10 Best Sunglasses for Tennis Players: Shield Your Eyes

Playing tennis on the court with the scorching sun above your head can be quite difficult, right? So, protect yourself from the UV rays with a pair of sunglasses! I’ve done the research and picked the top 10 best sunglasses for tennis players in 2021 and beyond.

In a hurry? Here are my top three picks:

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Tennis is a game that has no fixed time limit. So, it can last for several hours in competitive matches.

While playing outside, you need to shield your eyes and not just your skin. You can stay protected from these harmful UV rays as long as you choose decent sunglasses.

When playing, tennis sunglasses should be counted as part of the tennis kit. But sadly, many players do not pay attention to this.

There are many tennis sunglasses manufacturers whose products come with different characteristics and consistency. It may be difficult to pick the one that suits your personality and yet does the job.

Thankfully, we picked out some of the best tennis sunglasses from the market below. Have fun choosing one!

Best Sunglasses for Tennis Players

10 Best Sunglasses for Tennis Players in 2021

Let’s get started with my favorite tennis sunglasses:

1. Under Armour Men’s Core 2.0 Sunglasses

The Under Armour Core 2.0 sunglasses are strongly built. The ArmourFusion frame is constructed out of a mixture of titanium and Grilamid.

To facilitate ventilation when wearing them, the sunglasses have airflow technology. The included ‘cap gripper’ feature is a grasping device that, when worn upside down on a cap, allows your sunglasses to remain on your head. 

What We Like:

  • Adjustable notepad position
  • Adjustable temple
  • Scratch and smudge-free
  • Advanced airflow technology

What We Don’t Like:

  • Design is suited for athletic use only
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2. Oakley Men’s Oo9188 Flak 2.0 Sunglasses

The Oakley Men’s Flak 2.0 XL offers more protection to your eyes with their 60-millimeter lenses. It prevents light from reaching over the bridge or around the sides as you move your head. The PRIZM lenses come in many tints, all of them offering great details.

Without cracking, the lightweight substrate can bend and provide better resistance to impact. You can adapt the earpieces and nose pieces to get the optimal fit, due to the flexible construction.

What We Like:

  • More details
  • Increased contrast
  • Adjustable earpieces
  • Durable frame

What We Don’t Like:

  • Quite expensive
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3. Serengeti Maestrale Sunglasses

The polarizing lenses in the Maestrale sunglasses can keep your eyes strain-free. To allow the glasses to respond to changing light conditions, the sunglasses come with technology like Spectral Control.

The Maestrale sunglasses boast the TR90 frame for longevity, which is chemically resistant and lightweight. These sunglasses can also conveniently conform to the wearer’s head shape, due to their flexibility.

What We Like:

  • Shatter-resistant
  • Anti-glare protection
  • Photochromic technology adjusts the light passing through the lenses
  • Unisex
  • Different colors to choose from

What We Don’t Like:

  • Not all designs include polarized lenses
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4. Hulislem S1 Polarized Sunglasses

Hulislem is one of the most affordable options you can get with FDA-approved polarized lenses. The polycarbonate frame is lightweight and strong.

When you move from one point of the court to the other, the lightweight feeling of the glasses will not weigh you down. An iridium lens covering involves polarization that prevents the glare that may come from other lenses.

What We Like:

  • Highly affordable
  • UV protection
  • Durable stress-resistant frame
  • HD quality lenses
  • Multiple color/design options

What We Don’t Like:

  • Lenses get dark in cloudy weather
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5. Bolle Python Sunglasses

If you need elegance and affordability in your sunglasses, then the Bolle Python can be a great pick. The acrylic frames feature an anti-slip nose piece, anti-fog, and scratch proof polarized polycarbonate coated glasses.

The lenses in these Bolle Python sunglasses are designed to emit just 14% of the visible light. This makes it great for wearing glasses on sunny days.

What We Like:

  • Polarized lenses
  • Lightweight
  • Lenses are scratch-resistant
  • Different colors and styles available

What We Don’t Like:

  • Not the best glasses during overcast
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6. Oakley Radarlock Path Wrap Sunglasses

The Oakley Radarlock offers a form of total coverage that a lot of people love while playing tennis.

There is a single lens that goes through the entire eye area for a unique appearance instead of having two separate lenses. As well as sunglasses that assist with particular weather conditions, polarized and non-polarized options are available.

What We Like:

  • 100% UV protection
  • Full coverage on eyes
  • Stress-resistant frame
  • Increased contrast
  • Highly flexible

What We Don’t Like:

  • The lenses might be slightly bigger on some players
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7. Under Armour Igniter 2.0 Sunglasses

The Armour Igniter 2.0 can keep you 100% safe from UVB, UVA, and UVC rays. The UA AutoGrip Temples in the glasses helps the frame to adjust to the head shape for a snug fit.

Also, the Igniter 2.0 has coated lenses that avoid smudges and scratches to keep the reflective capabilities optimized. The frame is made out of grilamid and titanium.

What We Like:

  • UV protection on the lenses
  • Anti-glare 
  • Water-resistant
  • Dirt-resistant
  • Microfiber bag included

What We Don’t Like:

  • The plastic frame doesn’t feel quite premium
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8. Costa Del Mar Fantail Sunglasses

The Costa Del Mar Fantail shades feature a hydrolite no-slip lining. This helps glasses to stay perched on your nose throughout the day. There is a medium to wide fit for the nylon frame.

The lenses are resistant to scratch and are made of polycarbonate. High-tech durability, UV safety, polarizing efficiency, and superior visibility are some of the features you would get with the Costa Del Mar.

