teaching new players
There are many safety considerations when teaching new players…but none is more important that proper eye protection. It is not just an issue for beginners…even good players can get hit in the eye. And if you have played pickleball more than a few years you likely have encountered someone that lost the vision in an eye after being hit by a pickleball.
We need to keep in mind that the distance between the non-volley zone lines is only 14 feet. And we all know that contact with the paddle is typically made closer than that as we reach for the ball. We may be hit from across the net, or the ball may ricochet off our own paddle or our partner’s paddle.
Safety glasses
I realize some people pick up a pair of inexpensive sunglasses and then dremel the lenses out…but I prefer to buy eye protection made especially for racket sports. Personally, I use the Raptors safety glasses pictured above. I purchased these because they have three lenses. This allows me to use them indoors or outdoors. When playing outdoors I can use them in full sun or when it is an overcast day.
Pickleball safety
Safety is always my biggest priority on the court. If you are teaching new players, I hope you include protective eyewear in your pickleball safety checklist. Remember, accidents happen!
