short, especially during fast kitchen exchanges or when returning unexpected shots. If you feel like you're always a half-step behind, your reflexes might not be slow, but your visual processing might just need a tune-up.
Fortunately, vision is trainable, and improving it doesn't require complicated gear or sports science degrees. With the right drills and habits, you can sharpen your eye-hand coordination and significantly improve your ability to read the game.
Drill 1: Ball Drops and Reactive Catches
This one's simple but incredibly effective. Have a partner hold a ball at shoulder height while you stand with your hand a few inches below it, palm open. The partner drops the ball at random intervals and you try to catch it as quickly as possible.
Use different types of balls (tennis ball, wiffle ball, even a ping pong ball) to vary bounce and challenge
Perform the drill with one hand at a time to work on symmetry
Try doing it while standing on one leg to add balance and core control
This drill sharpens your reaction timing, especially in the vertical plane, which proves useful for overheads, pop-ups, and defensive resets.
Drill 2: Lateral Tracking with Paddle and Wall
Stand a few feet from a wall and tap a ball against it using your paddle, alternating sides as if you were volleying. Focus on keeping your head still while your eyes do the work of tracking the ball's path side to side.
Start slow and gradually increase speed
Use your peripheral vision to anticipate where the ball is going next
Try it with sunglasses or safety glasses to get comfortable adjusting to lenses
This simulates fast hand battles at the net and improves your ability to make micro-adjustments during rallies.
Drill 3: The "Focus Switch" Game
Place several differently colored objects (like cones or markers) at opposite sides of your visual field. Have someone call out colors at random, and each time they do, you shift your gaze to that object and then back to center. Over time, you'll improve your saccadic eye movements, those rapid, targeted eye shifts that are key to following fast-moving balls.
Try pairing this with light footwork for a more dynamic challenge
Use irregular timing or pattern changes to mimic the unpredictability of real play
This helps reduce visual lag, which is one of the hidden causes of poor reaction time.
Beyond the Court: Video Games and Eye Speed
Believe it or not, certain video games have been shown to improve visual processing speed and decision-making under pressure. Fast-paced first-person or rhythm-based games can train your brain to react more quickly and accurately to visual stimuli, especially in dynamic environments. Even games like Tetris, Beat Saber, or Rocket League offer real visual-motor challenges that mimic court dynamics more than you might expect.
The key is not to rely on games alone, but to treat them as supplemental tools, the same way you'd use mobility work or stretching to support your on-court skills.
Putting It All Together
Vision is not just a passive sense but an active part of your nervous system's decision-making process, and the better you train it, the faster and smarter you can play. These drills are simple, accessible, and effective, and when paired with protective eyewear and good on-court habits, they can help you see the game more clearly in every sense of the word.
Wrapping it up
Most players think of vision as something they either have or they don't, but just like your serve or your footwork, it's a skill you can train.
Try out one or two of the drills this week, and if you're someone who hasn't thought much about eye protection, now's the time. Your vision matters more than you think, and it deserves the same attention as your joints, your muscles, or your paddle.
Let me know what you've tried or what you'd like to see covered next.
Boris.
Disclaimer: This newsletter is for educational and informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. The content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay seeking it because of something you have read in this newsletter.