Why Don’t Tennis Players Wear Sunglasses? (3 Reasons)

If you have ever watched tennis, then you probably have noticed that hardly anyone uses sunglasses even when the sun is burning like crazy. You have a keen eye, and in this article, I will explain why tennis players don’t wear sunglasses.

Generally, tennis players don’t wear sunglasses because they can see well without them; they won’t stay on well enough, which creates a loss of focus and annoyance. Also, the color and visual depth alterations that sunglasses often apply can negatively affect the game.

That being said, there are often more cons than pros to wearing sunglasses on the tennis court. Let’s take a closer look at the cons and see what really can happen if you wear sunglasses while playing tennis.

Cons of wearing sunglasses while playing tennis

1. Loss of focus

One of the main reasons why tennis players don’t use sunglasses is the focus part of things. Think about it, when you are striking as hard as you can, dashing from side to side and front to back, anticipating and thinking about the next moves, the slightest thing can get your mind off the game.

This can easily happen when you wear sunglasses, and they move slightly and are about to drop, which takes your focus off the game to the sunglasses, which will negatively affect your performance on the court.

2. Differences in vision

The second thing is the vision. While playing tennis, vision is probably the most important thing, and if you are wearing dark sunglasses and it’s sunny, your eyes have adjusted to the dark, and when a glimpse of sunlight catches your eye from the sides of the glasses, it will dazzle your sight. This takes off precious seconds, and in this time, the opponent is ahead of you.

Also, the color differences between glasses and real-life can be quite big, so if the player is wearing glasses that alters the colors drastically, the vision can get confused, and your performance wouldn’t be maximized anymore.

In addition, think about the glasses frames. That will block a part of your vision, even if it’s a small one. However, your opponent is far away, and the ball can look really tiny when it’s on the other side of the court, so if the frame get’s in the wrong way, you might lose a second, and every second counts in tennis, and it can be a determination between a winner or a loser.

Finally, some glasses can alter your depth perception, and in tennis, that’s probably the most important factor because you need to anticipate and act fast to the ball. If your depth perception would be different because you are using sunglasses, they can set you on a losing path.

3. Game alteration isn’t good

Why mess things up that already works? Most tennis players have played their whole lives without sunglasses and are used to the sunlight, so throwing sunglasses into the mix would probably do more harm than good.

Personally, I would consider sunglasses really troubling and annoying when I’m playing tennis because I have never used them, and tennis is a sport with a lot of movement, so I’m convinced that they would throw me off of my focus when the glasses slide down on my head.

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Can tennis players wear sunglasses?

Tennis players can absolutely wear sunglasses if they choose to do so. Wearing sunglasses is beneficial because they protect the eyes from UB rais, they block the sun’s glare, they can improve sight and thank’s to the latest designs, you can find sports sunglasses that stay on more easily.

Why do tennis players wear sunglasses?

Wearing sunglasses have many benefits and if you find them more helpful than the cons as disadvantages, then wearing sunglasses is beneficial. Sunglasses have many perks such as:

• Protection from UV rays.
• Prevents certain eye diseases connected to the sun
• Improved sight when sun is shining hard
• Sunglasses can be added with lenses for shoret-sighted people.

Should you use sunglasses while playing tennis?

Whether you should use sunglasses while playing tennis is a personal choice based on weighing the pros and cons. If you find the pros more advantageous than the cons disadvantageous, you should definitely wear sunglasses while playing tennis.

How to choose sunglasses for tennis?

If you decide that you want a great pair of sunglasses for tennis sessions, you need to think about a couple of things, and they will vary from everyday sunglasses. Let’s start with the most important factor, fit.

1. Make sure they fit tightly

One of the most important things to look at when deciding the right sunglasses for your tennis session is that they fit tightly enough so that they won’t fall off easily.

However, they shouldn’t feel tight because that will lead to headaches and decreased focus from the game to the annoyance of too tight glasses.

I would advise you to try on multiple ones and find glasses that are comfortable and feel secure. If you’re ordering online, you should read reviews and see other people’s experiences.

2. Examine the frames

When examining the sunglasses frames, you should examine:

• The rims: The part that holds the lenses.
• The temples: Two pieces going behind your ears.
• The bridge: The piece that goes above your nose.

I highly advise that you find sunglasses with a silicone part in the bridge that touches your nose. This makes the glasses much more secure on your head.

Also, the best material for the frames is nylon because they are flexible yet extremely durable.

Finally, check the temples and see that they fit comfortably behind your ears because that’s where most of the weight is focused on.

3. Try out multiple lenses

Lenses are a vital part of the glasses that shouldn’t be overlooked. As you are looking for sunglasses, you should get polarized lenses because they drastically reduce the sun’s glare so that you can see much better.

There are various colors of lenses to choose from when it comes to sight, so make sure that you choose one that you like.

Also, I would advise you to get lenses with UV protection, especially if you play many hours in a row because it will help reduce health problems caused by UV light in the eyes.

Last but not least, tennis is a sport with a lot of movement, and the chances are that your sunglasses will drop at some point. Thus, you should consider scratch-proof lenses.

4. Another things to consider

Other things that I would consider are your sunglasses exclusive for tennis, or do you want to wear them off the court as well? Whatever the case, the amount you play is connected to this.

So, if you play only a moderate amount of tennis and want to wear sunglasses off the court, then you should get ones that look more relaxed and chill.

On the other hand, if you are a hard-core tennis player and want to get sunglasses just for tennis, you should get glasses that are purely made for sports and ignore the cosmetic part of them.

Finally, there are wrap-around and vented sunglasses. Wrap-around sunglasses offer the largest vision and more protection from the sides of the sunglasses. In contrast, vented ones allow airflow from the sides and prevent’s fogging on the lenses. This is something that you should take into consideration as well.

Recommended sunglasses for tennis: Oakley Half Jacket 2.0 XL

That being said, my absolute favorite sunglasses for tennis are the Oakley Half Jacket 2.0 XL Sunglasses. Below you can find the perks:

• Polarized
• UV protection
• Flexible frames
• Silicone support on temples & bridge
• Snug fit
• Made in USA
• 16 designs to choose from
• 2 Lens width options

As you can see, these sunglasses check the boxes on many things I recommended above that will work well with tennis, so I highly recommend that you check these glasses out.

Why do tennis players wear their caps backward?

Tennis players wear their caps backward because they keep the hair off the face, which improves vision and focus. Also, a hat worn backward can be a matter of habit. Finally, a cap worn backward is stylish, and when you look good, you feel good, and when you feel good, you play well.

Can pro tennis players wear gloves?

In short, tennis players can wear gloves if the tennis league allows it in the rules. Thus, you should always check the rules regarding gloves before wearing them. Also, many tennis players don’t want to wear gloves because they reduce the feel of the racket and make you sweat more.

Conclusion

Many tennis players choose not to wear sunglasses, but there are some great ones out there that can be beneficial depending on whether the individual sees them worthy.

Personally, I don’t wear sunglasses because I have used not to. However, there have been many cases that I have wished that I would have sunglasses nearby, so maybe I should get ones after all. Anyways, I hope that this article was helpful and you now have a better understanding of tennis and sunglasses.