Summer courts feel alive and the games come fast, yet the sun delivers more punishment than most players realize. Long sets add up to hours of exposure while bright surfaces bounce extra light and heat back at your skin and eyes.

This week we cover smart sun protection that actually works on court and explore how to use the bright conditions to your advantage with well-timed lobs.

How to cover your skin and eyes during long pickleball sessions

Summer play often means two or three hours outside with short breaks, and even when you feel fine the ultraviolet load keeps building while bright courts and nearby walls bounce extra light toward your face.

The UV index peaks from late morning through mid afternoon, so the same rally that felt harmless at 8 AM can burn you at noon even if the air temperature stays the same.

Choose broad spectrum SPF 30 or higher and look for water resistant on the label at either 40 or 80 minutes, since those ratings show how well a formula stays put when you sweat.

Apply 15 minutes before you play so the film sets, use a generous layer on the face, neck, ears and backs of the hands, and remember that most real world sunburns happen because people apply too little rather than because the product is weak.

A stick formula around the eyes and along the nose bridge stings less, and a small lip balm with SPF 30 protects a spot players often forget.

Mineral filters such as zinc oxide and titanium dioxide tend to sting less when sweat runs, which is why many athletes use them on the face, while modern chemical blends spread easily on arms and legs and often feel lighter.

There is no single best choice for every player, so match the product to the job and to your tolerance, and do not hesitate to mix types across different body regions.

Reapply every two hours or sooner if you towel off heavily or feel sweat flushing the product from your eyebrows and temples.

A travel pump for arms and legs plus a pocket stick for the face makes on court reapplication fast, and a quick wipe of salt from the brow before you recoat helps the new layer bond rather than slide.

UPF shirts, sleeves, and light gaiters remove guesswork because fabric does not sweat off, and a wide brim hat shades ears, nose, and part of the neck better than a cap.

Sunglasses with UV 400 lenses protect the eyes and the delicate skin around them, and clear or lightly tinted lenses help when you move from shade to sun while still blocking ultraviolet.

Book matches earlier or later when you can, choose the side of the court that keeps the sun at your back during critical points, and take changeovers in shade with airflow so your skin cools and your sunscreen film stays put.

A small towel over the back of the neck during rests protects a high exposure area you rarely feel until it burns.

A higher SPF is helpful but it does not let you skip reapplication, and sweat proof on a label is simply another way of saying water resistant.

A base tan does not prevent sun damage, and cloud cover filters visible light more than ultraviolet, which is why players still burn on overcast days.

• Use broad spectrum SPF 30 or higher and apply 15 minutes before you play with a thicker layer than you think you need

• Reapply every two hours or after heavy toweling, use a stick for the face and a pump for arms and legs, and carry an SPF lip balm

• Choose mineral filters for the face if sweat stings and use lighter chemical blends for large body areas if you prefer the feel

• Wear UPF clothing plus a wide brim hat and UV 400 sunglasses because fabric and lenses do not sweat off

• Play early or late when possible and take breaks in shade with airflow, since reflective court surfaces add to your ultraviolet load

Why the sky helps you and how to shape a reliable lob

Looking up into a bright sky makes tracking harder, since glare washes out contrast and many players lose the ball for a split second right as it reaches peak height.

A good lob exploits that moment, because late tracking turns clean overheads into awkward swats and floaters you can counter on the next shot.

Start with a calm split step as the ball crosses the net so your feet can choose the right angle, then soften your grip to medium light so the paddle face can lift the ball without a jab.

Stay low through your hips, keep your chest quiet, and let your eyes sit below the ball so you can see the rising path rather than chasing it with your head.

Contact slightly in front of your lead foot, keep the paddle face a little more open than a dink, and lift from the ground through your legs and trunk so the arm guides rather than heaves.

For control, brush up the back of the ball to add a touch of topspin, which helps it climb without sailing and then drop sooner inside the baseline.

Aim for a peak that is well above roof height on outdoor courts and think about landing the ball three to six feet inside the baseline, since that margin survives nerves and wind.

Crosscourt lobs travel a longer diagonal and buy you more time to recover, while inside out lobs over the backhand shoulder of a right handed player also force a tougher overhead.

If both opponents are stacked at the kitchen line, lift over the player with the weaker footwork or the one already leaning forward, and follow your lob by taking a step back to cover the counter overhead just in case.

Use the lob when opponents crowd the kitchen, when your dink pulls someone forward off balance, when the wind sits at your back, or when the sun sits in their eyes on that side of the court.

It also shines late in rallies after a few fast exchanges, since fatigue makes footwork sloppy and overhead timing less precise.

Skip the lob if your opponent camps near the baseline, if they are tall with springy legs, if the wind is in your face, or if you are leaning back and off balance.

Avoid lifting from a ball that sits too low below the net, and do not lob if your partner is out of position and cannot cover the reply.

Drop feed five balls to your forehand at the kitchen and lift each one to the deep middle with the same setup you use for a dink, then repeat on the backhand so your preparation looks identical and disguise improves.

Place two targets near the back corners and alternate corner to corner, focusing on a tall peak and soft landings, then add a few sun practice reps where you look up briefly after contact so your eyes get comfortable with the glare you will see in real points.

• Use lobs on bright days because glare makes opponents lose the ball at peak height and turns clean overheads into rushed swings

• Set up with a calm split step and a medium light grip, then keep your chest quiet and your eyes below the ball as you lift

• Contact slightly in front with a gently open face, add a little topspin for control, and land three to six feet inside the baseline

• Favor crosscourt or backhand shoulder targets, and choose moments when opponents crowd the kitchen or lean forward off balance

• Skip the lob into a headwind, against deep or very springy players, or when you are off balance or lifting a ball that sits too low

That wraps it up for this week. Try the sunscreen plan and a few bright day lobs in your next session, then let me know what helped and what still feels tricky.

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.