What We Like:

  • Scratch-proof protection
  • Lightweight build
  • Robust nylon frame
  • UV protective coating
  • Numerous colors and design choices

What We Don’t Like:

  • There’s a noticeable gap after closing the glasses
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9. Tifosi Tyrant 2.0 Polarized Wrap Sunglasses

The Tyrant 2.0 sunglasses’ lightweight construction means that the lenses won’t slip off as you move around the court. The lenses are made of homopolymer nylon, offering extreme flexibility.

The flexible hydrophilic rubber on the earpieces helps the glasses to stay on your face more securely. The sunglasses also come with a rugged hard-shell case for safety and a microfiber bag.

What We Like:

  • Nose pieces can be adjusted
  • Increased airflow
  • Lightweight design
  • The frame is bendable
  • Changeable lenses

What We Don’t Like:

  • Lenses are not scratch-resistant
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10. Duduma Polarized Sports Sunglasses

The Duduma Polarized sunglasses prevent the unhealthy blue light and act as protection for your eyes. The glasses help reduce the glare and also bring back the correct color.

The flexibility provided by these lightweight sunglasses makes it suitable for playing tennis, and almost any form of outdoor exercise.

Moreover, Polycarbonate frames and lenses are resistant to impact, scratch, and are often considered unbreakable.

What We Like:

  • Scratch proof coating
  • Blocks out UV rays
  • Very lightweight
  • Carrying pouch and cleaning cloth included
  • Different colored lenses to choose from

What We Don’t Like:

  • Coating on the glass might come off
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Buyer’s Guide: What To Consider with Best Tennis Sunglasses

What To Consider with Best Tennis Sunglasses

1. UV Protection

It has always been addressed that you must shield yourself from the glaring sun. Not many people consider early in life that they would have trouble later if they neglect the required sun protection.

You can erase all potential chances of harm to your eyes and skin if you use sunglasses that offer full UV protection.

Tennis players often have to spend hours on the court, and if it’s a sunny day, you would need a good pair of sunglasses to shield yourself as much as you can.

2. Scratch Protection

Lenses can often get scratched with racquets being swung left and right. Scratches forming over the glasses over time can blur your vision and make it harder for you to play on the court.

Anti-scratch glasses can totally guard against this. Your vision would always be unhindered and you won’t have to switch glasses much often. 

3. Coverage

The best tennis sunglasses should conceal as much of your face and eyes as manageable. This guarantees that the range of vision is not compromised by the edge of the lenses and the frame.

Look for sunglasses with bigger lenses for improved coverage. You can also search for sunglasses with swappable lenses so that you can quickly swap them with the larger ones.

As for the frame, to guarantee decent coverage of your field of vision, it should preferably wrap around your head.

4. Perfect Fit

You want something trendy to wear on the tennis court, but you still want it to remain securely in place. You’ll switch back and forth a lot when you play tennis. With a bad fit, the sunglasses would easily fly off. When your shades are slipping off, the game would be disrupted.

No matter which sunglasses you pick, they should fit your head quite snugly. If there is a size chart offered by the shop, make sure you check it and select the perfect size according to your head.

You ought to get sunglasses with plain temples if you like donning a tennis hat.

5. Nose Pads and Earpieces

Nose pads are the bits of plastic or rubber located beneath the sunglasses bridge. As for the earpiece, it is the plastic or rubber layer covering the section of the frame that lies on your ears.

If your tennis sunglasses come with flexible pads and earpieces, you’ll never have to think about getting a perfect size. Instead of trying to hang on to your eyewear, this helps you concentrate on the match while you’re on the court.

Tennis sunglasses with plastic frames can feel uncomfortable around the ears. So, you should probably go for rubberized earpieces. Not only are they comfortable, but they also provide extra grip when they get soaked from sweat after a few intense rounds.


FAQs

1. What Color Lens is Best for Tennis?

Different colored lenses serve different purposes. Yellow lenses are good for playing games indoors or in low lights. They can transmit the most light.

Brown lenses are best for playing outdoors since they can help reduce glare. You can have increased contrast in your vision and a more vivid sight no matter how harsh the lights might be.

Grey colored lenses are best for playing in very sunny areas. These lenses reduce the brightness by filtering the light transmission. You also get the correct color recognition needed on a bright sunny day.

2. Are Polarized Lenses Good for Tennis?

If you’re playing all the time in a sunny place, then polarized shades will definitely help you combat the glare. It’s safer to use a non-polarized lens when the court has low lights or if you’re playing at night. 

3. Why Do Pro Tennis Players Not Wear Sunglasses?

Sunglasses can often be a hindrance, especially when you’re moving around on the court so much. They don’t affect your game drastically.

But when you’re a professional player, even the slightest inconvenience can prove to be disastrous. That’s why most professional tennis players avoid using sunglasses unless they absolutely have to.

4. Which Tennis Players Wear Sunglasses?

A lot of tennis players wear sunglasses. Here are a few popular ones and what brand/type of sunglasses they sport during tennis matches:

  1. Tommy Robredo – Oakley
  2. Janko Tipsarevic – Oakley and prescription goggles
  3. Heyon Chung – suffers from astigmatism
  4. Martina Navratilova – prescription goggles
  5. Denis Istomin – Oakley and prescription goggles

5. Is it Better to Play Tennis in the Sun with a Hat or Sunglasses?

Putting on a hat is the best choice since it can protect your eyes from the sun’s glare without compromising your vision. You can obviously use both if your lighting condition asks for it.


Final Words

We believe in good-quality tennis items, so your sunglasses should also be of adequate quality to get the job done.

If I were to pick one, I’d go the Under Armour Core 2.0 Sunglasses as they are adjustable, scratchproof, and overall a great product. Alongside, they provide great vision, longevity, and comfort at a value for money price.

Don’t stress about picking the best tennis sunglasses. Just pick the ones that would suit your playing style the best.

Read More: What to Wear to Watch a Tennis Match?

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