Pickleball Style Is The New Courtside Trend – Here’s How To Nail It
Pickleball-core is officially a thing, and consider this your style playbook
Aamir Khan is playing, and so is Virat Kohli. Leonardo DiCaprio, Emma Stone, and George Clooney are all sweating it out. Even Bill Gates and Taylor Swift have joined the ranks. Pickleball has shifted from cult to culture, and with it comes a courtside aesthetic that’s rewriting the rules of men’s style.
Call it pickleball-core – a hybrid of retro tennis-club prep, modern athleisure, and a hint of streetwear. Think clean lines, short shorts, crisp polos, crew socks pulled high, and sneakers that work on the court and at the bar. It’s the 70s-and-80s racquet look, remixed for 2025, with one aim: looking sharp whether you’re serving or spectating.
Courtside Style in India
In India, the shift is happening fast. Men are treating pickleball as a new style stage. Designers and founders are taking note.
“Pickleball has truly exploded in popularity across India, becoming a vibrant and inclusive sport that transcends age and background,” say Pranav Bimbhat and Aditya Agarwal, co-founders of FirstEdge, and players themselves. “Men are increasingly embracing the game not just for play but also as an avenue for expressing personal style. Thoughtfully styled looks are showing up courtside, from monochrome sets and earthy tones to graphic tees with vibrant shorts. Accent colours through grip tapes, wristbands or socks add another dimension. Even paddles are getting a style update, with players choosing designs that match their energy as much as their game.”
On-Court vs Off-Court
Here’s the thing: pickleball style isn’t just about what happens during the match. The real shift is how men are building entire wardrobes around it, toggling between sport and leisure without missing a beat.
For Stuti Dhanuka, founder of Terra Luna, whose SS25 collection revolved around the sport, pickleball fashion is split right down the middle. “It’s equally about on-court and off-court – 50% each. It’s a sport where looking stylish and grabbing attention often matters just as much as being good at the game.”
Off-court, it’s about carrying the energy without actually playing – sporty but neat. Shorts, tees, tanks, and lightweight jackets that are breathable yet sharp. On-court, functionality takes the lead. Clothes need to be sweat-friendly and easy to move in. More labels are dropping synthetics for natural fibres. Terra Luna’s khadi cotton sets show why: airy yet flattering, roomy without being oversized. You look good, feel good, and stay sharp while you play.
Match-Point Accessories
If pickleball has a style signature, it’s in the accessories. Courts are full of customised paddles with bold graphics, neon sweatbands, and sunglasses that range from ironic to razor-sharp.
Think Oakleys for retro irreverence, Tom Fords for refinement. Even water bottles are now statements – pastel Stanley cups for some, Loewe’s leather-clad bottles for others. Watches peek out from under sweatbands – a Rolex GMT-Master II or Omega Seamaster looks oddly at home beside a colourful paddle. And while Nike duffels dominate, the sharper crowd is slinging Bottega Veneta’s Intrecciato tote or Dior’s duffle. The sport has become less about a kit bag and more about a style arsenal.
How to Nail Pickleball-Core
So how do you actually pull this off without looking like you raided your dad’s squash kit? Start simple, then layer in personality.
Beginner’s Guide
Start simple. A plain Uniqlo polo with tailored shorts works both on and off court. On your feet, go classic with Stan Smiths or minimalist trainers from Onitsuka Tiger, Puma, Nike or New Balance. Want to take it up a notch? Try a monochrome set, a Lacoste polo and shorts, layered with a Harrington jacket for post-match beers. For your paddles, Noyo’s dedicated pickleball bags seal the deal.
Go Luxe
If you’re after a wow factor with a touch of subtlety, look to Gucci’s tennis capsule, Emporio Armani’s tech jackets and tanks, and Zegna’s performance knit polos. Carry your paddle in a Louis Vuitton Shopper Tote, finish with Dior B30s or Gucci Aces on your feet and Prada sunglasses up top. That’s pickleball-core at its most aspirational.